On Mumpower's mind . . . maybe on his agenda

From reading this article, (Mumpower details GOP agenda | www.tennessean.com) it is comforting to see that GOP leaders appreciate the significance of judicial selection, but I see too much equivocation to believe they actually will abide by the Constitutional requirement for contested elections. Incidentally, the article by Theo Emery is one of the best on the issue that I've read:

Judicial selection has been a perennial issue in Tennessee. Though the state constitution requires election of judges, the so-called "Tennessee Plan" from the 1970s created the Judicial Selection Commission, which reviews qualifications of potential judges, then recommends a slate from which the governor chooses. Judges then maintain their seats through retention elections.

Most appointments to the commission are limited to candidates from lists provided by a range of legal groups, a provision that many Republicans and constitutionalists say have made the bench more liberal.

Last session, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey proposed changes to the system intended to loosen the requirements for the commission membership, but there was no action on the plan by the end of session.

The commission is in a twilight status called "wind-down," which means the entire selection system will disappear after June 30 if the General Assembly doesn't revamp or renew the commission.

If Tennessee dropped its current selection process, it would be the first state to revert to electing all of its judges.