Missouri Supreme Court briefly holds Secretary of State in contempt before clearing it
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The Missouri Supreme Court found Secretary of State Denny Hoskins in contempt for directing use of a 2025 congressional map, but cleared the contempt after he reverted to the 2022 map.
The Missouri Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that Secretary of State Denny Hoskins had been in contempt for directing local election officials to use the 2025 congressional district map, contrary to a court order. Chief Justice W. Brent Powell announced the finding during an afternoon hearing and noted that Hoskins could purge the contempt by complying with the court’s directive.
"The civil contemnor has, at all times, the power to purge himself of any attempt by complying with the order of this court," Justice Powell said.
After Hoskins announced he would revert to the 2022 congressional map, the court determined that he had corrected his conduct and therefore purged himself of contempt. The dispute had left county clerks with limited time to finalize ballots for overseas voters.
Hoskins defended his earlier decision, stating it was based on the information and a federal judge’s ruling available at the time. Attorney General Catherine Hanaway affirmed that Hoskins had followed the law throughout the process. Both officials indicated that, unless the U.S. Supreme Court intervenes, voters who cast ballots under the 2025 districts in August will have those votes counted under the 2022 districts in November.