The Davidson County Democratic Executive Committee voted last night on who will be their nominees for two local judicial slots. The results were what the governor wanted.
The DCED had until noon today to file with the Davidson County Election Commission as to whom would represent the party in August elections for seats on the Circuit Court and Chancery Court benches. While one slot went unopposed, another was a battle.
Nashville attorney Joseph Pitts Binkley Jr., who was appointed to the Circuit Court bench last month by Gov. Phil Bredesen, was named the Democratic nominee without a contest. However, the same could not be said for the seat on Chancery Court.
In that race for the local party's nod, Russell Perkins, formerly with the Tennessee Attorney General's office and appointed Chancellor last month by Bredesen, faced off against former judge and Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz attorney Matt Sweeney.
Sweeney had applied for appointment to the bench, but was passed over by the Tennessee Judicial Selection Commission and not recommended to to governor. He then announced that he would seek the spot in the August elections.
Last night, Sweeney failed in his bid to secure the Democratic nomination by a vote of 25 to 10 in favor of Perkins. A number of NashvillePost.com sources have said that they were aware of a heavy lobbying effort by "Bredesen people" to secure the nomination for Perkins. They also stated that, had "Bredesen people" not intervened in the process, Sweeney had the votes just hours before the meeting.
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