Senators Vote for Judicial Selection Amendment Hoping for Failure

Some state senators held their noses and voted Thursday for a constitutional amendment regarding how judges are chosen in Tennessee. The measure largely keeps the current system in tact with appointments by the governor and retention elections every eight years.

Senator Mae Beavers of Mt. Juliet would prefer direct elections of judges, but she signed off. She believes Tennesseans will ultimately reject the constitutional amendment that would be on the ballot next year.

“If the people vote this down, they will finally get to vote for their judges, as the constitution says right now.”

The measure passed the senate 29 to 2.

The constitutional amendment on choosing state Supreme Court justices and appellate judges still has to pass the House by a two-thirds majority before going before voters in 2014.