Freedom Principle Condemns Missouri Supreme Court Contempt Ruling, Demands Immediate Impeachment Proceedings, Calls on Governor Kehoe to Convene a Special Session to Repeal the Missouri Court Plan
The Freedom Principle today condemned the Missouri Supreme Court’s decision finding Secretary of State Denny Hoskins “was in contempt” for directing local election officials to follow a federal temporary restraining order issued by Chief Judge Stephen R. Clark of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. That federal order directed the Secretary to use the congressional map enacted in House Bill 1—the 7–1 map—for the November 3, 2026 general election. After a morning hearing and an afternoon return appearance, Chief Justice W. Brent Powell announced that Hoskins had been in contempt of the Court’s September 3 injunction, but that he purged the contempt by reversing his directive and instructing local election authorities to use the 2022 congressional map.
“This contempt ruling shows how much of a clown show the Missouri Supreme Court is,” said Byron Keelin, President of Freedom Principle. “These judges continue to make a mockery of the Missouri Constitution, and we have lost all trust in their ability to effectively adjudicate.”
On September 3, the Missouri Supreme Court enjoined implementation of HB 1 unless and until voters approve it. On September 8, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh denied an emergency stay of that state-court judgment. Minutes later, Judge Clark entered a TRO on federal-law grounds forbidding the Secretary from implementing, using, publishing, distributing, or mandating any congressional map other than the HB 1 map. Secretary Hoskins transmitted that federal order to local election authorities. The state high court then ordered him to appear and show cause why he should not be held in contempt of the September 3 injunction.
In a September 9 letter to Chief Justice W. Brent Powell, State Sen. Joe Nicola and fellow members of the General Assembly warned that holding Hoskins in contempt for obeying a federal court order would violate the Supremacy Clause itself. Article VI, Clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution provides that the Constitution and federal laws “shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.” The legislators stated that review of Judge Clark’s TRO belongs in the Eighth Circuit and, if necessary, the Supreme Court of the United States—not in a state contempt proceeding that would force defiance of federal authority.
That warning is now reality. The Court held Secretary Hoskins in contempt for obeying a federal court order. The Freedom Principle calls on the signers and House leadership to begin impeachment proceedings immediately against the responsible members of the Court for willful neglect of duty, incompetency, and misconduct under Article VII, Sections 1 and 2 of the Missouri Constitution.
“We strongly support Senator Joe Nicola and the other legislators. The time for warnings is over. Impeach the Missouri Supreme Court,” said Keelin. “These Justices believe they are superior to the Missouri and U.S. Constitution. These activist judges clearly don’t understand the checks and balances of the state nor the Supremacy Clause.”
Signers of the Nicola letter include Sens. Joe Nicola, Rick Brattin, Brad Hudson, Adam Schnelting, Ben Brown, Jason Bean, Jamie Burger, Jill Carter, and Curtis Trent, and Reps. Jeff Myers, Bob Titus, Chad Perkins, Hardy Billington, and Mike McGirl.
The Freedom Principle notes that this is not an isolated episode. In Nicholson v. State (Jan. 23, 2026), the Court struck down Senate Bill 22 in its entirety after concluding that an amendment to Section 526.010, authorizing the attorney general to appeal certain preliminary injunctions, changed the bill’s original purpose related to ballot summaries and could not be severed. The Freedom Principle has previously described that decision as judicial activism that dismantled a duly enacted election-integrity measure rather than preserving the remainder of the law.
“The Supreme Court has interceded in every attempt by the legislature to reign in their judicial activism,” said Keelin. “We must have a judicial system that is accountable to the people and equal to not superior to the other branches of our government.”
The organization is calling on Governor Mike Kehoe to convene a special session to address the potential impeachment and the Missouri Nonpartisan Court Plan.
“Our Supreme Court has continually overstepped their role and have now taken on the role of legislating from the bench,” said Keelin. “Under the Missouri Court Plan, these judges are not accountable to the legislature, the governor, or the people of Missouri. It’s time for the Governor to call a special session to eliminate the Missouri Court Plan.”
“If the Governor refuses to call a special session, the repealing the Missouri Court Plan must be the first priority addressed by the legislature,” said Keelin. “We do not have faith or trust in our courts to stand up for the Constitution of Missouri nor the people it is supposed to protect.”
The Freedom Principle notes that declaring the contempt “purged” after forcing Hoskins to abandon Judge Clark’s federal TRO does not excuse the confrontation. The Freedom Principle urges elected officials to restore a judiciary that is co-equal with—not superior to—the legislative and executive branches, and to repeal the Missouri Court Plan so this cannot happen again.
Freedom Principle is a membership-based 501(c)4 organization. Our effectiveness as a conservative grassroots organization stems from our comprehensive strategy, which combines policy advocacy, electoral influence, and grassroots mobilization. By maintaining a strong presence in local and state politics, holding elected officials accountable, and promoting a clear conservative agenda, we have positioned ourselves as a formidable force in Missouri’s political landscape. For more information about Freedom Principle MO, visit our website at www.freedomprinciplemo.org.