The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Missouri Resolution 114 requires Senate confirmation for appellate judges and shortens terms to seven years
Last action · February 5, 2026: Second Read and Referred S Fiscal Oversight CommitteeSponsor: Brad Hudson
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What This Bill Would Do
Missouri voters will decide a constitutional amendment in November 2026 that replaces the judicial commission nomination system for Supreme Court and Court of Appeals judges with gubernatorial appointment and Senate confirmation, while reducing their terms from twelve years to seven years.
Changes how every future high-court judge is chosen in Missouri and shortens their time in office by five years, shifting appointment authority between the executive branch, the legislature, and the judicial nominating commission.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Supreme Court of Missouri judges
Their term lengths are reduced from twelve years to seven years, and future appointments require Senate confirmation.
Court of Appeals judges
Their selection process changes from commission nomination to gubernatorial appointment with Senate confirmation, and terms are shortened to seven years.
Missouri voters
They will vote on whether to adopt the constitutional amendment at the November 2026 general election or a special election.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are Missouri Supreme Court judges currently selected?
What changes does SJR 114 make to judge terms?
Who must approve this constitutional amendment?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
2 actions- Feb 5, 2026SenateFloorSecond Read and Referred S Fiscal Oversight Committee
- Jan 20, 2026SenateIntroducedS First Read
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. The text on record is the 6827S.01I - Introduced version. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Transition from Judicial Commission to Senate Confirmation
SJR 114 seeks to dismantle the merit-selection system for appellate judges established under the Missouri Plan by introducing gubernatorial appointment and Senate confirmation.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.senate.mo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy80Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz45Current news / social attention level
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