It’s good news to hear that Tennessee Sen. Mae Beavers, R-Mt. Juliet, was appointed to lead a committee on judicial reform. With the questionable acts this site has reported on in Nashville’s probate court, we know that judicial reform is indeed needed – in Tennessee, but also in plenty of other states including our home state of Texas.
Here’s the story:
She is the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, so her appointment is not a surprise. But the naming Friday of Sen. Mae Beavers, R-Mt. Juliet, as co-chair of a committee studying judicial reforms suggests there could be fireworks when the group meets in September.
Beavers has long pushed for reforming the Court of the Judiciary, which investigates complaints against judges and determines any discipline. Beavers says the court is too closely allied with judges. Beavers has also been a vocal supporter for the direct election of judges, a proposal that is fiercely opposed by the bench.
Beavers will be joined on the committee by two other critics of the judiciary: Sen. Mike Bell, R-Riceville, who has also pushed for direct judicial elections and has complained about judges who gave money to his opponent in last year’s election, and Sen. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown, another advocate of direct elections.
State Rep. Rick Womick, the Rockvale Republican perhaps best known for his bill to require presidential candidates to provide the state with a birth certificate and his 18-minute speech on the dangers of Shariah law last session, could also make for interesting discussions. Womick has not said much publicly about the judiciary, but the freshman conservative has already shown himself to be unafraid to speak his mind.
State Rep. Eric Watson, R-Cleveland, will join Beavers in co-chairing the committee, which is officially known as the Ad Hoc Committee on the Court of the Judiciary. Rounding out the appointments are Sen. Ophelia Ford, D-Memphis; Rep. Jim Coley, R-Bartlett; and Rep. Eddie Bass, D-Prospect.
The committee is scheduled to meet Sept. 20 and Sept. 21.
Attribution:
Beavers to lead committee on judicial reform
Chas Sisk
August 19, 2011
The Tennessean
http://blogs.tennessean.com/politics/2011/beavers-to-lead-committee-on-judicial-reform/
Estate of Denial® provides news, analysis and commentary on abusive practices occurring in probate courts and via probate instruments (wills, trusts, guardianships, powers of attorney). We provide original perspective to educate the public regarding this growing threat to both individual freedoms and property rights.
