ÿWPCòH …# V %a 06g 0z 0D 0J[ w@¥ 4å 0Tù 0^M 0h« 0r 0|… U: 0†; 0Á 1uQ Æ 0dÕ U*9 BcB)€DC© AOì;“O AâÆWEaœ ý씉 0@% 0Ke D+° D3Û .!ø<#4$>G%™…*·,¬Õ1¢4ð#6Ð8^ã9JA;„‹=í?v~ü?vÓzA AOMGÆœG 0DbH D/¦H BÕH˜HP LaserJet 4Si/4SiMX PS 600dpiPSCRIPTÀÌÀääÀÀÌ0 X(j$¡¡Ò°Ò(*(3s3$¤¤Ý ƒj!ÝÒ°ÒÝ  Ýà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô P QR ST UXUYDZÓ€dDÒ Ì2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô  ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)3|xdP ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(Arial d% Line 7 d 7Border 1dd€37!Cþÿ << Gÿÿ Ý ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÒ  ÒÒ ! ÒÝ  ÝÔ€ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€XÔÌÌOcto…berÏ2,Ï1996ÌÌCecilÏW.ÏCrowsonÌAp…pellateÏCourtÏClerkÔ  Ôó ó ‰Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÒ  ÒÒ ° ÒÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝJustice€White€was€appointed€December€17,€1994,€by€then€GovernorÏNed€McWherter€to€fill€the€unexpired€term€of€Justice€OððBrien,€an€ð ðat€largeððÏSupreme€Court€judge€who€resided€in€the€Eastern€Grand€Division€of€Tennessee.Ì'378 I&mage <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 MÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÒ  ÒÒ ° ÒÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝFederal€jurisdiction€was€invoked€pursuant€to€42€U.S.C.€ðððð€1983€andÏ1971(b),€as€well€as€the€First€and€Fourteenth€Amendments€of€the€United€StatesÏConstitution.Ì WÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÒ  ÒÒ ° ÒÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝThe€action€was€dismissed€by€Judge€Higgins€on€the€basis€of€theÏabstention€doctrine,€which€requires€that€federal€courts€give€deference€to€stateÏcourts€in€matters€of€state€law.Ì –Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÒ  ÒÒ ° ÒÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝThe€basis€for€this€ruling€was€two„fold:€(1)€Mr.€Hooker€was,€at€the€time€heÏsought€to€qualify€as€a€candidate,€a€resident€of€the€Middle€Grand€Division€andÏtherefore€under€T.C.A.€ðð€16„3„101(a)€could€not€qualify,€because€that€statuteÏprohibits€more€than€two€Justices€from€any€one€grand€division€of€the€state,€andÏthere€are€already€in€office€two€Justices€who€are€residents€of€the€Middle€GrandÏDivision,€Justice€A.€A.€Birch,€Jr.€and€Justice€Frank€Drowota;€and€(2)€Mr.€HookerððsÏlaw€license€had€been€suspended€because€of€his€failure€to€meet€continuing€legalÏeducation€requirements,€resulting€in€his€failure€to€meet€the€requirements€ofÏT.C.A.€ðððð€2„5„106€and€17„1„106€that€a€Supreme€Court€Justice€be€an€attorneyÏlicensed€to€practice€in€Tennessee.Ì âÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÒ  ÒÒ ° ÒÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝChancellor€Kilcrease€held€that€the€ð ð...€judicial€evaluation€programÏapplies€only€to€judges€who€are€candidates€for€full€eight€[year]€terms€beginningÏSeptember€1,€1998.€€Therefore,€the€judicial€evaluation€program€does€not€applyÏto€the€candidacy€of€Justice€White,€who€is€a€candidate€for€the€remainder€of€anÏunexpired€term.ðð€€The€Chancellor€also€found€that€Mr.€Laskaððs€argument€that€theÏTennessee€Plan,€T.C.A.€ðð€17„4„101,€òòet€seqóó.,€unconstitutionally€deprives€theÏpublic€of€their€right€to€a€ð ðfree€and€equal€electionðð€pursuant€to€Article€I,€Section€5Ïof€the€Tennessee€Constitution€was€ð ðwithout€merit.ðð€€Given€his€dismissal€of€theÏcase€on€other€grounds,€the€Chancellor€found€it€unnecessary€to€determine€theÏissue€of€Mr.€Laskaððs€legal€residence€or€his€failure€to€timely€file€his€nominatingÏpetition.Ì ŠÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÒ  ÒÒ ° ÒÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝEffectively,€the€Supreme€Court€Justices€recused€themselves€becauseÏthese€matters€involve€the€manner€in€which€they€are€elected.€€Under€Article€VI,ÏSection€11€of€the€Tennessee€Constitution,€and€T.C.A.€ðð€17„2„102,€sitting€judgesÏare€required€to€certify€their€disqualification€to€the€Governor,€ð ð...€and€he€shallÏforthwith€specially€commission€the€requisite€numberðð€to€hear€and€determine€theÏmatters.€€Governor€Sundquist€appointed€this€panel€to€hear€and€determine€theseÏcases.Ì("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó'ÈÈÈÈdxd'ÿÿdxd $Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÒ  ÒÒ ° ÒÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝWith€the€permission€of€this€Court,€Attorney€John€K.