Which Republican Supports an Impartial Judiciary?

Which Republican lawyer state representative dislikes the selection of fair and impartial judges - Rep. Bryan Pratt.

Which Republican lawyer state representative respects a neutral, fair and impartial third branch of the government called the judiciary - Rep. Brian Yates.

Since Matt Blunt has been in office, extremist Republicans have entertained themselves with attacking the Missouri Plan (a plan to remove partisan politics from the selection of judges). Thanks to Sunshine Requests, we found that most of the attacks were orchestrated within Blunt's office through the Adam Smith Foundation and other make believe groups.

This year HJR 10 is current method of attack on the neutral judiciary. The Missouri Plan allows for a nominating commission to be composed of 3 lawyers from around the state (voted on by lawyers in non-partisan elections), 3 non-lawyer/citizen appointments by a Governor and the chief judge of the Supreme Court. The nominating commission interviews ALL candidates and sends three qualified folks up to the Governor. Merit, not politics, decides who is a judge in Missouri.

HJR 10 introduces more politics into the selection of judges, not less. Republican appointed judges (who have since retired) are opposed to HJR 10. Democratic appointed judges (who have since retired) are opposed to HJR 10. The Missouri Bar (every lawyer in the state is automatically a member of the Missouri Bar) is opposed to HJR 10. HJR 10 allows the governor to reject panels (instead of having to select someone from the list of three qualified candidates). HJR 10 allows for the senate to get involved with the citizen appointments to the nominating commission (more politics). HJR 10 changes the length of terms to four years from the current six years. That equals more politics because a six year term on the nominating commission only allows a two term, popular governor (like Governor Ashcroft) to appoint all the lay members to the nominating commission, not an unpopular governor (like Governor Blunt).

HJR 10 makes the "hearings, debates and votes" open to the public. Not even Governor Blunt wanted to have his interviews open to the public. Can you imagine any company, government or non-profit in the world that would want to have open job "hearing, debates and votes"? Open "hearings, debates and votes" would make the process less effective in picking judges, but much better at turning it into a political circus.

Why is this important? Most importantly, no one wants more partisan politics involved in our judiciary. Not the KC Chamber of Commerce, not citizens who would have to appear in front of partisan judges (Republican or Democratic) and not lawyers. The Missouri Plan has been copied around the country for a reason - it is good public policy to take partisan politics out of the selection of judges.

From the partisan politics side, both Yates and Pratt are running for Sen. Matt Bartle's seat. Both Pratt and Yates are lawyers (both at Shook Hardy & Bacon). One of these representatives is busy attacking the judiciary; one of these representatives is standing up to crazy attacks by the extremists in his own party. Voters, lawyers and donors will have to look at the votes of Pratt and Yates and decide who to support.

Blunt Bankrolls Attacks on Missouri Plan

In a fine piece of investigative journalism, the Springfield Newsleader points out how Matt Blunt is financing attacks on the Missouri Nonpartisan Court Plan. Fired Up Missouri takes it one step further and connects the dots on how not only does Blunt reward his faithful soilders with cash, but also with appointments.

Here's the deal - The Adam Smith Foundation is run by James Harris - Blunt's former appointment secretary. According to Missouri ethics reports, the J. Harris Company gets paid lots by Blunt. Jeremy Ketterer gets paid money by Blunt, too. Jeremy Ketterer co-writes an article with Prof. Bill Eckhardt concluding the Missouri Plan stinks. Jeremy Ketterer sends op-eds to the Newsleader from both the J. Harris Company and the Adam Smith Foundation, proving that the hacks are not acting independently or in good faith. Blunt appoints Ketterer to the Board of Truman State.

If there is any doubt, "the Adam Smith Foundation is a shill for the governor's campaign, and not an independent group," according to Blunt's hometown newspaper, the Springfield Newsleader. Let's hope that the New Year's resoultions for Republicans are to figure out how to use email and stop trying to purchase the judiciary.

Republican Poll Shows 71% of Missourians Like the Nonpartisan Court Plan

This blog spends lots of time talking about the Missouri Nonpartisan Court Plan, mostly because it is being attacked by the radical fringe of the Republican Party, including Governor Matt Blunt, Jeff Roe and the Adam Smith Foundation. Who can blame Blunt, his ship is sinking and judges are easy to pick on. Attorney General Jay Nixon is raising just as much money as Blunt in the governor's race (now that campaign contribution limits are back in place) and Blunt's choice of Mitt Romney isn't selling well with the Religious Right in Missouri.

Public Opinion Strategies - a Republican organization - conducted the study for Justice at Stake, Missourians for Fair and Impartial Courts, and the Missouri Institute for Justice.

A few highlights of the poll:

Bipartisan majorities oppose many of the proposals to change the system recently floated by critics, while 73 percent of those surveyed want Missouri judges to be independent of elected officials like the Governor and state legislature.

