NASHVILLE – Two freshman Senate Republican critics of the “Tennessee Plan” for electing state Supreme Court justices and other appellate judges were appointed to the Judiciary Committee today.
Sen. Mike Bell, R-Riceville, and Sen. Stacey Campfield, R-Knoxville, were both appointed to the panel by Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville. Both have criticized the Tennessee Plan.
Under the plan, appellate judges are nominated by a special panel, appointed by the governor and subject to “retention” elections in which voters decide whether the judges stay on or not.
Bell, who argues that the plan is unconstitutional, said today he plans to introduce legislation returning judges to direct, competitive elections.
In other appointments, Ramsey named Sen. Ken Yager, R-Harriman, to fill a coveted spot as chairman of the State and Local Government Committee.
Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, was reappointed as chairman of the Government Operations Committee and vice chairman of the General Welfare Committee.
Sen. Andy Berke, D-Chattanooga, was reappointed to the Senate Education Committee but lost his position as the panel’s secretary. He also remains on the Senate Transportation Committee.
For complete details, see tomorrow’s Times Free Press.