Voting for Judges in St. Louis—Understanding the Process for Appointing and Reviewing Judges
Hallie Van Duren • October 27, 2020
On November 3rd, Missouri voters will be asked to vote, not only on their leaders in the executive and legislative branches of government, but the judiciary, as well. Some voters may think that because they do not have any direct experience with the Missouri judges on the ballot, they should skip those ballot questions or vote blindly. Fortunately, however, there are resources available for voters to quickly and easily educate themselves in order to have a voice in their judicial branch.
Missouri’s judicial branch is made up of three levels of courts: The Supreme Court, four Appellate Courts, and 46 local Circuit Courts. Judges presiding in the Missouri Supreme Court, Appellate Courts, and six counties, including St. Louis City and St. Louis County, are selected using the “Missouri Plan”, also known as the Missouri Non-Partisan Court Plan. Under the Missouri Plan, judges apply for their positions and are evaluated and selected for a panel by a judicial commission made up of an appellate court judge, citizens appointed by the governor of Missouri, and lawyers elected by the members of the Missouri Bar. Three panelists are then selected and submitted to the governor, who selects the judge from the three panelists.
After judges are appointed, they are then periodically submitted to the voters to determine whether they should be retained in their positions. Any judge who receives a majority of “yes” votes will stay on the bench for that term. Unlike other counties in Missouri and some other states, judges under the Missouri Plan do not declare a party affiliation.
The goals of the Missouri Plan are to provide transparency to the public in the process for the selection and retention of judges and hold judges accountable to the people, who are ultimately responsible for keeping them on the bench. The Missouri Plan only works as intended if the voters accept the responsibility of evaluating and retaining their judges and educate themselves about the judges in order to make informed decisions.
To assist in deciding whether to retain judges, Missouri has a committee made up of lawyers, non-lawyers, and retired judges who review judges to advise whether they substantially meet judicial performance standards. The committee evaluates the judges based on lawyers’ ratings, jurors’ ratings, and written opinions from judges. During the current review cycle, the committee concluded that all 52 judges on the ballot for retention on November 3rd substantially meet overall judicial performance standards.
You can find more information about the judges and the history and details of the Missouri Plan at www.yourMissouriJudges.com.
We are proud to share that our attorneys’ dedication and exceptional work for clients have been recognized by peers. This year, four attorneys from The Center for Family Law are honored in the 2026 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America . Ann Bauer - Best Lawyers list for family law, family law mediation, collaborative law--family law. In addition, Ann was named as "Lawyer of the Year" for her work in collaborative law. This is Ann's 12th consecutive year being recognized. Allison Gerli - Best Lawyers list for family law, family law mediation, collaborative law--family law. This is Allison's third consecutive year being recognized. Kristen Sparks - Best Lawyers "Ones to Watch" list for family law, family law--arbitration & mediation, and alternative dispute resolution. Hallie Van Duren - Best Lawyers list for family law, family law mediation, collaborative law--family law. This is Hallie's second year being recognized. About Best Lawyers Since 1983, Best Lawyers has been recognized as one of the most respected guides to legal excellence. Attorneys selected for The Best Lawyers in America are nominated and evaluated by their peers based on professional expertise and undergo a rigorous verification process to ensure they are in current practice and in good standing. About The Center for Family Law Founded in 2013, The Center for Family Law provides comprehensive representation in all areas of family law, with a culture built on partnership with our clients and other professionals. We believe the role of a lawyer is to partner with clients, help them understand their options, and give them the information and confidence they need to make well-informed decisions. To schedule a consultation, click here .
The Center for Family Law is proud to announce that Ann Bauer has once again been named the “Lawyer of the Year” in Collaborative Family Law in St. Louis by Best Lawyers for 2026. Each year, this designation is awarded to only one attorney in each practice area and region, based on outstanding peer feedback—making it a truly exceptional distinction. This marks Ann’s third year being recognized as "Lawyer of the Year" for her work in collaborative divorce, and her 12th year being recognized by Best Lawyers. For 2026, she is listed for her work in family law, family law mediation, and collaborative law. Ann is an active member of the St. Louis Collaborative Family Law Association and is deeply committed to the collaborative divorce process, valuing the positive and lasting impact it has on her clients and their families. About the Collaborative Divorce Process Collaborative divorce is a respectful legal process that enables couples to resolve all aspects of their divorce—such as property division, child custody, child support, and spousal support—without litigation. Using a team-based approach, which includes attorneys for each spouse, a financial neutral, and a mental health professional, couples work together through negotiation and mediation to reach agreements without the stress and conflict of court. Learn more on the St. Louis Collaborative Family Law Association website by clicking here . About Best Lawyers Since 1983, Best Lawyers has been recognized as one of the most respected guides to legal excellence. Attorneys selected for The Best Lawyers in America are nominated and evaluated by their peers based on professional expertise and undergo a rigorous verification process to ensure they are in current practice and in good standing. About The Center for Family Law Founded in 2013, The Center for Family Law provides comprehensive representation in all areas of family law, with a culture built on partnership with our clients and other professionals. We believe the role of a lawyer is to partner with clients, help them understand their options, and give them the information and confidence they need to make well-informed decisions. To schedule a consultation, click here .
The Center for Family Law is pleased to announce that Robert Boedeker has joined the firm as of July 2025 as an attorney of counsel. Robert is a 2011 graduate of St. Louis University School of Law. For the past ten years, he has worked at Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Inc. in the Lasting Solutions Family Law Program, which he co-managed since 2017. At The Center for Family Law, Robert will continue to practice law on family matters and order of protection cases in St. Louis County, St. Louis City, St. Charles County and Jefferson County. Additionally, he is a certified family law Guardian ad Litem and Mediator, and is looking to resume those areas of practice. “Joining The Center for Family Law allows me to dedicate myself again to just representing clients,” said Robert. “At Legal Services, I was dividing my time between clients and my management duties. I am excited to get back to mediating and representing children’s best interests; at Legal Services, often mediation was inappropriate for clients because of the serious domestic violence they were escaping.” He continued, “I loved my time at Legal Services and the clients and colleagues I worked with. But I am now looking forward to focusing just on the courtroom and mediation work. The attorneys at The Center for Family Law have the same passion for serving clients and a wealth of experience that I am grateful to be able to bring to my cases.” “Working in family law is meaningful and can be life-changing for our clients,” said Robert, “and I am glad to join a firm with the right balance of prioritizing conflict-resolution and defending their clients’ interests when needed.” The Center for Family Law welcomes Robert to the team, knowing his experience and personality make him a good fit to continue the firm’s tradition of collaboration and finding solutions for people in need.