Three justices on the Tennessee Supreme Court were retained last week during a heated judicial retention race, the Memphis Daily News reports. But while all three justices were retained, another clash is looming over the court's decision-making and "an effort by the Republican supermajorities in the Tennessee Legislature to exert political control over the court." In November, voters are being asked to amend the state constitution to require legislative approval of Supreme Court appointments made by the governor.
Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey spearheaded a campaign against the retention of the three justices, the Daily News also reports.
Meanwhile, the Washington Post opines that the judicial retention races in Tennessee show that politics need to be kept out of the process for selecting judges: "The application of due process and the maintenance of Americans’ civil rights should be more isolated from the pressures of majoritarian elections."
Lawyer and Legal Journalist
