Press Releases

Press Releases

Lawyers Overwhelmingly Support Tennessee Plan

Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Mar 26, 2013

Survey shows TBA members support current judicial selection system by 83 percent

NASHVILLE, March 26, 2013 — Eighty-three percent of Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) members support maintaining the present plan for merit selection, performance evaluation and retention election of appellate judges, known as The Tennessee Plan, according to the TBA 2013 Member Survey. Non-member lawyers also surveyed by the group favor the present plan, but by a slightly smaller margin of 72.3 percent.

The study, conducted by Yacoubian Research of Memphis, had a very high response rate of 1,532 members and 458 non-members. According to Berje Yacoubian, chief statistician at the survey research firm, the “statistically significant” response rate reflects the full demographics of the Tennessee legal community and is highly reliable.

The TBA has favored the present plan since its inception in 1971. A new plan to amend the Tennessee Constitution eliminates merit-based review of potential judges by an independent panel, and instead provides for nomination by the governor, confirmation by both houses of the General Assembly, and yes/no retention votes in subsequent years. According to the study, 73.9 percent of association members oppose that plan, while 50.2 percent “strongly oppose” it.

The TBA conducts member surveys about every two years principally to measure performance of its programs and services, but also to gather information on significant issues facing the justice system and the legal profession.

For questions about this release or more information about the TBA survey please contact:

Allan F. Ramsaur
Executive Director
Tennessee Bar Association
221 Fourth Avenue North
Suite 400
Nashville, TN 37219
Office: (615) 383-7421
Cell: (615) 202-2436