Amendment restricting judges' role attracts debate

Three lawyers seeking to stop a proposed constitutional amendment restricting the role of judges in disputes over taxes and spending took their case Thursday to the court of public opinion.

Ron Baird, president of the Missouri Bar, former Missouri Supreme Court Judge Ann Covington and University of Missouri Law School professor Douglas Abrams held a news conference questioning the wisdom of the amendment, which supporters said will block the courts from imposing tax increases.

But the proposal goes much further, they said, taking away Missourians' rights to challenge spending or taxation that exceeds constitutional limits and upsetting the balance of power between the three branches of government.

The executive committee of the Missouri Bar, the statewide lawyer's organization, has voted unanimously to oppose the proposed amendment, Baird said.

"We can't let politicians limit our access to justice by letting them decide wich cases the courts can and cannnot hear," Baird said.

The proposal has passed the Missouri House and is pending in the Missouri Senate. The sponsor of the amendment, Rep. Jane Cunningham, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

For more details, check back at www.semissourian.com or read Friday's Southeast Missourian.