On July 17, 2014, the Board of Governors passed a resolution on the Supreme Court and Appellate judges of Tennessee. The Board of Governors recognizes the promotion of a fair and impartial process, and find it necessary to inform voters about the performance of justices of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals judges in Tennessee. The resolution reads as follows:
RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE CHATTANOOGA BAR ASSOCIATION
WHEREAS, the Board of Governors of the Chattanooga Bar Association recognizes the importance of a qualified judiciary and the need for ensuring that the elections of Supreme Court and Court of Appeals judges in the State of Tennessee are conducted in an informed manner that maintains public confidence in the judiciary;
WHEREAS, consistent with the bylaws of the Chattanooga Bar Association, the Board of Governors of the Chattanooga Bar Association avoids the endorsement of specific judicial candidates;
WHEREAS, the Board of Governors does, however, believe that voter education efforts are necessary to inform voters about the performance of the individual Supreme Court and Court of Appeals judges on the retention ballot in the upcoming August 7, 2014 state primary election so as to allow such voters to make informed decisions on whether to retain these judges;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Governors of the Chattanooga Bar Association directs voters to the information concerning these individual Supreme Court and Appellate Court judges located on the Chattanooga Bar Association’s website at www.chattbar.org and also to the information compiled at the Tennessee Bar Association’s 2014 Judicial Selection Information Center at www.tba.org/info/2014-tennessee-judicial-selection-information-center. On both websites, information has been compiled to assist voters in making independent and informed decisions regarding the individual judges of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals standing for retention in the upcoming 2014 state primary election; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Governors by the adoption of this resolution hereby authorizes the governors, officers, and director of the Chattanooga Bar Association to take appropriate actions to fulfill the intent of this resolution.
Effective this, the 17th, day of July 2014.
ADOPTED AND APPROVED BY A QUORUM OF THE VOTING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE CHATTANOOGA BAR ASSOCIATION.
Here’s a sampling of editorial pages across the State on what’s being said about this issue:
On July 17, “keeping politics out of the courtroom” was the topic of the editorial page of the Jackson Sun: “When executives or legislators seek to meddle with the power of the judicial branch, especially when the choice of who stays on the bench is meant to be decided by popular vote, the powers of the justices are not infringed upon so much as the powers and rights of the electorate.”
The Knoxville News-Sentinel endorsed retention of the justices with a strong recommendation: “Wade, Clark and Lee have been solid justices whose decisions typically are well-reasoned applications of the law to the particulars cases at hand. The Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission, whose members were selected by the GOP legislative leadership, recommended the three for retention.”
The Kingsport Times-News also urged support, writing, “... the incumbent Justices should not be defeated on the facts because the facts are on their side.
The Knoxville News-Sentinel’s editorial page on Sunday, July 19 also called to “keep politics out of the courtroom.”
The Citizen-Tribune in Morristown and all Tennessee Lakeway Papers: “Keep politics out of the judicial branch.”
The Daily News Journal, Murfreesboro: “Judicial ouster plan shows worst of politics.”
The Chattanooga Times Free Press – Times page: “Keep the court above politics.”
The Tennessean: “Politics has no place in Tennessee appellate courts.”
The Chattanooga Times Free Press – Free Press page: “No current need to overturn current state justices.”
The Jackson Sun: “Keep politics, big money out of state judicial races.”
The Memphis Flyer: “Tennessee Should Keep a Nonpartisan Supreme Court.”
The Johnson City Press: “Efforts to oust judges crosses more than the constitutional line.”
The Johnson City Press: “Voters should question motives for targeting judges.”
The Commercial Appeal, Memphis: “Partisan bullying of the state’s appellate judges not in the best interest of Tennesseans.”
Having a voice is not just a right, it’s also a privilege, so let yours be heard: Vote!