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Ron Ramsey Goes Napoleonic on Judicial Appointments

By Pete Kotz in Kotz, Law and Order, Legislature, Politics
Tue., Apr. 21 2009 @ 5:50AM
Brian Kelsey.jpg
Just imagine Judge Kelsey foaming about socialism from the bench
Forgive Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey for getting a little Napoleonic these days. With Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam's oil company recently hit with price-gouging charges -- a ready made attack ad if there ever was one -- he has to be feeling pretty good about his chances to become the next governor of Tennessee. That's why he wants to change the way state appellate-level judges are chosen. After all, what's good for Ramsey is naturally good for Tennessee.

Under current law a 17-member panel, representing various factions of the legal community, narrows the field down to three candidates, then kicks them to the governor for final selection. It's not a perfect system, but it guarantees that candidates have respect among their peers and are of sound legal mind. In terms of meritocracy, this is about as close as it gets within the realm of human fallibility.

But would-be Gov. Ramsey wants to make these appointments on his own. His plan is nothing short than an attack on quality judges.

Any governor, be he right or left, will be inclined to appoint the partisan. Suddenly, the politically shrill have an advantage over the legally astute. Throw in the requisite hacks and friends who are required favors, and the big donors seeking to buy appointments, and the appellate bench is instantly degraded.

Just imagine the following words: All rise for the Honorable Brian Kelsey.

4 comment(s) / Post a Comment
Sue says:

The system works. The proof is in the quality of Tennessee's appellate judges who have been appointed by Democrats and Republicans. Look at problems in other states (Alabama and Texas, for example) and the answer is crystal clear. Don't change a judicial selection process that works to benefit Tennesseans.

Posted On: Tuesday, Apr. 21 2009 @ 9:57AM
mangrovemama2002 says:

We elect all of the judges we are most likely to appear before.

What is at issue is whether We the People can be trusted to elect the judges we are least like to see?

What is also at issue is why the current Tn Judicial Selection Plan exalts the wisdom of several Democrat-leaning lawyer lobby/lawyer organizations over the will of the people.

I trust the people more than these lawyer organizations.

Check the political contributions of the lawyer lobby/lawyer members of the Tn Judicial Selection Commission or the political contributions of the Directors and commissioners of the four (4) lawyer lobby/lawyer organizations and see the party to which they overwhelmingly contribute.

It is no coincidence that 2/3 of the judges recommended by the Tn Judicial Selection Commission are Democrats.

Of course, Democrats and liberal judges think that the current system is fair.

Why wouldn't they?

And who is the largest (and most vocal) proponent of extending the statutorilly expiring Tn Judicial Selection Plan?

That would be Buck Lewis, President of the Tn Bar Association and, more importantly, former Chairman of the Tn Democratic Party.

Yes, Buck is worried about the politicization of the process.

Imagine that.


Posted On: Tuesday, Apr. 21 2009 @ 12:04PM
bna says:

This has nothing to do with the intelligence of the voter. Ramsey is trying to exploit the naiveté of the voter, and that is something totally different altogether. The average Tennessean doesn't even know who their state senator or representative is, let alone a state appellate-level judge. Add the right kind of political ads into the mix and you're sure to get votes in your favor. You'll see a slew of commercials about someone being a "strict constructionist," but for all you know that same person is an alcoholic, child molester, and spouse abuser behind closed doors.

Then you have the issue of money. The 2008 Presidential election is a classic example of how campaign finance has gotten out of control. Candidates, both in the primary and the general elections, were more concerned about running around the country raising money than about the people they were elected to represent. If you allow elected judges, they'll wind up doing the same thing. You can forget about justice during an election year -- the judge will be on the other side of the state raising money!

Posted On: Wednesday, Apr. 22 2009 @ 4:16PM
Constitution says:

The Tennessee Constitution states that the Supreme Court Justices shall be elected by the qualified voters of the state. This is the only way that Supreme Court Justices should be selected, they should be elected.

Posted On: Friday, Jun. 12 2009 @ 8:23AM


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