We have never been shy about our disagreements with many of Gov. Matt Blunt’s more egregious policies. Yet he deserves credit for his decision to replace Judge Kenneth Romines (who Blunt recently appointed to the Eastern District State Court of Appeals) with St. Louis County Circuit Judge Mike Jamison. Judge Jamison , a 54 year old African American known for his sound judicial temperament, has an impressive record that includes working in the private sector, a lengthy tenure with the National Labor Relations Board as well as his current judicial post where he has served since 1991. He was named to the bench by then-Gov. Mel Carnahan.
The appointment is consistent with a pattern of recent Missouri Republican governors, who rarely attract many votes from the African Americans, but have been willing to name African Americans to coveted circuit court judgeships. Even a very conservative Republican governor in a so-called “red state”, with a solid base of social conservatives and the business community, has to pay some attention to other interest groups.
Although President Bush won the state handily over Sen. John Kerry in 2004, the governor’s race was a squeaker. In fact, the race for the Governor’s Mansion remained a dead heat until the final days.
Blunt’s 51 percent victory over State Auditor Claire McCaskill in 2004 means he has to be more sensitive in dealing with issues that concern groups outside his core constituency. Four-term Democratic Attorney General, Jay Nixon announced last week that he is “very interested” in challenging the incumbent governor in 2008. In addition, the state GOP has to be deeply concerned if McCaskill decides to contest incumbent James Talent for his U.S. Senate seat next year. That contest would attract national attention as Democrats make a strong push to increase their numbers in the Senate, if not win outright control.
The appointment of Judge Jamison, who lists state Court of Appeals Judge George Draper and state Supreme Court Justice Ronnie White and Richard B. Tietelman as mentors, both liberals, is a welcome and substantial addition to the bench and Gov. Blunt deserves praise for his selection. This appointment stands as a positive step by the first-term governor along with his vow to veto any legislation that seeks to criminalize stem cell research in the state and his support for Harris Stowe State University.