
Sen. Tom Tiffany will be introducing a bill that will introduce a constitutional change to the way the Chief Justice of the court will be selected. Is this a good option and should it be seriously looked at?
Currently, the chief justice is based on seniority. The proposal would require that the chief justice instead be selected by a majority of the seven justices serving on the court. The election would happen every two years and the chief justice would be limited to no more than three consecutive terms.
Current Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson has been on the court since 1976 and has been chief justice since 1996.
The measure would have to pass two consecutive legislative sessions and be approved by a vote of the people statewide before taking effect.
Changing the tenure of leadership and how that leader would be chosen would make that person more accountable and amenable.
And for those who are keeping track, the next Justice up for re-election is Ann Walsh Bradley in the spring of 2015 and Justice Patrick Crooks seat is up in 2016.