Attorney Matt Devoti is excited to announce today his candidacy for a seat on Missouri’s Twenty Second Judicial Commission. As a member of this nonpartisan commission, Matt will review the merits of lawyers applying for a judgeship within the Twenty Second Judicial Circuit, which comprises all courts in the City of St. Louis.
Judicial commissions were formed in 1940 under the “Nonpartisan Selection of Judges Court Plan,” commonly referred to as the “Missouri Plan.” The plan was a direct response to Missourians’ increasing frustrations with the role politics played in the selection of judges during the 1930s. Politicians seemingly influenced not only the election of Missouri judges but also the way in which those judges administered justice from the bench.
Now 80 years old, the Missouri Plan serves as the model for the selection of judges across the country. Under the plan, nonpartisan commissions meet to review the qualification of applicants interested in serving as judges. The commissions conduct a public interview of each applicant. The commissions then put forward three qualified candidates to Missouri’s governor, who selects one of those candidates for appointment to the judiciary.
Today, judicial commissions interview candidates interested in serving on the Missouri Supreme Court, the Courts of Appeals and in five of Missouri’s judicial circuits. The Twenty Second Judicial Commission includes two lawyers, two lay people and the Chief Judge of the Eastern District Court of Appeals. Lawyers serve a six-year term and are elected by their peers. Licensed lawyers living in the City of St. Louis are eligible voters for the Twenty Second Judicial Commission.
Matt Devoti has long been a supporter of the Missouri Plan. A former candidate for judicial office, Matt knows firsthand the Commission’s role in the selection of qualified candidates for the Governor’s consideration. He’s also very familiar with judges appointed through the plan, having tried more than 40 jury cases to conclusion and arguing nearly 15 cases to Missouri’s appellate courts. Matt has also spoken extensively with groups interested in learning more about Missouri’s system for appointing judges.
Matt and his family live in the City’s Hill community. He is a member of St. Ambrose Church and recently worked with a committee studying the strengths of his neighborhood. Matt has also served his community as a board member of St. Martha’s Hall, a domestic violence shelter, and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Gateway Chapter.
Please join us in supporting Matt’s candidacy!
