Tennessee Supreme Court elections, 2024
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The term of one Tennessee Supreme Court justice expired on September 1, 2024. The one seat was up for retention election on August 1, 2024. The filing deadline was April 4, 2024.
One of five justices on the Tennessee Supreme Court is up for retention election— Dwight Tarwater. Justices face retention elections at the end of their eight year terms.
Tarwater was nominated for the Tennessee Supreme Court on February 2, 2023, by Gov. Bill Lee (R). On March 9, 2023, Tarwater was confirmed by the Tennessee General Assembly to fill out the remainder of an eight year term.
Heading into the election, all five judges on the court were appointed by a Republican governor.[1]
Candidates and results
Tennessee Supreme Court Eastern Section
Dwight Tarwater was retained to the Tennessee Supreme Court Eastern Section on August 1, 2024 with 72.9% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
72.9
|
390,549 | ||
No |
27.1
|
145,508 | |||
Total Votes |
536,057 | ||||
|
|
Candidate profiles
There were no candidate profiles created for this race. Candidate profiles would have appeared here as candidates completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.
Voting information
- See also: Voting in Tennessee
About the Tennessee Supreme Court
- See also: Tennessee Supreme Court
The Tennessee Supreme Court is the state's court of last resort and has five judgeships. Justices of the court are appointed by the governor of Tennessee and confirmed by the Tennessee General Assembly. Appointed justices must be retained by voters in the next general election following appointment. Justices serve eight-year terms and may stand for retention by voters to further eight-year terms.
Political composition
This was the political composition of the supreme court heading into the 2024 election.
| ■ Dwight Tarwater | Appointed by Gov. Bill Lee (R) in 2023 | |
| ■ Holly Kirby | Appointed by Gov. Bill Haslam (R) in 2013; retained in 2022 | |
| ■ Mary L. Wagner | Appointed by Gov. Bill Lee (R) in 2024 | |
| ■ Jeff Bivins | Appointed by Gov. Bill Haslam (R) in 2014; retained in 2022 | |
| ■ Sarah Campbell | Appointed by Gov. Bill Lee (R) in 2022; retained in 2022 |
Selection
The five justices on the Tennessee Supreme Court are selected through assisted appointment. The governor selects a nominee from a list of recommended candidates from a judicial nominating commission. The nominee must be confirmed by the Tennessee General Assembly. Justices face retention elections at the end of their terms.[2][3]
If a midterm vacancy occurs on the court, the governor appoints a replacement justice from a list from a judicial nominating commission. The nominee must be confirmed by both chambers of the state legislature. The appointee stands for retention in the next general election at least 30 days after the vacancy occurred. If filling an interim vacancy, the retained judge serves out the remainder of the unexpired term before again running for retention to serve a full eight-year term.[2] Judges are voted upon by the voters of the whole state.[4]
Qualifications
A qualified candidate for the Tennessee Supreme Court is one who meets the requirements set out in Article 8-18-101 of the Tennessee Constitution, and further, the person must be at least 35 years old and have been a resident of Tennessee for at least five years. He or she must also be an attorney licensed to practice law in the state.[5]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Bolts, "Your State-by-State Guide to the 2024 Supreme Court Elections," accessed April 29, 2024
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Tennessee," archived September 11, 2014
- ↑ American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Tennessee; Judicial Nominating Commissions," accessed September 30, 2021
- ↑ National Center for State Courts, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Tennessee," accessed August 5, 2016
- ↑ Bradley County Election Commission, "Bradley Elections: Tennessee Qualifications," accessed September 2, 2014
Federal courts:
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Tennessee, Middle District of Tennessee, Western District of Tennessee • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Tennessee, Middle District of Tennessee, Western District of Tennessee
State courts:
Tennessee Supreme Court • Tennessee Court of Appeals • Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals • Tennessee Circuit Court • Tennessee Chancery Courts • Tennessee Criminal Court • Tennessee Probate Court • Tennessee General Sessions Court • Tennessee Juvenile Court • Tennessee Municipal Court
State resources:
Courts in Tennessee • Tennessee judicial elections • Judicial selection in Tennessee
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