Missouri Republicans such as Jason Smith and Cindy O’Laughlin have reportedly opposed the so-called Missouri Plan, an 86-year-old system for selecting nonpartisan judges for the state’s Supreme Court. The move sparked negative reactions on social media, as Missouri residents opposed the proposed changes, believing they would undermine the neutrality of the state’s justice system.
As reported by ProPublica, these efforts gained popularity among members of the Republican Party following failed attempts to redraw the state’s voting maps, as urged by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The system used in Missouri requires a commission to select three candidates for top judicial vacancies, from whom the governor must choose. Despite claims that the Missouri Supreme Court is dominated by “liberal activists,” five of its judges were selected by Republican governors.
It remains unclear whether Republicans will actually put a plan to change the system on the ballot, however. One proposed change failed in 2012, while another stalled in committee in 2024.
Missouri Residents React to Republican Party’s Plans
The reports made the rounds on social media, and residents on r/Missouri were enraged to see the GOP trying to undermine the decades-old system. One of them wrote: “Republicans have no platform, no policy, no goals that attract voters. Republicans can’t win, so they lie, cheat, and steal.”
Most users seemed to believe that the GOP only wanted to change the system out of desperation: “Seems like our Missouri Republicans have gotten a little big for their britches. After so many years of gerrymandered supermajorities, it seems they now think they can do whatever they want to keep themselves in power and control.”
Others defended the system: “The Missouri Plan is a crucial part of preventing the right-wing extremists from buying their way into completely packing the courts (…). That’s why the Republicans haven’t stopped trying to dismantle it for YEARS ON END.”
Others even argued that the Republican Party’s increasingly apparent rejection of democracy was nothing new, claiming that the process began in the previous century: “Reagan laid out the blueprint for Republicans to reject democracy for all. That party has been filled with robber barons and grifters ever since. Why the common folk align themselves with that party is a direct result of Reagan policies to defund education.”
It remains to be seen whether efforts to change the Missouri Plan will move forward, as the proposals appear to face strong opposition.
