Amendment Two – Tennessee Courts: Fair and Unbiased

Supreme Court Justice Jeff Bivins will discuss the issues surrounding proposed Amendment Two to the Tennessee Constitution and the importance of keeping Tennessee’s Courts fair and unbiased. For over 40 years, Tennessee’s appellate judges have been appointed by the Governor and stood every 8 years for retention election. Many have challenged this process as unconstitutional. Now, Tennessee voters will be asked in November to accept a constitutional amendment that will settle this issue.

This course is pending approval by the Tennessee Commission for Continuing Legal Education for one hour of CLE credit.

Speaker

Justice Jeff Bivins was sworn in as a member of the Tennessee Supreme Court in July 2014. He was appointed to this position by Governor Bill Haslam. Prior to assuming that position, he was a judge on the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals from August 2011 until July 2014. Previously, Judge Bivins served as a Circuit Court Judge for the 21st Judicial District of Tennessee, covering Williamson, Hickman, Lewis, and Perry Counties. He is a 1986 graduate of Vanderbilt University School of Law. He received a B.A. Degree, magna cum laude, in 1982 from East Tennessee State University, with a major in political science and a minor in criminal justice. Judge Bivins was appointed to the trial bench in March 2005. He was elected to a full 8-year term in 2006. He also previously served in a trial judge position from July 1999 through August 2000.