Post-Dispatch: "Better Court's" Ballot Initiative Is "The Greatest Single Political Threat To Justice In Missouri"

The editorial board Post-Dispatch doesn't include many fans of the ballot initiative campaign from the "Better Courts for Missouri" organization, which would replace the state's widely praised nonpartisan judicial selection plan with a more partisan arrangement that would be controlled by the governor and state senators.

[T]he greatest single political threat to justice in Missouri lies with a harshly ideological and well-financed few who are doing all within their power to politicize how judges are selected in the state.

They have plotted — and continue to plot — to cut ordinary citizens and respected lawyers out of the judicial selection process and put partisans and power brokers in charge. Their current strategy is being advanced by a shadow group fronted by James Harris, a former political operative to former Gov. Matt Blunt. [...]

Prominent Missouri lawyers, retired judges and former lawmakers from both political parties are battling back. Several have filed a lawsuit that challenges the voter initiative. Lawyers and non-lawyers alike should join the fight. Cynical interests should not destroy the impartial administration of justice in Missouri.

Injecting partisanship into the state's courts by allowing ideological politicians to run the show is a bad idea.