Last night the Tennessee Senate approved SJR 710, as amended. As previously noted, the constitutional amendment provides for a quasi-federal judicial selection system

• Governor appoints anyone meeting minimum qualifications (age 35, resident for 5 years)
• legislature confirms
• subject to retention election

Prior amendments had removed any reference to merit selection.

This particular method was approved 22-9, a critical number. Under the state constitution, a mere majority (17 of 33) was needed for first passage. An intervening election must take place (November 2012) and the 2013-2014 Senate must approved the bill by “two-thirds of all the members elected to each house”, or 22.

Contrast this with SJR 183, adopted last week, which permits but does not require merit selection with retention elections. SJR 183 met with a 21-9 vote.

Even more interesting was the for/against tallies.

• 19 Senators (18 R, 1 D) voted to advance both bills
• 7 Senators (6 D, 1 R) voted no on both

Of the remaining 7

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