By a ratio of more than two to one, voters believe that the Supreme Court of Missouri makes its decisions based on the state’s laws and constitution, not the personal beliefs of its seven members. Self-identified Republicans are the most likely to feel this way – 68 percent of Republicans polled feel law trumps ideology for decisions made by the state’s highest court.

Only 1 of every 50 Missouri voters see changing the way state judges are selected as a top priority for the Governor and state legislature. Voters are far more likely to cite health care, taxes and government spending, and public education as top priorities.

Don't look for the fringe to give up - until they can get thier wackos on the bench, they won't be happy. The Rule of Law is not the goal, its obtaining thier version of justice (which ain't justice for all).

MO Non-Partisan Court Plan - better than Michigan

Wanna know why we love the Missouri Plan - because it is better than Michigan. Michigan has partisan elections of judges (which is what Jeff Roe, the Adam Smith Foundation and Gov. Matt Blunt want).

In Michigan they are anticipating a $20 million dollar race for a single Supreme Court position (see article below). The people donating are not seeking neutral, fair justice. They donate because they want to purchase their brand of justice. Is that what we want in Missouri?

Let's think about Enterprise Rent a Car (the folks from St. Louis who opposed the Sprint Arena (and by flawed logic, Garth Brooks)). Enterprise Rent a Car is actively engaged in the Missouri legislative process. Enterprise got sued for telling an accountant to not follow IRS regulations on how to depreciate cars. Enterprise lost and did not like the ruling (Dunn v. Enterprise). So, they tried to get it overturned in the legislature (SB 168). When that didn't work, Matt Blunt appoints Don Ross, Enterprise VP, to the appellate judicial nominating commission. For those frothing at the mouth for more partisanship in the selecting of judges - be happy. Matt Blunt is doing his best to pack the judicial commission with ultra conservative agendas. If the people of Missouri vote him back into office, like they voted Ashcroft to back-to-back terms, then he can do it.

By Stuart Frohm

11/12/2007

Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Clifford W. Taylor was the mystery speaker at today's Midland County Republican Party fundraising breakfast.

Diane Bristol, the county party's chairperson, said last week that a statewide candidate she couldn't announce was among the scheduled speakers.

Other speakers were the Rev. Keith Butler of Southfield, possible future member of the Republican National Committee; state Republican Chairman Saul Anuzis; Midlanders U.S. Rep. Dave Camp, state Sen. Tony Stamas and state Rep. John Moolenaar; and state Rep. Bill Caul of Mount Pleasant.

Caul announced that he will be a candidate for re-election. This term he had a mild stroke and was treated for prostate cancer. He represents the 99th District, which includes parts of Midland County and all of Isabella County. He is seeking his third consecutive two-year term -- the last House term the state's term limit would allow him.

Taylor said his own re-election is important to keep conservatives in the majority on the court, with the court's 4-3 split. He said he does not yet know who Democrats will nominate to run against him next year.

In Michigan, candidates for judicial seats appear on the ballot without party labels.

On Oct. 22, a statement from the Michigan Campaign Finance Network said Taylor and Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer both raised the possibility of a $20 million campaign next year when Taylor seeks a second full term on the court.

Taylor, a Flint native, was appointed to the court in August 1997 by then-governor John Engler to succeed Justice Dorothy Comstock Riley, who retired.

Taylor was elected in 1998 to fill the balance of Riley's term. Taylor was re-elected to a full eight-year term in 2000 and was elected chief justice by colleagues in January 2005.

Engler appointed him to the state Court of Appeals in 1992.

More on the Republican breakfast is planned for publication in a future edition of the Daily News.

Forum on the Missouri Plan - Nov. 29

More than any other blog in Missouri, the Committee for County Progress Blog has defended the Missouri Non-Partisan Court Plan. The CCP is a member organization of Missourians for Fair and Impartial Courts.

The CCP is also hosting a forum on the Missouri Plan. The forum will be at the UMKC Law School (500 E. 52nd) on November 29th at 6:00 Dale Youngs, president of the Missouri Institute for Justice, will give a history of the plan. Former Missouri Supreme Court Chief Judge Chip Robertson (appointed by Ashcroft) will speak in favor of the plan. Professor Bill Eckhardt will speak against the plan.

With Matt Blunt bad mouthing the Missouri Plan, with Jeff Roe attacking good judges like Judge Tom Brown in Cole County and with the Adam Smith Foundation being created for the purpose of changing our Constitution to eliminate non-partisan judges, a little education on this issue can never hurt.

"Federalists Hire Swift Boat PR Firm to Sink MO Plan"

The title ain't mine, its from Missouri Lawyers Weekly. The article details how the Federalist Society has employed CRC Public Relations. "At CRC Public Relations, we recognize that results don’t just happen. CRC dedicates itself to the development and implementation of innovative and strategic public relations programs that maximize positive results for our clients." Great, CRC makes crap up to get their clients a win! Too bad we are talking about something sacred like a fair and independent judiciary.

