On this page
Judicial Elections
Missouri Supreme Court Elections 2026
Missouri Supreme Court justices are appointed by the governor from a list drawn up by a nominating commission, then face voters in yes/no retention elections every 12 years. 1 seat is on the November 3 ballot.
Rules as of October 15, 2026 · candidates as of October 15, 2026 · source Ballotpedia
Are judges elected in Missouri?
- Highest court
- Missouri Supreme Court — 7 justices
- How chosen
- Commission + appointment
- Voters
- Voters decide retention
- Term
- 12 years (shorter first term)
- To serve again
- Yes/no retention vote
- 2026 ballot
- 1 seat on November 3 — 1 retention
How Missouri chooses its judges
Missouri Supreme Court justices are appointed by the governor from a list drawn up by a nominating commission, then face voters in yes/no retention elections every 12 years.
- Seats: 7 justices on the Missouri Supreme Court.
- Term: 12 years, after at least one year before the first retention vote.
- To serve again: Yes/no retention vote.
- Age rule: Must retire at 70.
- Other courts: The Court of Appeals is appointed the same way; circuit judges are appointed in some counties and elected in partisan races in others.
Compare every state on the judicial selection table.
Missouri Supreme Court elections in 2026
1 seat is up in 2026 (retention votes).
Retention vote
Retention vote- Paul C. WilsonIncumbent
Voters answer yes or no on keeping this justice. There is no opponent.
Candidates as of October 15, 2026 from Ballotpedia. Results for November races are added once certified. Party labels are not shown because they do not appear on the ballot.
How to research judges on your Missouri ballot
- Official evaluations: Judicial Performance Review Committee — the state’s official reviews of judges facing voters.
- Your sample ballot: Missouri’s official election site shows every judicial race on your ballot, including local courts.
- Deadlines and voting options: How to vote in Missouri — registration, early voting, mail ballots and poll hours.
- Candidate details: Ballotpedia tracks each candidate’s background, endorsements and spending; local news and the state bar often publish candidate surveys.
Judicial ethics rules bar candidates from promising how they will rule, so a judge’s record and experience usually say more than campaign ads. This site does not endorse or rate candidates.
Federal judges in Missouri
Federal judges are never on a ballot: the President nominates them and the U.S. Senate confirms them for life. Missouri’s two senators vote on every nominee and are traditionally consulted on district court nominees from the state.
Missouri’s senators: Eric Schmitt (Republican) and Josh Hawley (Republican).
Confirmed by recorded vote in 2026
District judges for courts in Missouri and circuit judges from the state. Judges confirmed by voice vote leave no roll call; the Senate’s list of confirmed nominations has them. Roll calls from the snapshot refreshed Oct 1, 2026.
Open federal judgeships
The U.S. Courts list no vacant district judgeship in Missouri as of October 15, 2026.
Source: uscourts.gov current judicial vacancies. Every vacancy nationwide is on the judicial elections hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are judges elected in Missouri?
Missouri Supreme Court justices are appointed by the governor from a list drawn up by a nominating commission, then face voters in yes/no retention elections every 12 years. The Court of Appeals is appointed the same way; circuit judges are appointed in some counties and elected in partisan races in others.
How long is a term on the Missouri Supreme Court?
12 years, after at least one year before the first retention vote. At the end of a term, they face yes/no retention votes to stay on the court. Must retire at 70.
Who is running for the Missouri Supreme Court in 2026?
1 seat is on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Retention: Paul C. Wilson, incumbent.
How do I research judges on my Missouri ballot?
Start with the Judicial Performance Review Committee, the state's official judicial performance evaluation program (https://yourmissourijudges.org/). Your sample ballot from https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/goVoteMissouri/register lists every judicial race, including local courts. Ballotpedia, local news and the state bar cover candidates' experience and endorsements.
Who appoints federal judges in Missouri?
The President nominates and the U.S. Senate confirms them; they serve for life. Missouri's senators, Eric Schmitt and Josh Hawley, vote on every nomination and are traditionally consulted on district court nominees from the state. The Senate confirmed 2 judges tied to Missouri by recorded vote in 2026.
Related
Judicial Elections in Every State
How all 50 states choose judges, every 2026 supreme court race, and federal confirmations.
How to Vote in Missouri
Registration, early voting, mail ballots and poll hours.
Missouri Senators & Representatives
Your delegation in Congress and when each term ends.
What Can Congress Do?
Can Congress declare war, override a veto, impeach a cabinet member, remove a senator, overrule the Supreme Court, or invoke the 25th Amendment? Question by question, with live vote math.