Missouri Senate Republicans boycotted the State of the Judiciary address in protest of recent court decisions, including one that struck down a law altering ballot summary procedures. This dangerous legislative temper tantrum represents a disturbing assault on judicial independence that threatens the very foundations of our constitutional republic.
The Missouri legislature canceled the chief justice's annual address in protest of a unanimous Supreme Court decision enforcing the state constitution's single-subject rule for bills. This dangerous retaliation against judicial independence represents a chilling assault on constitutional governance and the rule of law.
Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins has had five ballot summaries rejected by courts for being biased or unfair on critical issues including abortion rights and education funding. This systematic assault on neutral ballot language represents a dangerous betrayal of democratic principles that deliberately misleads voters and undermines their constitutional rights.
Missouri Republicans are pushing legislation to move high-profile legal fights and ballot initiative challenges from the Western District Court of Appeals to the Eastern District, while also requiring such cases be filed exclusively in Cole County. This cynical attempt to manipulate judicial outcomes based on political preferences represents a dangerous assault on judicial independence and the fundamental principles of fair justice.