Who has the authority to appoint judges in Missouri?

The Governor of Missouri has the authority to appoint judges, specifically within the context of the merit system. In Missouri, the appointment process for judges in certain courts involves the Governor selecting candidates from a list provided by a nonpartisan judicial commission. This process is designed to ensure that judicial appointments are made based on merit rather than political affiliations, promoting a judiciary that is independent and fair.

In the merit system, when a vacancy arises in certain courts, the judicial commission conducts a thorough evaluation of potential candidates. After reviewing qualifications and suitability, they present a list to the Governor. The Governor then makes an appointment from this list, thereby ensuring that judicial selections are based on the candidate's qualifications and expertise.

This system is intended to minimize political influence in the judicial appointment process, contrasting with how other states may handle similar appointments, often through direct elections or purely political appointments. Thus, the correct choice reflects the structured and merit-based approach that Missouri employs for selecting judges.