May 5, 2021
Republicans say it's necessary to move statewide legal decisions out of Davidson County. Democrats contend it is "sausage making" and "court packing" at its worst.
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Either way, the House voted 68-23 to create a three-member statewide appellate court – to be appointed by the governor – to hear redistricting cases and constitutional challenges to state law.
"What we started with here was rotten meat to begin with, and now we've amended it to make it worse," said Rep. John Ray Clemmons, a Nashville Democrat.
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The measure the House approved is markedly different than the Senate version, and unless the House concurs, the matter could go to a conference committee to hash out the difference. Lawmakers are trying to wrap up the final day of the 112th General Assembly's first year, but it was unclear whether they could do all of their work Wednesday or would have to come back Thursday before adjourning.