MO SJR17

Increases the number of nominees submitted to the governor for judicial vacancies from three to four persons for Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and circuit judges in St. Louis and Jackson County.

Reduces the governor's time to appoint a nominee from sixty days to thirty days; if the governor fails to appoint within thirty days, the commission must submit four additional candidates, and if still no appointment within thirty days, the commission shall appoint one of the second list nominees.

Expands the Appellate Judicial Commission from a judge-led body to a nine-member commission effective January 2013, consisting of bar-elected members and two governor-appointed citizens from each court of appeals district instead of one.

Increases circuit judicial commission membership from five to seven members effective January 2013, with bar-elected members increasing from one to two and governor-appointed citizens increasing from two to five.

Applies these changes to vacancies in Missouri Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and circuit or associate circuit judge positions in St. Louis and Jackson County.