Mo. voters reject change in judicial selection

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri voters have rejected a proposal that would have changed the process of nominating and appointing judges to the state Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals.

The proposed constitutional amendment on Tuesday's ballot would have modified the membership of the seven-member Appellate Nominating Commission. The panel screens applicants for the top courts and recommends three finalists to the governor, who makes the appointment.

The commission now consists of a Supreme Court judge, three non-lawyers appointed by the governor and three lawyers selected by fellow members of The Missouri Bar.

The ballot measure would have removed the Supreme Court judge and required the commission to recommend four finalists. It would have increased the governor's appointees on the commission to four and removed the requirement that none of them be lawyers.