Finalist for state Supreme Court withdraws candidacy
In a letter to Gov. Phil Bredesen received a day before he was to be interviewed, Turnbull didn’t state the complaint as reason for withdrawal but said he wants to keep his current position.
“This morning I woke up with the firm conviction that I was making a mistake applying for the Supreme Court,” the Overton County judge wrote in his letter Tuesday. “I believe my talents can be better utilized in my Circuit judgeship, and I believe in the long run, I will be happier.”
The judge told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the complaint didn’t affect his decision and reiterated his commitment to his job.
“I’m going to be the best circuit judge in the state of Tennessee,” Turnbull said by phone.
Bredesen said Wednesday he hadn’t talked to Turnbull, but that his withdrawal was unexpected. When asked if the judge may have been pressured because of the admonishment, the governor said he didn’t think so, but rather Turnbull was “making a voluntary judgment about what’s best for him.”
Turnbull was one of three people nominated to become a Supreme Court justice by the Tennessee Judicial Selection Commission. The new justice will serve out the unexpired term of Chief Justice Frank Drowota of Nashville, who is retiring effective Sept. 1.
Turnbull stated on his written application for the position that in 2001 he “accepted a private reprimand” from the Court of the Judiciary, which deals with ethics complaints against judges.
Bredesen, who has recently dealt with sexual harassment complaints against two members of his administration, could decide among the candidates or ask for a new list.
The other two nominees for the state’s highest court are state Court of Appeals Judge Bill Koch and state Supreme Court administrative director and former circuit court judge Connie Clark.
Bredesen said he planned to complete interviews with them on Wednesday, then consult with legal officials about whether he needs to get another nominee.
“This is new for me,” he said. “I’m certainly going ahead with the two interviews and will give some thought over the next day or two on how to proceed.”