Tomorrow July 8, 2014 at 2:30 p.m. Central Time at the War Memorial Plaza in Nashville a press conference will be held to announce the statewide organization for the “Vote NO on 2” campaign. In the event of inclement weather it will be held indoors of Legislative Plaza.
It is expected that the committee’s State Coordinator: John Avery Emison, Ph.D. will announce the grassroots organization of statewide scope that will oppose adoption of Amendment 2 on the Nov. 4 ballot – the so-called judicial amendment. Emison will also introduce the men and women who will lead the effort.
The committee will urge voters to reject this amendment – again. Emison will say Voters rejected a similar amendment in 1978, and the committee believes voters will reject it again this year, and for the same reason: People don’t want to give up their right to vote.
It is expected that Emison will say, In the words of the proponents of Amendment 2: “Passing this Amendment will bring clarity, certainty and new accountability to the selection process for the Supreme Court justices and other appellate judges in our State.” This ambiguous and incomplete statement represents much of what is wrong in government today at all levels.
Article VI, Sec. 3 of the Constitution of Tennessee makes the following unmistakable statement: “The judges of the Supreme Court shall be elected by the qualified voters of the state.” It’s difficult for most people, except perhaps the judges who directly benefit, to misunderstand or twist those words. And the words don’t change whether you are Dean of the Harvard law school, or simply a Tennessean in the voting booth. The words of our Constitution plainly say: “The judges of the Supreme Court shall be elected by the qualified voters of the state.” Ironically, the proposed Amendment asks voters to delete this crystal clear sentence and replace it with confusing language that conflicts with other provisions of the Constitution, thus assuring additional litigation that the proponents tell us won’t happen.
Emison is expected to say, The real truth behind Amendment 2 is the belief that the Governor is able to pick better judges than the public. This is nothing less than an argument against self-government, and a slap in the face of the Governor’s own supporters. If the people are qualified to elect the Governor, why aren’t the voters who supported him equally qualified to elect the Supreme Court, and other appellate courts? The answer is, “Of course, they are.”
Emison is expected to say, We believe a court system of elected judges is a better court system than appointed judges. One has only to look at the conflict, confusion, and lack of accountability to the public that is clearly evident in the Federal court system where all judges are appointed. We believe most Tennesseans agree that our system of electing judges is far superior to the way they do things in Washington. So, our message is simple: Don’t give up the right to vote. Protect the Constitution. Vote NO on 2.
Emison is expected to say we have here today a great group of people who represent the entire political spectrum and reflect the great geographic and racial diversity of Tennessee:
Honorary co-chairs:
Sen. Frank Niceley, Rep. Judd Matheny, Sen. Reginald Tate
Steering Committee:
East Tennessee
Sen. Frank Niceley, Strawberry Plains
Sabrena Turner, Chattanooga
Middle Tennessee
Rep. Judd Matheny, Tullahoma
Dr. Shaun Crowell, Spring Hill
Dr. Lee Douglass, Nashville
Hillary Pate, Nashville
Kevin Thompson, Franklin
West Tennessee
Sen. Reginald Tate, Memphis
John Avery Emison, Alamo
Rep. Andy Holt, Dresden
