General Assembly Confirms Sarah Campbell As Tennessee’s New Supreme Court Justice

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The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –

In an almost unanimous vote last Thursday, a joint session of the General Assembly confirmed Tennessee associate solicitor general Sarah Keeton Campbell to the Tennessee Supreme Court.

Campbell is a graduate of Cherokee High School, the University of Tennessee and Duke University School of Law. She was a clerk for Judge William H. Pryor, Jr., on the U.S. Court of Appeals and then served a clerkship for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito. Following that, in 2015, she joined the Tennessee Attorney General’s office.

Campbell is the first Supreme Court justice to be appointed by Governor Bill Lee. The seat filled by Campbell was left vacant by Justice Cornelia A. Clark, who passed away in September. Clark had served in the role since she was appointed by Democratic Governor Phil Bredesen.

Legislators gave Campbell a standing ovation after the vote.

Throughout the weeks of consideration of her nomination, Campbell made it clear that she would remove herself from any cases that may have come before her as an attorney for the state.

“As a judge, I will be firmly neutral on the issues that come before me,” Campbell stated. “The role of a judge, in my view, is to decide cases based on neutral, objective principles that don’t lend themselves to any one outcome or the other.”

Even though a seat on the state Supreme Court is technically a non-partisan role, it is anticipated that Campbell will provide a conservative perspective on the bench.

Experts, however, do not expect that to change the current climate of the court.

“Given that the moderate conservatives already have a majority, I don’t think this particular seat is going to dramatically change anything,” said Brian Fitzpatrick, law professor at Vanderbilt University. “It’s not a situation where the court will flip from one orientation to the other.”

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Only one legislator voted in opposition of Campbell’s confirmation. Representative Gloria Johnson, a Democrat from Knoxville, expressed concern about the “partisan nature” of Campbell’s work with the attorney general’s office.

“There are many more qualified jurists in Tennessee,” said Johnson. “I feel her experience does not reach the level to be a Supreme Court Justice in our state. I heard from lawyers in my district who did not feel she had the needed qualifications.”

Chief Justice Roger A. Page believes that Campbell will be an asset to the bench.

“Sarah has created a truly remarkable and unique career focused almost exclusively on appellate work with a strong passion for public service,” Page said. “The court is thrilled to welcome her to the bench as a colleague. She is accomplished and determined, yet humble and personable, and I am sure she will serve the citizens of Tennessee well.”

The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments received eleven applications for the seat, but two of those applicants withdrew before interviews started. The Council recommended three of those individuals for the job, and Governor Lee nominated Campbell on January 12.

According to a 2014 amendment to the state Constitution, lawmakers were required to confirm Campbell’s appointment. Justices then must be elected every eight years to retain the position.

“Serving on the Tennessee Supreme Court is the opportunity of a lifetime,” Campbell said. “I thank Governor Lee for putting his trust in me to serve Tennesseans in this capacity, and I also thank the General Assembly for confirming me to the position. I do not take the task before me lightly. The job of a judge is to decide cases fairly and impartially by applying neutral, objective principles. That is how I will approach each case that comes before me.”

About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative  ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career.  Most recently, he served as Deputy Directory for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others.  He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History.  Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com