Fired Up! reported on this issue last month (ok, so MO Law Weekly is just a little behind). Source Watch's investigation of CRC reveals the following:

Creative Response Concepts, an Alexandria, Virginia-based public relations firm, "has many links to the Republican Party and the conservative movement," Eric Boehlert wrote September 10, 2004, in Salon.

"Among its clients are the Republican National Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee and National Republican Senatorial Committee. Its client list also includes the Christian Coalition, National Taxpayers Union, Media Research Council [sic] and Regnery Publishing. Regnery is the firm that published Unfit for Command, the SBVT screed against [John] Kerry's military record," Boehlert wrote.

"Interview requests for CRC's clients are routed through the main switchboard at a single telephone number; extensions 108 and 110 at the same number handle Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, while extensions 109 and 130 are for the Judicial Confirmation Network," Todd Johnston wrote July 5, 2005, in ePluribus Media.

Who is the Federalist Society? They believe that "Law schools and the legal profession are currently strongly dominated by a form of orthodox liberal ideology which advocates a centralized and uniform society." In Missouri, the Federalist Society charge is led by Prof. William Eckhardt at UMKC Law School and Attorney Bill Placke in St. Louis . On the US Supreme Court, justices like Thomas, Scalia, Alito & Roberts are Federalist Society Members. If you are a Republican, just put down that you are a member of the Federalist society and Scholzman would hire you!! Add to the mix the Adam Smith Foundation and you have a storm that has been created by an administration that is watching their ship sink and Jay Nixon's numbers sky rocket.

So, what we have is a bunch of right wing zealots who want to switch our nonpartisan system into a partisan one. Placke and Eckhardt endorse changing the system which would allow the governor to appoint whomever (we have seen how Blunt has rewarded his cronies who donate to his campaign) or to allow the sitting governor to appoint the entire commission. The reality is that the Missouri Federalist Society cannot afford to hire CRC, so the Swift Boat Captain funders are at it again!

Beware of people who want to sell off our neutral judiciary! Many a dictator started with the elimination of the independent judiciary.

Jeff Roe = Adam Smith Foundation

There has been some minor debate regarding whether Jeff Roe is the brains (yes, he is intelligent) behind the attacks on a neutral judiciary and behind the Adam Smith Foundation. Let's put that to bed.

Jeff Roe leads the charge to knock off Judge Brown from Cole County.

Jeff Roe tells the KCMBA Bench Bar Conference he knocked off Judge Brown to prove it could be done. He also promises to stay involved in judicial campaigns and to do it again because that is how he makes money (he's honest, too).

The Missouri Political News Service is a TX based group, which is linked on The Source (Jeff Roe's blog).

The Missouri Political News Service's ONLY paid advertisement is for the Adam Smith Foundation. The Missouri Political News Service has blogged nine times favorably about the Adam Smith Foundation.

Jeff Roe rented space from Lathrop & Gage, where Amy Blunt works. Lathrop & Gage did the corporate work to set up the Adam Smith Foundation.

Matt Blunt - who has employed Jeff Roe's Axiom Strategies and attending the open house of Axiom at the Lathrop & Gage building - makes numerous attacks on the Missouri Nonpartisan Court Plan. Some reports show Matt Blunt, Lathrop & Axiom all in bed together.

Former Blunt Appointment Secretary James Harris is an organizer of the Adam Smith Foundation and set up the Wikapedia entry for the group.

Let there be no doubt, Jeff Roe is the brainchild behind the Adam Smith Foundation and the attack on the judiciary. My congrats go out to Jeff Roe for a well organized, well financed, multi-level attack on this respected intuition of government. You said you could do it and you did.

TX Republicans Beating up Missouri Democrats

Don't mess with Texas!! The Swift Boat Captains in Texas aren't satisfied with just messing with John Kerry, they are quickly coming to the aid of Matt Blunt, too.

Congrats to KC Blue Blog for taking the time to track down these crazy Texans. They started a group called Missouri Political News. The clear intent of Missouri Political News Service is to be a neutral looking front for Texas right wing attacks on Missouri Democrats, like Claire McCaskill and Jay Nixon. The only ad running on the site is for the Adam Smith Foundation. The Adam Smith Foundation is a right wing group attacking Missouri judges. These same folks took out Judge Brown in Cole County. Jeff Roe admits to taking out Judge Brown to just prove he could do it and Jeff Roe promised to do it again. Well, looks like his Adam Smith Foundation and Missouri Political News are attempting to fulfill that promise.


How do we know these Texans are Swift Boat Captains and attempting to influence Missouri politics through excessive donations to Matt Blunt and Jeff Roe? Who is Bob Perry? Check out the Wikipedia entry on his donations, including swift boat contributions and being the largest donor to the Texas Republican Party. KC Blue Blog did a great job of tracking Bob Perry's connections to Missouri Political News and Matt Blunt. It is really sad when Tom Delay and Karl Rove get donors to give to Roy Blunt and Matt Blunt. Go back to Texas. Leave us alone!