Case Summary

On May 18, 2020, eight Missouri residents filed a lawsuit alleging the General Assembly’s written summary of a redistricting-related constitutional ballot measure, Missouri Amendment 3 (Senate Joint Resolution 38), failed to accurately describe the measure’s language and effects. They asked the court to block the summary from being placed on the ballot and order the plaintiffs’ own proposed summary to be used instead.

  • On August 17, 2020, the Circuit Court of Cole County granted summary judgment for the plaintiffs and ordered the plaintiffs’ summary to be placed on the 2020 ballot instead, finding the General Assembly’s summary to be “insufficient and unfair.” Defendants appealed to the Missouri Court of Appeals.
  • On August 31, 2020, the Missouri Court of Appeals affirmed in part and reversed in part the circuit court’s decision. The court found certain parts of the summary were indeed unfair or insufficient but ultimately ordered a summary with fewer revisions be certified for placement on the 2020 ballot.

Case Library

Circuit Court of Cole County - 20AC-CC00206

Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District - WD83962