Voters have a right to be confused about the amendment. The governor has been appointing appeals court judges and the Supreme Court for some time. The judges say that’s perfectly legal.
But just to be sure that, should someone finally rule that the state constitution requires that judges be elected by the qualified voters, they have this amendment to ratify what’s being done now. The constitution will then, as amended, make the illegal appointment process legal and take away the ability to vote forever.
The amendment adds a little fillip in that the Legislature will decide which of the governor’s appointments can be seated or not, likely based on their political views.
So not only will the judges be appointed, they will also be the lackeys and lapdogs of the Legislature instead of being an independent branch of government, equal to the governor and the Legislature. They will also be told to appoint a lapdog Republican attorney general who will do whatever the Legislature requires. Like filing frivolous and futile lawsuits against Obamacare, which the current AG has refused to do.
What has not been clear, and Gov. Bill Haslam and Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey and Speaker Beth Harwell owe voters an explanation, is what happens if the amendment fails?
http://bit.ly/1oofScp Metropulse.com
"On the November ballot, voters will be asked to pass a constitutional amendment giving up their right to vote for appellate court judges, including the Supreme Court."
VOTE NO ON AMENDMENT 2