JEFFERSON CITY聽鈥 Missouri lawmakers hastily canceled a scheduled address by the chief justice of the Missouri Supreme Court Wednesday days after the panel聽unanimously struck down a Republican-backed law giving the Secretary of State the power to rewrite ballot language, among other changes.
Chief Justice Brent Powell had been expected to speak to a joint session of the House and Senate when the chambers gaveled in for business Wednesday morning. It is an annual event in which the state's top jurist outlines accomplishments and goals for the coming year.
Some members of the Senate, however, had planned to boycott the event because of their anger over the that overturned Senate Bill 22, a 2025 law giving the Secretary of State the authority to rewrite ballot language during legal challenges, a responsibility previously held by judges.
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The law granted the secretary three attempts to rewrite ballot language after a judge has determined the submitted language does not accurately reflect the question being put to voters.
The bill also gave the state attorney general the ability to appeal temporary restraining orders issued by circuit court judges. That power was seen by legislators as an opportunity to continue to uphold state laws restricting abortion access despite voter approval of Amendment 3 in 2024, which ensured reproductive rights.
With Powell writing the decision, the judges struck down the measure as unconstitutional, saying it had changed too much from its original purpose and included unrelated elements.
The decision angered Republicans, including the sponsor of the measure, Sen. Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville, who spoke for 15 minutes on the Senate floor Wednesday, calling聽the seven-member panel a 鈥渞unaway court鈥 that has 鈥渇lagrantly thrown the Constitution into the mud... and flips the middle bird to us every freaking day.鈥
鈥淚'm highly upset that they would cancel because their butts needed to be sitting over in this chamber while they see everybody stare them in their face for the crap they pull. Instead, they get to hide behind their little brick building, like little kings and queens in their black robes,鈥 Brattin said.
Other Republicans joined in, saying the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government must work together to serve citizens.
鈥淭his is not the balance that our founders intended,鈥 said Sen. Nick Schroer, R-Defiance. 鈥淚f one branch is permitted to dominate鈥 then the people lose.鈥
Sen. Adam Schnelting, R-St. Charles, said it is the duty of the legislative branch to question the judicial branch.
鈥淲e鈥檙e arguing against judicial overreach,鈥 Schnelting said.
Sen. Joe Nicola, R-Grain Valley, suggested the court was 鈥渙ut of control.鈥
鈥淚t should be a concern to every one of us,鈥 Nicola said. 鈥淲e can鈥檛 allow this to stand.鈥
A court spokeswoman did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday.
House Speaker Jon Patterson's office did not immediately respond to a question about who canceled Powell's appearance.
On Tuesday, Senate President Cindy O鈥橪aughlin, R-Shelbina, re-introduced legislation that would allow for the election of Supreme Court judges.
Currently, nominees for the court are interviewed and have their applications reviewed by a non-partisan panel, which makes recommendations for appointees to the governor.
The panel includes three citizens selected by the governor, the Supreme Court's chief justice and three lawyers elected by the Missouri Bar.
Five of the court's seven members were appointed by Republican governors.
Democrats, who had opposed Senate Bill 22, called the cancellation of the speech 鈥減etty retaliation.鈥
鈥淯nfortunately, this is just another sad example of majority Republicans throwing a temper tantrum whenever they don鈥檛 get their way,鈥 said House Minority Leader Ashley Aune, D-Kansas City.
The week of Jan. 18 had freezing temperatures, plenty of snow and long grocery lines. Video edited by Jenna Jones.
