NASHVILLE — Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Gary Wade announced Friday he will retire Sept. 8, a move that gives Gov. Bill Haslam the chance to create the first Republican majority on the state’s high court in modern history.
Wade, appointed by Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen in 2006, was re-elected in August 2014 despite a push by Republican conservative groups seeking to oust him and two other Democratic justices from the five-member court.
“I would like to thank the people of Tennessee who have allowed me to serve since 1975,” said Wade, who served as a state appellate judge and trial court judge before being named to the top court.
“I was honored to serve as chief justice during the partisan challenge to the judiciary last year. I am especially grateful to the bench and bar, practically all of whom joined in defense of the principle of a constitutionally based balance of powers among the three branches of government.”
Haslam last year did not join the effort by Republican Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, the state Senate speaker, and outside groups to defeat Wade and fellow Democratic justices Cornelia Clark and Sharon Lee. All three handily won re-election in a multimillion-dollar battle that drew national attention.