Ray Price to leave state Supreme Court

Originally published June 4, 2012 at 4:32 p.m., updated June 4, 2012 at 10:28 p.m.

Saying he want his successor to be appointed under the Nonpartisan Court Plan, Supreme Court Judge William Ray Price Jr. on Monday announced his resignation from the high court, effective Aug. 1.

“It has been my honor and joy to serve on the Supreme Court of Missouri for the past 20 years,” Price told Gov. Jay Nixon and Chief Justice Richard Teitelman in a letter dated Monday.

“I am especially proud of the many Missouri judges with whom I have served and their commitment to the fair and impartial administration of justice.”

Price joined the high court in April 1992, the sixth of then-Gov. John Ashcroft's seven appointees to the court during his eight years as governor.

Price was the last member of the so-called “Ashcroft court” remaining on the state’s Supreme Court, and served as its chief justice for two, two-year terms — July 1, 1999-June 30, 2001, and again from July 1, 2009-June 30, 2011.

He also served as chairman of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals.

In his letter, he said he intends to return to private law practice.

Under the Nonpartisan plan, a seven-member commission will meet this fall, interview applicants who want to succeed Price on the court, then submit three names to Nixon for his appointment.

If the governor doesn't choose one of those three within 60 days, the commission makes the appointment.

Voters in November will be given a chance to modify the system.

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Graceful 11 months, 2 weeks ago

You know you are old and have red-neck roots when you see the name Ray Price and think of a country music singer.

tonto_goldberg 11 months, 2 weeks ago

I guess that makes me old as well. Ray Price had some crossover success - the one I remembered was "For the Good Times" that went to #11 on the pop chart in 1970. He's still using that great voice singing gospel music in Texas.

Sequoia 11 months, 2 weeks ago

Great enough that it is known as "The Missouri Plan" and 12 states have adopted it: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wyoming. In addition to these twelve states, Tennessee uses a modified version of the Missouri Plan and Florida also uses a complex, modified version of the Missouri Plan. Not exactly states where "union thuggery" abides.

Actually, the MO Plan works very well to get a good Supreme Court. Missouri's is quite good and reasonable.

The problems with an elected judiciary is nicely captured in John Grisham's novel, The Appeal.

But hey, why let a little information get in the way, when you can toss around phrases like "union thuggery"?