The Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) is conducting a Tennessee Supreme Court Candidate Evaluation Poll to compile the views of TBA members on the upcoming retention election for three justices.
The TBA conducts the poll in its efforts to help ensure the elections maintain a fair, impartial, and accountable judiciary. In 2014, more than 2,086 TBA members gave their recommendations of the three justices then up for retention election.
In the August General Election, Tennessee voters will be asked to retain or replace three Supreme Court justices: Justice Holly Kirby (Memphis), Justice Jeffery S. Bivins (Franklin), and Justice Roger A. Page (Medina). The poll will ask TBA members to rate each of these justices with one of four options: highly recommend retention; recommend retention; do not recommend retention; or do not have an informed opinion. The survey is being conducted by secret ballot, and will close June 10. The results will be released in mid-June. Early voting for the Aug. 4 election begins July 15.
The TBA is conducting the poll because it believes lawyers are uniquely qualified to provide an informed opinion as to whether or not a justice should be retained. It hopes that in providing the collective view of the organized bar, it can help Tennessee voters educate themselves about the election.
Source: Tennessee Bar Association