Opinion ID: 1057905
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: the tennessee plan

Text: In 1994, the General Assembly enacted the Tennessee Plan, governing the selection of judges serving on the various Tennessee courts. See Tenn.Code Ann. §§ 17-4-101 to -118 (1994 & Supp.2006). Section 17-4-101(a) states the purpose and intent of the Tennessee Plan as follows: It is the declared purpose and intent of the general assembly by the passage of this chapter to assist the governor in finding and appointing the best qualified persons available for service on the appellate courts of Tennessee, and to assist the electorate of Tennessee to elect the best qualified persons to the courts; to insulate the judges of the courts from political influence and pressure; to improve the administration of justice; to enhance the prestige of and respect for the courts by eliminating the necessity of political activities by appellate justices and judges; and to make the courts nonpolitical. In enacting the Tennessee Plan, the General Assembly established as a part of the judicial branch of the state a judicial selection commission. Tenn.Code Ann. § 17-4-102(a) (1994). The Commission originally was comprised of fifteen individuals who were appointed by the Speaker of the State Senate and the Speaker of the State House of Representatives; in 2001, the General Assembly expanded the Commission to seventeen members. 2001 Tenn. Pub. Acts, ch. 459, § 9 (codified as amended at Tenn.Code Ann. § 17-4-102(a) (Supp.2006)). The Tennessee Plan sets out a process for filling vacancies on the various courts, under which the Judicial Selection Commission selects a list of nominees from which the Governor may appoint a new judge. The statutory provisions governing the selection and appointment process are at the heart of this case, and we therefore will review the relevant portions of the statute in greater detail. Section 17-4-109(a)(2) (Supp.2006) provides: If a vacancy occurs during the term of office of a judge of the supreme court, then the judicial selection commission shall, at the earliest practicable date, hold a public meeting in Nashville. However, if an incumbent judge fails to file a written declaration of candidacy as required by § 17-4-114 or § 17-4-115, or if the commission is reliably informed that a vacancy is impending for another reason, then the public meeting may be held prior to actual occurrence of the vacancy. Pursuant to the foregoing provision, the public announcements of Justice Anderson's and Justice Birch's planned retirements led to the Commission initiating the statutory process for selecting two new justices to fill the vacancies which would occur upon those retirements. The statute sets out the procedure to be followed by the Commission in fulfilling its role in the selection and appointment process: (b) Notice of the time, place and purpose of the meeting shall be given by newspapers, radio news, and television news and by such other means as the commission deems proper. (c) Any member of the public, both lay and attorney, shall be entitled to attend the meeting and 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. (d) After one (1) public hearing, the commission may hold such additional private or public meetings as it deems necessary. The commission shall make independent investigation and inquiry to determine the qualifications of possible nominees for the judicial vacancy and shall endeavor to encourage qualified attorneys to accept nomination and agree to serve if appointed to the judicial vacancy. (e) As soon as practicable and not later than sixty (60) days from receipt of written notice from the governor that a vacancy has occurred, the commission, in public or private meeting, by a majority vote shall select three (3) persons whom the commission deems best qualified and available to fill the vacancy and certify the names of the three (3) persons to the governor as nominees for the judicial vacancy. However, if an incumbent judge fails to file a written declaration of candidacy as required by § 17-4-114 or § 17-4-115, or if the commission is reliably informed that a vacancy is impending for another reason, then the commission may meet, select such persons and certify the names of such nominees to the governor prior to actual receipt of written notice from the governor that a vacancy has occurred. (f) The judicial selection commission, in compiling its list of nominees for a supreme court position, shall assure that the requirements of art. VI, § 2, of the Tennessee Constitution are satisfied. [2] Tenn.Code Ann. § 17-4-109 (Supp.2006). Tennessee Code Annotated section 17-4-109 sets out the Judicial Selection Commission's role and responsibilities in nominating individuals for consideration by the Governor as possible appointees to fill an existing or impending judicial vacancy. Section 17-4-112 sets out the Governor's role and responsibilities in appointing a new judge to fill such a vacancy. Section 17-4-112 provides: (a) When a vacancy occurs in the office of an appellate court after September 1, 1994, by death, resignation or otherwise, the governor shall fill the vacancy by appointing one (1) of the three (3) persons nominated by the judicial selection commission, or the governor may require the commission to submit one (1) other panel of three (3) nominees. If the governor rejects the first panel of nominees, the governor shall select one (1) of the nominees in the second panel. If the governor rejects the first panel, the governor shall state in writing for the judicial selection commission the reasons for the rejection of the panel. (b) The term of a judge appointed under this section shall expire on August 31 after the next regular August election occurring more than thirty (30) days after the vacancy occurs. By comparing sections 17-4-109 and 17-4-112, it becomes clear that the Tennessee Plan bifurcates the nomination and appointment processes for filling judicial vacancies. Section 17-4-109 gives the Judicial Selection Commission the sole authority to nominate persons to be considered for appointment to fill a judicial vacancy, while section 17-4-112 gives the Governor the sole authority to choose which individual to appoint from those nominees certified to the Governor by the Commission. We also note, importantly, that section 17-4-112(b) limits the term of a judge appointed under the Tennessee Plan, effectively providing that the appointed judge's name must be placed on the ballot in the next biennial election for the voters to decide whether to retain the judge in office. See Tenn.Code Ann. § 17-4-114.