€King€was€allowed€toÏfile€an€òòamicus€curiaeóó€brief€on€July€5,€the€day€of€the€hearing.€€In€that€brief,€Mr.ÏKing€contended€that€the€Tennessee€Plan€violates€Article€VI,€Section€3€of€theÏTennessee€Constitution,€which€requires€that€ð ð[t]he€Judges€of€the€Supreme€CourtÏshall€be€elected€by€the€qualified€voters€of€the€State.ððÌ îÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÒ  ÒÒ ° ÒÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝSee€Section€V€and€VI,€òòinfraóó,€regarding€residency€requirements.Ì Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÒ  ÒÒ ° ÒÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝCourts€do€not€expressly€adjudicate€the€rights€of€persons€who€are€notÏparties€to€the€litigation.Ì 4Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÒ  ÒÒ ° ÒÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝArticle€I,€Declaration€of€rights,€provides€in€pertinent€part:Ìà àòòSection€Ióó.€€òòAll€power€inherent€in€the€people€„€Government€under€theirÏcontrol.€„óó€That€all€power€is€inherent€in€the€people,€and€all€free€governments€areÏfounded€on€their€authority,€and€instituted€for€their€peace,€safety,€and€happiness;Ïfor€the€advancement€of€those€ends€they€have€at€all€times,€an€unalienable€andÏindefeasible€right€to€alter,€reform,€or€abolish€the€government€in€such€manner€asÏthey€may€think€proper.Ìà àòòSection€4.€€No€religious€or€political€test.€„€óó€€That€no€political€or€religiousÏtest,€other€than€an€oath€to€support€the€Constitution€of€the€United€States€and€ofÏthis€State,€shall€ever€be€required€as€a€qualification€to€any€office€or€public€trustÏunder€this€State.Ìà àòòSection€5.€€Elections€to€be€free€and€equal€„€Right€of€suffrage.€„óó€TheÏelections€shall€be€free€and€equal,€and€the€right€of€suffrage,€as€hereinafterÏdeclared,€shall€never€be€denied€to€any€person€entitled€thereto,€except€uponÏconviction€by€a€jury€of€some€infamous€crime,€previously€ascertained€andÏdeclared€by€law,€and€judgment€thereon€by€court€of€competent€jurisdiction.Ì Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÒ  ÒÒ ° ÒÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝArticle€II,€Distribution€of€Powers,€provides€at€Section€1:Ìà àòòSection€1.€€Division€of€powers.€„óó€The€powers€of€the€Government€shall€beÏdivided€into€three€distinct€departments:€the€Legislative,€Executive,€and€Judicial.Ì ­Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÒ  ÒÒ ° ÒÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝArticle€VI,€Judicial€Department,€provides€at€Section€3:Ìà àòòSection€3.€Supreme€court€judges€„€óó€€The€Judges€of€the€Supreme€CourtÏshall€be€elected€by€the€qualified€voters€of€the€State.€€The€Legislature€shall€haveÏpower€to€prescribe€such€rules€as€may€be€necessary€to€carry€out€the€provisionsÏof€section€two€of€this€article.€€Every€Judge€of€the€Supreme€Court€shall€be€thirty„five€years€of€age,€and€shall€before€his€election€have€been€a€resident€of€the€StateÏfor€five€years.€€His€term€of€service€shall€be€eight€years.Ìà àSection€2€of€Article€VI€deals€with€the€composition€of€the€Supreme€Court,Ïproviding:Ìà àòòSection€2.€€Supreme€Court.€„€óó€€The€Supreme€Court€shall€consist€of€fiveÏJudges,€of€whom€not€more€than€two€shall€reside€in€any€one€of€the€grandÏdivisions€of€the€State.€€The€Judges€shall€designate€one€of€their€own€numberÏwho€shall€preside€as€Chief€Justice.€€The€concurrence€of€three€of€the€JudgesÏshall€in€every€case€be€necessary€to€a€decision.€€The€jurisdiction€of€this€CourtÏshall€be€appellate€only,€under€such€restrictions€and€regulations€as€may€fromÏtime€to€time€be€prescribed€by€law;€but€in€may€possess€such€other€jurisdiction€asÏis€now€conferred€by€law€on€the€present€Supreme€Court.€€Said€Court€shall€beÏheld€at€Knoxville,€Nashville€and€Jackson.Ì ¢Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÒ  ÒÒ ° ÒÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝArticle€XI,€Miscellaneous€Provisions,€states€at€Section€16:Ìà àòòSection€16.€€Bill€of€rights€to€remain€inviolate.€„€óó€€The€declaration€of€rightsÏhereto€prefixed€is€declared€to€a€part€of€the€Constitution€of€this€State,€and€shallÏnever€be€violated€on€any€pretence€whatever.