The Judicial Selection Commission will meet Aug. 18 in Legislative Plaza, Hearing Room 12, in Nashville to initiate the process of filling the vacancy on the Supreme Court created by the retirement of Chief Justice William M. "Mickey" Barker.

Applicants must reside in either the eastern or western grand divisions.

A notice from the high court says:

"Any member of the public, both lay and attorney, shall be entitled to attend the public hearing in hearing room 12 at 8:30 a.m. CDT, to express, orally or in writing, suggestions of possible nominees and/or such citizen's approval of or objections to any suggested nominee for the judicial vacancy. Any licensed attorney may appear and make a statement, oral or written, in support of such attorney's own nomination.

"All interested candidates should submit a completed Applicant Questionnaire and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) background application to the Commission for its consideration. Both applications are available on our website at: http://www.tncourts.gov/. Applicant Questionnaires and TBI background applications should be submitted to the Administrative Office of the Courts, Suite 600, Nashville City Center, 511 Union Street, Nashville, TN 37219, by no later than Friday, June 20, 2008, however, the Commission encourages all candidates to submit applications as early as possible. Fingerprinting also will be a requirement of each candidate. Dates, times and location for fingerprinting will be announced at a later date.

"Each candidate must submit the original (unbound) and nineteen (19) copies (stapled or bound and printed on front and back) of the Applicant Questionnaire in order to have his/her name placed on the list of candidates for the judgeship vacancy for which he/she is applying. Please submit only the original background application. No copies are needed of this document.

"Applicants must adhere to the requests of the commission. Failure to comply with these instructions will result in disqualification.

"The commission will consider a TBI background check on each applicant which includes, among other sources of information, an Equifax credit report. If there is negative information in that report, it will be considered by the commission and may be discussed with the applicant in the interview process. Applicants are well advised to obtain and review a copy of their Equifax credit report prior to applying.

"The Commission is committed to the goal of a diverse judiciary and encourages all qualified attorneys to apply for any judicial vacancy for consideration without regard to race, ethnicity or gender."