Unlike Lt. Gov. Ramsey, Lawyers Want To Keep Tennessee Supreme Court Justices

In August, Tennessee voters will be asked to retain or replace three Supreme Court justices: Chief Justice Gary Wade, Justice Cornelia Clark and Justice Sharon Lee. Credit: TN Photo Services

The Tennessee Bar Association is all but endorsing three Supreme Court justices sitting for retention elections this year. The group released a poll Friday showing 90 percent of respondents favor keeping the court as it is.

The Bar has a policy of not making endorsements in judicial elections. It’s never even polled its members until this year. The association wanted to counter an effort by Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey to unseat three justices appointed by Democrats.

More than 2,000 attorneys weighed in. Three-quarters recommended retaining the current justices. Nine out of 10 highly recommended them.

Outgoing Tennessee Bar president Cindy Wyrick of Sevierville says it should be noted that many of these lawyers have argued cases before the state Supreme Court and lost.

“To have these kinds of numbers, given that, is really…interesting,” Wyrick told reporters on a conference call.

Wyrick is being careful not to cross the line into endorsement territory. She says the organization is primarily concerned with keeping a “fair and impartial” judicial election.

Only one Tennessee Supreme Court justice has been unseated under the current retention election system.