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Blunt: Follow Example

Since the retirement of Missouri Supreme Court Judge Ronnie White, and the elevation of Justice Laura Denvir Stith to chief judge, Gov. Matt Blunt, the Federalist Society and its surrogate, the Adam Smith Foundation, have been making a campaign issue of the Missouri Non-Partisan Court Plan.

Prior to Mr. Blunt, Missouri had two Republican governors and two Democratic governors over 30 years. None complained about the plan. They selected more than 100 circuit judges and scores of judges to the Missouri Courts of Appeal and the Missouri Supreme Court. Republican governors Christopher "Kit" Bond and John Ashcroft packed the Supreme Court with Republican lawyers. Democrats did not complain or try to scrap the plan when Mr. Bond and Mr. Ashcroft selected their Republican friends for judgeships.

Mr. Blunt should follow the example of Mr. Bond and Mr. Ashcroft and work within the plan. Mr. Blunt cannot expect to be presented with a perfect candidate; none exists. If he wants more conservative judges on the appellate courts, he should encourage conservative Republican lawyers and judges to apply.

The Missouri Non-Partisan Court Plan has worked since it was adopted in the 1940s. If Mr. Blunt and his colleagues persist in their efforts to denigrate Justice Stith and her colleagues on the judicial commission, perhaps the voters should take a hard look at them at the next election.

Murry A. Marks | St. Louis County

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