NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP/WMOT) — The Tennessee Bar Association is asking its members to rate three Supreme Court justices who are subject to a retention election this year.
The poll asks members of the bar whether they recommend Chief Justice Gary Wade, Justice Cornelia Clark and Justice Sharon Lee for retention.
The three justices have already been recommended for retention by the state's Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission, but prominent conservatives have targeted Wade, Clark and Lee for removal this August. All three were appointed by former Gov. Phil Bredesen, a Democrat.
Allan Ramsaur is the Tennessee Bar’s President.
“There are active campaigns for retention and there are active campaigns against retention and we think we can provide and unbiased, sort of neutral middle that will help voters. Our poll results can help inform folks.”
Ramsaur says the poll is being taken by secret ballot. Results will be released to the public in mid-June.