New idea for AG selection: Supreme Court nominates, subject to General Assembly confirmation

A Republican senator said Monday he is revising his resolution that would change the Tennessee Constitution and put the General Assembly in charge of naming the state’s next attorney general, reports the Times Free Press.

Senate State and Local Committee Chairman Ken Yager, R-Kingston, said the move came after discussions with Sen. Art Swann, R-Maryville, who has an amendment to alter Yager’s proposed Senate Joint Resolution 88.

Yager’s resolution would begin the years-long process of amending the Tennessee Constitution to take the selection of the state attorney general away from the state Supreme Court and give the decision over to members of the House and Senate.

Swann’s idea is to allow the five Supreme Court justices to nominate the attorney general with the House and Senate later voting to confirm or reject the candidate.

… Yager said his main priority is making the selection process open.

“When I presented the bill I said I would be open to feedback, and [Swann] took advantage of that offer,” Yager said late Monday afternoon after the Senate session where he rolled his resolution for a second time. “We are looking at an amendment that may satisfy him and others.”

Yager said he also has solicited input from Supreme Court Chief Justice Jeffrey Bivens and hopes to have the resolution back on the Senate floor Thursday.