judges of the court are selected through the nonpartisan plan, nationally known as the missouri plan. under the plan, the appellate judicial commission submits the names of three nominees to the governor. if the governor fails to make an appointment with 60 days of the nominees being named, the commission shall make the appointment. once the judge has served for at least a year, he or she is placed on the general election ballot for vote of the people to keep their seat. if retained, judges serve a term of 12 years. the constitution requires that all judges retire by age 70.