NASHVILLE - A state lawmaker critical of how Tennessee appellate judges get elected says it's "a little more than coincidence" that two state Supreme Court justices gave money to his opponent in last year's Republican primary for Senate District 9.
Sen. Mike Bell, R-Riceville, said some judges "kind of like to sit in their lofty perches and claim they are above politics, but they're just as political as anyone else when it comes to protecting their own jobs."
Bell said he plans to battle in the legislative session that starts Tuesday to change the process and make appellate judges run and be elected like trial judges.
Bell, then a state representative, defeated former Sen. Lou Patten of Cleveland in the Aug. 5 primary and went on to win the race to Dewayne Bunch, who retired.
Justices Sharon Lee and Gary Wade each contributed $500 to Patten in December 2009, state Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance filings show. Court of Appeals Judge Charles D. Susano Jr. gave Patten $250.
None of the judges could be reached for comment.
See complete story in Monday's Times Free Press.