Senate Judiciary Confirms Kyle Hixson to Tennessee Supreme Court, Steve Maroney to Court of Appeals

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Feb. 11 confirmed two of Governor Lee's judicial nominees, advancing Judge Kyle Hixson to the Tennessee Supreme Court and Chancellor Steve Maroney to the Court of Appeals' Western Section.

Chairman Roberts moved to confirm Hixson, whose nomination drew questions about a 2020 recusal challenge from his time as a supervisory assistant district attorney. Senator Taylor asked Hixson to address earlier appellate litigation over whether campaign language required recusal. Hixson said he voluntarily recused from cases where he took active supervisory action, defended his campaign statements as "accurate as written" and noted the Tennessee Supreme Court ultimately upheld his rulings in that dispute: "I stand behind my campaign material to this day," Hixson said.

After the exchange the committee approved Hixson's nomination by roll call; the secretary announced the result as eight ayes and one abstention, and the nomination "passes and moves on to the committee for calendar." The motion was seconded by Senator Stevens.

The committee then confirmed Steve Maroney to the Court of Appeals on a separate roll call (nine ayes). Introduced by Senator Stevens, Maroney described 29 years of private practice and service as a chancery court judge, saying he was "humbled" to be considered and thanking the committee for its time.

Why it matters: Confirmations to the state's appellate benches set the judiciary's composition for years; both nominees will now proceed through the legislature's calendar process. The committee's questioning focused on campaign statements, recusals and the candidates' judicial philosophies.

What happens next: Both confirmations move to the committee on calendar for further procedural steps before full Senate consideration.

Sources: Committee roll-call motions and nominee testimony recorded during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.