Former Tennessee Supreme Court chief believes Bredesen nonpartisan on judicial confirmations
NASHVILLE — U.S. Senate Democratic candidate Phil Bredesen is coming under renewed fire from Republican Marsha Blackburn, who alleges the former Tennessee governor would side with fellow Democrats if elected and "attempt to block" President Donald Trump's picks for the U.S. Supreme Court.
But retired Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice William "Mickey" Barker of Chattanooga, a Republican, said in an interview he believes Bredesen's assertions that he would look at judicial nominees through a nonpartisan lens.
Barker pointed to then-Gov. Bredesen's 2007 appointment of Republican William Koch, a legal counsel to former Republican Gov. Lamar Alexander, to the state Supreme Court as well as Bredesen's selection of Republican Jeffrey Bivins in 2005 as a Circuit Court judge for the 21st Judicial District.
Bivins was later elevated by Bredesen's successor, Republican Gov. Bill Haslam, first to the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals and later to the state Supreme Court. Bivins is now chief justice after his election by fellow justices to the post.
Read more: http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2018/jul/06/former-tennessee-supreme-court-chief-justice/474470/