MO SJR51

Submits constitutional amendment to Missouri voters on November 6, 2012 (or special election), modifying sections 25(a) and 25(d) of Article V regarding nonpartisan judicial selection

For Supreme Court and Court of Appeals vacancies, governor appoints one of four nominees (increased from three) submitted by the Appellate Judicial Commission; commission appointment power applies if governor fails to appoint within 60 days

Restructures Appellate Judicial Commission to consist of seven voting members and one nonvoting member, replacing previous single judge structure with a former appeals or supreme court judge as nonvoting member serving four-year terms beginning January 15, 2013

Governor appoints four citizen voting members (one from each court of appeals district and one at-large), with staggered terms ending January 15, 2015 and 2017, plus bar members elect one voting member from each court of appeals district

Expands nonpartisan selection system to include Jackson County and any other circuit electing to participate under section 25(b), submitting three nominees for circuit and associate circuit judge vacancies