NASHVILLE — Three state appellate judges are among nine applicants seeking appointment to the Tennessee Supreme Court vacancy created by former Chief Justice Gary Wade’s departure.
Tennessee Court of Appeals, Eastern Section Judge Thomas Radcliff Frierson II of Morristown; Tennessee Criminal of Appeals, Eastern Section Robert H. Montgomery of Kingsport; and Tennessee Criminal Court of Appeals, Western Section Judge Roger Amos Page of Medina have applied for the post.
The state’s Council for Judicial Appointments will select three of the nine applicants during an Oct. 27 meeting in Nashville and forward their recommendations to Republican Gov. Bill Haslam. Since Wade was a Democrat, the appointment will hand Haslam the opportunity to appoint a Republican and put the five-member court under GOP control for the first time since Reconstruction.
Wade and the two other Democratic justices won re-election last year despite an organized effort by Republican Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey and other conservatives to persuade state voters to oust them in yes/no retention elections. Wade then surprised many earlier this year by choosing on his own to step down. He left in September.
This month’s meeting will include a public hearing at 9 a.m. CDT during which members of the public may express their opinions in support or opposition to the applicants. The interview and public hearing is open to the public. The council, which is appointed by the governor, is expected to announce its selections after the interviews and forward the names to Haslam for his consideration.