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Tennessee joint convention confirms two judges to appellate benches
Summary
The Tennessee House and Senate met in a joint convention on March 24, 2025, and confirmed Judge Valerie Smith to the Court of Appeals (Western Section) and a Knox County nominee (transcript spelling varies) to the Court of Criminal Appeals (Eastern Section). Both nominees were approved by roll call votes in each chamber.
A joint convention of the Tennessee House and Senate convened March 24, 2025, to vote on judicial confirmations and adjourned after approving two nominees.
Representative Gillespie moved that the House confirm Judge Valerie Smith of Shelby County to the Tennessee Court of Appeals, Western Section; Representative Leatherwood seconded. After a House roll call the Speaker announced 92 ayes and the House confirmed Judge Smith. In the Senate, Senator Rose moved the confirmation; Senator Taylor seconded and the Senate recorded 32 ayes, meeting the constitutional majority. "Having received the constitutional majority, the house of representatives confirms Judge Valerie Smith of Shelby County to the Tennessee Court of Appeals Western Section," the House announcer stated, and the presiding officer declared her elected to the Western Section bench.
The convention then considered the nominee from Knox County for the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals, Eastern Section. Representative Davis moved confirmation; Representative Farmer seconded. The House roll call produced 79 ayes and 10 noes and the House confirmed the nominee. Senator Massey of Knox moved the Senate confirmation and Senator Briggs seconded; the Senate vote was announced as 29 ayes and 2 nays and the presiding officer declared the nominee duly confirmed. The transcript contains inconsistent spellings of this nominee's surname (appearing as "Sword," "Seward" and "Steven Sword" in different segments); the House confirmation segment identifies the nominee as "Judge Stephen Seward of Knox County" while later Senate segments use a variant. The transcript inconsistency is noted in this report (see clarifying details).
Both confirmations were conducted under authority cited at the start of the convention: Article VI, Section 3 of the Tennessee Constitution and chapter 528 of the Public Acts of 2016. The joint convention's stated purpose was completed and the presiding officer declared the convention adjourned.
Votes at a glance
- Judge Valerie Smith (Shelby County) — Court of Appeals, Western Section: House 92 ayes (confirmed); Senate 32 ayes (confirmed). - Knox County nominee (transcript spelling varies; House identifies as "Judge Stephen Seward") — Court of Criminal Appeals, Eastern Section: House 79 ayes, 10 noes (confirmed); Senate 29 ayes, 2 nays (confirmed).
The joint convention concluded with the presiding officer stating that the purpose of the convention had been accomplished and adjourning the session.
