NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee is about to adopt a new method for disciplining judges that supporters say contains more accountability and should help restore the public's faith in the judicial system.
The proposal that overwhelmingly passed both chambers of the Legislature and is being reviewed by the governor would terminate the Court of the Judiciary in July and replace it with a 16-member Board of Judicial Conduct that would have a similar mission of ensuring that judges are ethical and fit to serve on the bench.
The difference, however, is that it has new provisions to hold judges more accountable, such as making it more difficult to dismiss complaints against jurists.
Public records show that the court disposed of 334 complaints against judges last fiscal year, with the overwhelming majority dismissed. The panel issued nine public reprimands, six private reprimands and three deferred discipline agreements.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
