Sorry, Rikki Hall. The State Senate Government Operations Committee has approved a piece of legislation that would eliminate the non-, or at least bi-partisan judicial selection commission, replacing it with popular elections for state judges, as Jeff Woods reports today in the Nashville Scene. If that sounds fine and dandy to you, just try to remember what elections are like, how much they cost, and what sort of political obligations a candidate is likely to accrue while on the campaign trail. Then try to remember what judges are supposed to do.
In Tennessee, juries, not judges, are legally bound to render sentences on capital crimes, but state judges decide on whether to grant appeals on capital cases. Just imagine the possibilities if a campaigning judge is accused of being "too soft" on something or other, or receiving campaign donations from the type of people (and corporations) who give large campaign donations.
Comments » 0
Be the first to post a comment!
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.