Scott Faughn Urges Missourians to Retain Judge Paul Wilson

November 2026 Ballot Tests Judicial Independence

Voters heading to the polls face a retention election for Missouri Supreme Court Judge Paul Wilson that carries implications for the state’s judicial independence, according to a column published by The Missouri Times.

The Temptation of Reflexive Voting

Scott Faughn, publisher of The Missouri Times, the Jefferson City News Tribune, the Fulton Sun, and the California Democrat, addressed the retention vote in a column examining the pressures facing modern judicial evaluations. Faughn noted that voters frequently feel tempted to vote against retaining a judge simply because they disagree with a specific ruling, regardless of the jurist’s overall qualifications or character.

“I know it can feel good to see a ruling you don’t like and want to reflexively make a decision like voting not to retain a judge regardless of his prior rulings, character, or his qualifications,” Faughn wrote.

My latest @thisweekinmopol column: Missourians should retain Judge Paul Wilson https://t.co/D26FSmINpl

— https://x.com/scottfaughn/status/2117385548713127949

Precedent Set by Broniec Retention

Faughn pointed to a similar dynamic two years prior involving Supreme Court Judge Kelly Broniec. Despite opposition over a single decision, Broniec was retained by over half a million votes after the broader electorate concluded that isolated rulings did not constitute grounds for removal.

Judge Wilson Leads Missouri Law School Class

Judge Wilson’s background reflects deep roots in Missouri’s legal and civic community. As the son of a Missouri judge, he was born and raised in Jefferson City, where he still resides. Academically, Wilson graduated first in his class from the University of Missouri Law School. Faughn noted that the judge has no marks against his professional record or personal character.

Pragmatic Record on the Bench

To illustrate Wilson’s judicial approach, the column highlighted his voting patterns alongside conservative Judge Zel Fischer of Atchison County. Faughn pointed out that Wilson most frequently aligns with Fischer, a leading conservative voice on the bench, demonstrating a pragmatic streak that transcends rigid ideological divisions.

“In an age where radicals seek to throw their fits and tear down the institutions that have made our state strong, reasonable folks from the Show-Me State need sound reasons to fire a man from his job,” Faughn wrote.

Risks of Out-of-State Influence

The column warned that voting against judges over individual decisions risks turning every court case into an unpredictable political referendum. Such a shift, the analysis suggested, could open the state’s judiciary to influence from out-of-state financial interests seeking to alter Missouri courtrooms.

“You may not always agree with him, hell who in the world would you always agree with, but he has earned the right to keep his job,” Faughn stated, urging voters to support Wilson’s retention at the polls.