Missouri State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People v. State of Missouri

Summary

The court held that the petition adequately stated claims for declaratory and injunctive relief concerning Missouri's absentee-voting statute because the petition alleged a present controversy, legally protectable interests, ripeness, and no adequate remedy at law. The circuit court erred by deciding the merits while ruling on the motion to dismiss, so the dismissal of Counts I, III, and IV was reversed and remanded, while the dismissal of the abandoned Count II was affirmed. The court directed that subsequent statutory and executive-order changes could be considered on remand.