Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Judicial Confirmations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Joint convention confirms Valerie Smith to Court of Appeals and Stephen Sword to Court of Criminal Appeals
Summary
In a joint convention on March 24, 2025, the Tennessee General Assembly confirmed Judge Valerie Smith to the Court of Appeals (Western Section) and Judge Stephen Sword to the Court of Criminal Appeals (Eastern Section); both confirmations were approved by roll-call votes in the House and Senate.
A joint convention of the Tennessee Senate and House of Representatives on March 24, 2025, confirmed two judicial nominees: Judge Valerie Smith of Shelby County to the Tennessee Court of Appeals, Western Section, and Judge Stephen Sword of Knox County to the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals, Eastern Section.
The proceedings opened with the presiding officer invoking Article VI, Section 3 of the Tennessee Constitution and chapter 528 of the Public Acts of 2016 and directing the clerk to read Senate Joint Resolution 307, which called the convention and set the date and time for the confirmations.
Representative Gillespie moved that the House confirm Judge Valerie Smith; Representative Leatherwood seconded. The House roll call produced 92 votes in favor, which the clerk reported to the Speaker; the Speaker then declared Judge Smith confirmed by the House. In the Senate, Senator Rose moved confirmation, Senator Taylor seconded, and a Senate roll call produced 32 ayes; the presiding officer declared Judge Smith confirmed by the Senate under the cited constitutional and statutory authority.
The House next considered Judge Stephen Sword. Representative Davis moved his confirmation and Representative Farmer seconded. The House roll call showed 79 ayes and 10 noes; the Speaker declared Judge Sword confirmed by the House. In the Senate, Senator Massey moved confirmation and Senator Briggs seconded. The Senate roll call produced 29 ayes and 2 nays, and the presiding officer declared Judge Sword constitutionally and duly confirmed to the Court of Criminal Appeals, Eastern Section.
With both confirmations complete, the presiding officer said the purpose of the joint convention had been accomplished and the convention adjourned.
The convention proceedings and the votes were conducted under the authority cited at the start of the session: Article VI, Section 3 of the Tennessee Constitution and chapter 528 of the Public Acts of 2016, as reflected in Senate Joint Resolution 307.
