America's First Merit-Selection Judge

Abstract:     
The "Missouri Plan" of merit selection is used by 32 states to select some or all of their judges. This brief biography examines the professional and judicial career of Laurance M. Hyde (1892-1978), the first individual to reach judicial office by merit selection. Widely regarded as the greatest judge ever to sit on the Missouri Supreme Court, Judge Hyde achieved nationwide stature in the field of judicial administration. He was president of Scribes - The American Society of Legal Writers in 1966-67. [Includes photograph.]

Keywords: judges, judicial selection, Missouri Plan

Accepted Paper Series