Retirement Coming For Tennessee’s Last Democrat On Supreme Court
Image Credit: tncourts.gov & Jon698 / CC
The Tennessee Conservative Staff –
The last remaining Democrat on the state Supreme Court, Sharon Lee, has made plans to retire next year.
On Tuesday, Justice Lee confirmed to The Tennessean she plans to retire in August. She has served on the state’s highest court for 14 years.
Justice Lee has been a holdout on progressing toward a more conservative bench. In 2008, Democratic Governor Phil Bredesen appointed Lee to the state’s highest court. She was previously appointed by Bredesen in 2004 to the state Court of Appeals.Â
In January, Republican Governor Bill Lee named Sarah Campbell, a former associate solicitor general and special assistant state attorney general, to the Supreme Court. Jeff Bivins, Holly Kirby, and Roger Page, the remaining three justices, were appointed by Republican Governor Bill Haslam.Â
She mailed a written notice announcing her retirement to Governor Bill Lee on Monday, and followed up with an email.
Sharon Lee’s retirement timing will allow her to remain a member of the court through August 2023. This will give time for the application, gubernatorial nomination, and legislative confirmation to take place.Â
It’s always a step in the right direction [no pun intended] to see the Democrats on their way OUT of power.
However, the Tennessee Legislature is showing itself to be alarmingly squishy on prolife and pro-medical freedom laws and policies.
The question is now — Will the rebalanced State Supreme Court hold the Legislature accountable to Conservative values??