New judicial nominating commission formed

June 26, 2009

Tennessee: The newly formed Tennessee Judicial Nominating Commission is charged with vetting candidates for the judiciary in Tennessee. It is replacing the Tennessee Judicial Selection Commission, which ceased to exist on June 30, 2009.

The Nominating Commission will be made up of 17 members. The Speakers of the House and Senate will each appoint eight members, and the last is appointed jointly. Two of the appointments must be from each of the state’s three grand divisions, and two are at-large members from both the House and Senate.

Requirements for a position on the Commission include: state residency of at least five years, being at least the age of 30, no association with political parties or lobbying organizations, and they may not be salaried office holders of the state.