Nashville, Tenn. – The Administrative Office of the Courts is now accepting applications for the new Judicial Nominating Commission, which will review and recommend applicants for vacancies on the appellate and state trial courts for the governor’s consideration. The Judicial Nominating Commission will replace the Judicial Selection Commission, which will cease to exist on June 30, 2009.
The newly formed commission will be composed of 17 members. The speakers of the house and senate will each appoint eight members – two people from each of the state’s three grand divisions and two at-large members. One non-lawyer member will be appointed jointly. At least 10 members of the commission must be attorneys.
Members of this newly formed commission must be at least 30-years-old and a citizen of the state for at least five years. Additionally, members of the Judicial Nominating Commission cannot be office holders with political parties or political organizations, lobbyists or employees of lobbyists, or salaried office holders of the state of Tennessee or the United States, which includes judges, legislators or any individual who has been appointed or elected in a manner prescribed by law.
“The Judicial Nominating Commission will play an important role in ensuring that Tennessee has qualified and fair-minded people serving on the state’s judiciary,” said Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey. “We encourage anyone who is interested in participating in the judicial nominating process to submit their application.”
"The Judicial Nominating Commission plays an essential role in helping ensure that Tennessee has a fair, qualified, diverse and impartial judiciary," said House Speaker Kent Williams. "It is important that the make-up of the Commission also reflects those same qualities. I hope we get substantial interest across the state from individuals seeking to serve on this important commission."
Anyone who wishes to be considered for the Judicial Nominating Commission must complete an application, which can be found here. All applications must be received by the Administrative Office of the Courts by Friday, July 31 at 4:30 p.m. central standard time.
Once applications have been received by the Administrative Office of the Courts, information about each applicant will be posted online at www.tncourts.gov. The public will have the opportunity to comment on the applicants for the commission for a period of 14 days. Once public comments have been received, the speaker of the house and senate will have 14 days to appoint members to the Judicial Nominating Commission.