News from Tennessee:
By adopting a stricter rule against judicial politicking than a national model, Tennessee Supreme Court justices may have set a standard that three are now violating as they seek re-election to new terms, according to attorneys for the state Legislature.
A spokeswoman for the justices disputes the opinion and says it is “being used as additional fodder for a wholesale attack against the independence of our Tennessee Supreme Court.”
In a legal memorandum written at the request of Senate Finance Committee Chairman Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, legislative staff attorneys suggest that even joint appearances at fundraising events, joint pictures appearing on campaign websites and joint travel to events as they seek re-election can be construed as the judges endorsing one another. (Note: A pdf of the opinion is available by clicking on this link: mcnallymemo )