The Missouri Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that Gov. Mike Kehoe did not violate the State Constitution by calling a special session to pass the Missouri First congressional district map.
During a hearing Wednesday before the High Court, Attorney Sharon Jones, representing the NAACP of Missouri, argued that last September’s special session did not meet the legal definition of an “extraordinary” session.
“To throw out the phrase on ‘extraordinary occasion’ as some sort of near throat clearing would not comply with the way that we interpret our Constitution,” Jones told the Supreme Court judges.
Joe Kiernan with the Missouri Attorney General’s office defended the special legislative session before the High Court.
“No one doubts that appellants have strident political objections,” Kiernan argued. “What they are not entitled to is to repackage those objections as a lawsuit asking this court to rewrite Missouri’s constitution. The governor wields discretionary authority to call extraordinary sessions.”
Opponents of the Missouri First map are now waiting to see if or when Sec. of State Denny Hoskins certifies a ballot measure requiring the map to be approved by a majority of voters.
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