Tennessee Bar Decries Bill Seeking Removal of Judge in Voting Case courthousenews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from courthousenews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Credit Davidson County Courts
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Mike Osborne) A state lawmaker seeking to unseat a Nashville judge is getting strong pushback from some powerful legal groups.
The Nashville and the Tennessee Bar Associations have condemned a resolution offered up by Murfreesboro Republican Tim Rudd.
If passed, Rep. Rudd’s resolution could lead to the removal of Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle.
Judge Lyle forced the state to expand absentee balloting during last year’s presidential election. That decision was eventually overturned by the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Republicans called Judge Lyle’s decisions in the case judicial overreach. Statehouse Democrats and legal groups say Rudd’s resolution is an attack on an independent judiciary.
Bar Association Hits Legislative Action Seeking To Remove Nashville Chancellor From Office Tuesday, March 2, 2021
The Tennessee Bar Association issued a statement on Tuesday challenging a Tennessee House resolution that would consider removing Nashville Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle from office.
House Resolution 23 (HR 23) would have a chilling effect on the administration of justice in our state and threatens the bedrock principle of separation of powers, which lies at the core of Tennessee s system of government, the statement says in part.
Rep. Tim Rudd, R-Murfreesboro, is asking for a legislative committee to be formed to remove her from the bench. He said the action relates to her earlier ruling expanding absentee voting, which he called judicial overreach.
House GOP is pushing removal of Nashville chancellor Both the Tennessee Bar Association and Nashville Bar Association on Tuesday issued statements forcefully opposing a
push by Tennessee House Republicans to remove Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle because of her election-related rulings last year. “Judges must be able to decide controversial cases based on the facts and the law, not based on how their decision may be perceived by the legislature,” NBA President Mike Abelow said in a statement. “No judge in the history of our state has been removed because the legislature disagreed with the judge’s decision. Violating that precedent threatens the people’s rights under our constitution. The Nashville Bar Association is working with other organizations to urge our legislature to oppose this resolution.