posted May 28, 2009
The Tennessee General Assembly voted Thursday to continue merit selection and retention elections for appellate judges until 2012.
The bill was approved in the Senate 27-5 and the House 58-38.
Tennessee Bar Association President Buck Lewis said, "We are pleased that it now appears that Tennessee will continue to have a system of merit selection and retention elections for appellate judges.
"Selecting qualified judges is critical to our system of government."
An amendment by Sen. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, for a return to contested elections failed 19-12. A similar amendment in the House by Brian Kelsey, R-Memphis, lost 55-41.
The bill sets up a 17-member Judicial Nominating Commission appointed by the two speakers. The commission will submit three names to the governor for any judicial vacancy.
There will be retention elections in 2010 for current appellate judges.
Senate vote on the bill that passed to keep merit selection and retention elections:
Ayes...............................................27
Noes................................................5
Senators voting aye were: Barnes, Berke, Black, Burks, Crowe, Faulk, Finney L, Ford, Gresham, Harper, Haynes, Henry, Herron, Jackson, Johnson, Ketron, Kyle, Marrero, Norris, Overbey, Stanley, Stewart, Tate, Tracy, Woodson, Yager, Mr. Speaker Ramsey -- 27.
Senators voting no were: Beavers, Bunch, Burchett, McNally, Watson -- 5.
Senate vote on McNally amendment for regular election of judges
Ayes...............................................12
Noes...............................................20
Present and not voting.......................1
Senators voting aye were: Beavers, Black, Bunch, Burchett, Burks, Gresham, Johnson, McNally, Southerland, Stanley, Tracy, Watson -- 12.
Senators voting no were: Barnes, Berke, Crowe, Faulk, Finney L, Ford, Harper, Haynes, Henry, Herron, Jackson, Ketron, Kyle, Marrero, Overbey, Stewart, Tate, Woodson, Yager, Mr. Speaker Ramsey -- 20.
Senators present and not voting were: Norris -- 1.
House vote on the bill that passed to keep merit selection and retention elections:
Ayes...............................................59
Noes...............................................37
Representatives voting aye were: Armstrong, Barker, Bass, Bone, Borchert, Brooks H, Camper, Cobb C, Cobb T, Coleman, Cooper, Curtiss, Dean, DeBerry J, DeBerry L, Favors, Ferguson, Fincher, Fitzhugh, Ford, Fraley, Gilmore, Hackworth, Halford, Hardaway, Harmon, Harrison, Harwell, Hawk, Haynes, Johnson C, Johnson P, Jones S, Jones U, Litz, Lundberg, Maddox, McCormick, McDaniel, McDonald, Montgomery, Moore, Naifeh, Odom, Pruitt, Ramsey, Richardson, Roach, Sargent, Shaw, Shepard, Sontany, Stewart, Tidwell, Tindell, Turner M, Winningham, Yokley, Mr. Speaker Williams -- 59.
Representatives voting no were: Bell, Brooks K, Campfield, Carr, Casada, Cobb J, Coley, Dennis, Dunn, Eldridge, Evans, Faulkner, Floyd, Hensley, Hill, Kelsey, Kernell, Lollar, Lynn, Maggart, Matheny, Matlock, McCord, McManus, Miller, Mumpower, Niceley, Pitts, Rich, Rowland, Shipley, Swafford, Todd, Towns, Watson, Weaver, Windle -- 37.
House vote on Kelsey amendment for regular election of judges
Ayes...............................................55
Noes...............................................41
Representatives voting aye were: Armstrong, Barker, Bone, Borchert, Camper, Cobb C, Cobb T, Coleman, Cooper, Curtiss, DeBerry J, DeBerry L, Favors, Ferguson, Fincher, Fitzhugh, Ford, Fraley, Gilmore, Hackworth, Hardaway, Harmon, Harrison, Jones S, Jones U, Kernell, Litz, Lundberg, Maddox, McCord, McDaniel, McDonald, Miller, Montgomery, Moore, Mumpower, Naifeh, Odom, Pitts, Pruitt, Ramsey, Richardson, Roach, Sargent, Shaw, Shepard, Sontany, Stewart, Tidwell, Tindell, Towns, Turner M, Winningham, Yokley, Mr. Speaker Williams -- 55.
Representatives voting no were: Bass, Bell, Brooks H, Brooks K, Campfield, Carr, Casada, Cobb J, Coley, Dean, Dennis, Dunn, Eldridge, Evans, Faulkner, Floyd, Halford, Harwell, Hawk, Haynes, Hensley, Hill, Johnson C, Johnson P, Kelsey, Lollar, Lynn, Maggart, Matheny, Matlock, McCormick, McManus, Niceley, Rich, Rowland, Shipley, Swafford, Todd, Watson, Weaver, Windle -- 41.
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