Ballot lawsuit to be settled soon

James Layton, Missouri solicitor general and the state's principal appellate lawyer, speaks on behalf of Secretary of State Robin Carnahan in the the lawsuit challenging ballot language for Amendment 3 on the Nov. 6 general election ballot. Seated at right is attorney Heidi Doerhoff Vollet.
James Layton, Missouri solicitor general and the state's principal appellate lawyer, speaks on behalf of Secretary of State Robin Carnahan in the the lawsuit challenging ballot language for Amendment 3 on the Nov. 6 general election ballot. Seated at right is attorney Heidi Doerhoff Vollet.

After a 40-minute hearing Friday morning, Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem said he expects to have a quick decision in a lawsuit challenging the ballot title for a proposed constitutional amendment appearing on the Nov. 6 election ballot.

"My goal is to resolve this by Monday afternoon," Beetem announced.

A Kansas City law firm representing seven clients filed their 13-page lawsuit on July 13 - 10 days after Secretary of State Robin Carnahan released her summary statement for the proposed amendment lawmakers put on the ballot - accusing Carnahan of writing a ballot title that unfairly and inaccurately explains the proposed changes to the state's 70-year-old method of nominating judges to the state's appeals and Supreme courts.

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