Court of Appeals nominees selected

Diversity doesn't look like it will be an issue over this seat on the bench

Email | Print By Ken Whitehouse

The Tennessee Judicial Selection Commission announced their nominations today for a seat on the Tennessee Court of Appeals, and this time there are no "old white men." The seat became open upon the passing of Judge William Cain.

Unlike previous battles between the commission and Governor Phil Bredesen, there shouldn't be a battle over having a diverse panel this go around. Earlier this year, Bredesen and the commission battled over a seat on the Tennessee Supreme Court vacated by the high court's only African-American, Justice A.A. Birch.

The commission nominated one African-American, Davidson County Chancellor Richard H. Dinkins, for that seat, but he subsequently withdrew for personal reasons. Bredesen then rejected a panel of nominees, citing a lack of diversity. He was then given a panel that he criticized, but from which he eventually appointed then Court of Appeals Judge William Koch.

In today's nominations, Dinkins is back up for consideration and is joined by two female attorneys, neither of whom are from Nashville.

The nominees are;

Richard H. Dinkins, Chancellor, Davidson County Chancery Court, Part IV, Nashville

Christina Henley Duncan, Attorney/Partner, Rogers and Duncan Law Firm, Decherd, Tenn.

Amy V. Hollars, Attorney, Livingston, Tenn.