This Group Once Helped Push A Justice Off The Bench; Now They’re Against It

Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey has embarked on a campaign to oust three state Supreme Court justices., but the Tennessee Conservative Union differs with the campaign. Credit: TN Photo Services

Only one Tennessee Supreme Court Justice has ever been ousted by voters. The group that led that effort in 1996 says they can’t get behind the current campaign to jettison three Democratic judges in the Aug. 7 election.

The Tennessee Conservative Union almost always supports Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey. In fact, they’re about to induct him into its Hall of Fame. But the TCU can’t get on board with Ramsey’s crusade to boot three judges off the bench for being, as he sees it, too liberal.

“Well, I mean, we differ on this one issue,” said Kelvin Moxley. who leads the TCU.  “We think these justices have been faithful to the constitution, and therefore, are worthy of retention.”

When the group pushed against Justice Penny White, who was appointed by former Gov. Ned McWherter, it was because they alleged that she didn’t believe in the death penalty. But for the three justices in question this election, Moxley says they’ve been willing to uphold the death penalty.

“In the case of Penny White, she refused to support the death penalty, period. No matter how bad, or how compelling the case was. She was not faithful to the law,” Moxley said.

“So we felt it necessary to voice our opposition to her, but these justices have upheld death penalty cases. That’s not to say the death penalty is the raison d’être for the TCU, because it’s not, but if the law calls for it, and the jury supports it, then it’s the law of the land, and the Supreme Court should be upholding it.”