The Tennessee Judicial Evaluation Commission will meet in Memphis Thursday and Friday to interview nine of the state's 29 appellate court judges who will be evaluated to help voters make informed decisions in 2006.
The evaluation of appellate court judges was mandated by the legislature in 1994. The five Supreme Court justices, 12 Court of Appeals judges and 12 Court of Criminal Appeals judges are elected every eight years on a yes-no retention ballot. Under the law, the judges must be evaluated by the independent Judicial Evaluation Commission and the results published major newspapers across the state. The commission makes a recommendation "for retention" or "against retention" for each appellate court judge.
A Supreme Court rule, which is a companion to the state law, requires that appellate court judges be evaluated on their integrity; knowledge and understanding of the law; ability to communicate; preparation and attentiveness; service to the profession and public; and effectiveness.
Judges being interviewed Thursday are Supreme Court Justice Janice M. Holder of Memphis; Court of Appeals Judges William Frank Crawford of Memphis, David R. Farmer of Jackson and Alan E. Highers of Henderson and Court of Criminal Appeals Judges Alan E. Glenn of Memphis and David G. Hayes of Jackson. On Friday, the commission will interview Court of Appeals Judge Holly M. Kirby of Memphis and Court of Criminal Appeals Judges J.C. McLin of Memphis and John Everette Williams of Huntingdon. Interviews with the remaining judges are scheduled Oct. 17-18 in Nashville and Nov. 3-4 in Knoxville.
Commission members are Quincy Barlow of Covington, John A. Day of Brentwood, Jeff DeVasher of Nashville, Chancellor Telford E. Forgety, Jr., of Dandridge, Henrietta Grant of Knoxville, Dr. Barbara Short Haskew of Chattanooga, Chancellor Carol L. McCoy of Nashville, Circuit Court Judge Roger A. Page of Jackson, Chancellor Howell N. Peoples of Chattanooga, Sarah Y. Sheppeard of Knoxville and Barbara Walls of Somerville. Justice William M. Barker serves as Supreme Court liaison to the commission.