Public criticism of the state's system for selecting judges was orchestrated from former Gov. Matt Blunt's office, a review of e-mails shows. Missouri Lawyers Weekly reviewed several hundred pages of e-mail communications to and from members of the governor's office provided under a Sunshine Law request. The e-mails reveal a coordinated effort by Blunt's office, particularly Ed Martin, his former chief of staff, to disparage the court plan and call for change.

Tagged with: e-mail Ed Martin Matt Blunt Patricia Breckenridge Sunshine Law

The e-mails obtained by Missouri Lawyers Weekly from former Gov. Matt Blunt’s administration do more than lay out the internal debate over the selection of state Supreme Court Judge Patricia Breckenridge. Some of the e-mails also make clear the involvement ...

Tagged with: e-mails Ed Martin Henry Herschel Matt Blunt Nonpartisan Court Plan Patricia Breckenridge Rich Chrismer Scott Eckersley

New Gov. Jay Nixon recognizes the importance his power in appointing judges. "Governor Nixon believes that judicial appointments are some of the most important selections that a governor can make," spokesman Jack Cardetti said. During his four years in office, Nixon's predecessor, Matt Blunt, appointed two new judges, Zel Fischer and Patricia Breckenridge, to the seven-member Missouri Supreme Court and a host of others to appellate or lower-level judicial posts. Nixon is expected to approach judicial selections much differently.

Tagged with: Jay Nixon judicial appointment Matt Blunt Missouri Plan

U.S. Sen. Kit Bond will not seek re-election when his seat is up again in 2010. Bond, a Republican, was first elected a senator in 1986 and has been re-elected three times. Bond shared the news in a speech to ...

Tagged with: Chris Koster Jared Craighead Jay Nixon Kit Bond Matt Blunt Robin Carnahan Roy Blunt

While many of the state’s court staff might have hoped to have the day off for Gov.-elect Jay Nixon’s swearing-in, only those lucky enough to be working in Jefferson City are not in their offices today. It has been fairly ...

Tagged with: Bob Holden David Dowd inauguration Jay Nixon John Ashcroft Kit Bond Matt Blunt Mel Carnahan St. Louis Circuit Court

U.S. Sen. Kit Bond will not seek re-election when his seat is up again in 2010. Bond, a Republican, was first elected a senator in 1986 and has been re-elected three times. Bond shared the news in a speech to ...

Tagged with: Greg Kays Kit Bond Matt Blunt

Husch Blackwell Sanders attorney Ben Uchitelle and his wife, Susan Uchitelle, will receive the 2008 Cornerstone Award from the Clayton Chamber of Commerce at its annual awards dinner at the Ritz-Carlton on Feb. 5. The award is given for long-term ...

Tagged with: Clint Zweifel Danna McKitrick Husch Blackwell Sanders Matt Blunt Paul Passanante

Joel May will be Gov. Matt Blunt’s final judicial appointment. Blunt, who leaves office on Monday, selected May, an assistant U.S. attorney, for the Jackson County Circuit bench late Tuesday afternoon. He formally announced the selection Wednesday. May, 39, will ...

Tagged with: Jackson County Circuit Court judicial appointment Matt Blunt Missouri

Joel May will be Gov. Matt Blunt’s final judicial appointment. Blunt, who leaves office on Monday, selected May, an assistant U.S. attorney, for the Jackson County Circuit bench late Tuesday afternoon, according to Rod Chapel, who was also on the ...

Tagged with: Administrative Hearing Commission Husch Blackwell Sanders Jackson County Circuit Matt Blunt

A circuit judge signed off Monday on a settlement reached between court-appointed attorneys and those for Gov. Matt Blunt in a long-running dispute over government records. An attorney for special investigators looking into whether the governor’s office violated the state ...

Tagged with: Cole County Matt Blunt Richard Callahan settlement

An attorney for special investigators is officially objecting to settlement of the state lawsuit against Gov. Matt Blunt’s office over public records. What effect that objection will have remains unclear. A hearing on the settlement is set for this afternoon. ...

Tagged with: Chet Pleban Cole County e-mail Jay Nixon Matt Blunt Richard Callahan Sunshine Law