Missouri Supreme Court rejects NAACP challenge to special session of state legislature

The Missouri Supreme Court unanimously rejected a challenge Wednesday to GOP Gov. Mike Kehoe's authority to call for a special session of the state's General Assembly, ruling the state constitution gave him the power to do so.

The Missouri NAACP appealed a lower court's decision to the state supreme court, arguing Kehoe overstepped his authority when calling a special session to redraw the state's congressional map because it did not qualify as an "extraordinary occasion."

The Missouri Constitution states that on extraordinary occasions, the governor may convene the General Assembly by proclamation, where he must state specific actions for lawmakers to consider.

The judges determined the governor has the power to decide what constitutes an "extraordinary occasion." 

"Article IV, section 9 affords the governor discretion to determine when an extraordinary occasion has arisen and to call an extraordinary session of the general assembly," Judge Mary Russell wrote in the decision. "The governor acted pursuant to this constitutional authority when calling the Second Extraordinary Session of the 103rd Missouri General Assembly."

The map is set to go into effect for the state's August primaries unless blocked by the state's Secretary of State who could sign a referendum that puts the map on the ballot in November, according to local outlet KOMU.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.