€€And€to€guard€againstÏtransgression€of€the€high€powers€we€have€delegated,€we€declare€thatÏeverything€in€the€bill€of€rights€contained,€is€excepted€out€of€the€General€powersÏof€government,€and€shall€forever€remain€inviolate.Ì ˜Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÒ  ÒÒ ° ÒÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝòòSee,€e.g.,€Selection€and€Retention€of€Judges:€Is€Floridaððs€PresentÏSystem€Still€the€Best€Compromise?,óó€49€U.€Miami€L.€Rev.€1€(Fall€1994)€for€aÏsummary€of€the€adoption€of€yes/no€retention€election€for€judges€in€otherÏjurisdictions.Ì æÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÒ  ÒÒ ° ÒÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝJustice€Humphreysðð€rather€disturbing€suggestion€that€the€LegislatureÏcould€provide€that€ð ða€judge€must€be€approved€by€an€affirmative€vote€of€such€aÏpercentage€as€will€empty€the€Bench€of€presently€serving€judges,ðð€òòHigginsóó€atÏ494,€would€present€a€far€different€case€than€that€presently€before€this€Court.Ì ÆÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÒ  ÒÒ ° ÒÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝòòSee,€e.g.,€óóWatsonòò,€Judicial€Selection:€What€Fits€Texas?€€ObservationsÏon€the€Missouri€Nonpartisan€Court€Planóó,€40€S.W.€L.€J.€1€(May€1986);€òòSelectionÏand€Retention€of€Judges:€Is€Floridaððs€Present€System€Still€the€BestÏCompromise?óó,€49€U.€Miami€L.€Rev.€1€(Fall€1994).Ì TÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÒ  ÒÒ ° ÒÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝAll€supreme€court€terms€are€concurrent€and€the€next€election€year€for€aÏfull€term€is€1998,€pursuant€to€the€Constitution,€Article€VI,€Section€3€and€ArticleÏVII,€Section€5.Ì @Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÒ  ÒÒ ° ÒÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝSupreme€Court€Rule€27,€entitled€Judicial€Performance€and€EvaluationÏProgram,€adopted€June€16,€1995,€refers€to€appellate€judges€seeking,€ð ðelectionÏor€re„election€to€a€full€eight€(8)€year€termðð,€five€times.€€No€mention€is€made€ofÏelections€to€fill€an€unexpired€term.€€The€implication€follows€that€the€CourtÏinterprets€the€act€to€apply€only€to€elections€to€fill€a€full€eight€(8)€year€term.€€WeÏdisagree.Ì zÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÒ  ÒÒ ° ÒÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝThe€possibility€that€a€judge€could€be€seeking€a€complete€term,€whenÏthat€judge€had€not€been€appointed€sufficiently€in€advance€of€the€election€toÏallow€time€for€evaluation,€is€seemingly€ignored€by€the€statute.Ì ãÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÒ  ÒÒ ° ÒÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝIn€1980,€this€section€was€codified€as€T.C.A.€ðð€17„112.ÌPtPt HHð@ÿìÿîRd(ühh° @dÿœÿ¦ šStyl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  BA Op Geneva ÒÒ  BA Op Geneva Ò€3‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€ÔÒ  ÒÒ ° ÒÝ  ÝÓ  ÓÑ7€(žXdædÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ , ÑÑ   ÑÑ  ÑÑ€ u` Ñ›à àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àOctober€2,€1996Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àFOR€PUBLICATIONÌÌÌà@ àò òIN€THE€SPECIAL€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌà@ àAT€NASHVILLEó óÌÌÌÌSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE,€EX€REL.,à àà à)à àDAVIDSON€EQUITYÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àHon.€Walter€C.€KurtzÌà àAppellant,à àà àà àà àà à)à àChancellor€by€InterchangeÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àNo.€01S01„9605„CH„00106Ìv.à àà àà àà àà àà àà à)ÌÙ€€ÙœßL€"#!;+'h|` õ `€€Lß›à àà àà àà àà àà àà à)ÌBROOK€THOMPSON,à àà àà àà à)ÌState€Coordinator€of€Electionsà àà àà à)ÌRILEY€DARNELL,à àà àà àà àà à)ÌSecretary€of€State,à àà àà àà àà à)ÌCHARLES€BURSON,à àà àà àà à)ÌAttorney€General€of€Tennesseeà àà àà à)ÌDON€SUNDQUIST,à àà àà àà àà à)ÌGovernor€of€the€State€of€Tennesseeà àà à)à àÌand€à àà àà àà àà àà àà à)ÌPENNY€WHITE,à àà àà àà àà à)ÌJustice€of€the€Supreme€Court€of€Tennessee,à à)ÌIn€their€respective€official€capacities,à àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àDefendantsà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)ÌSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE€EXÏREL.,à àà à)à àDAVIDSON€EQUITYÌLEWISÏLASKAà àà àà àà àà à)à àHon.ÏIrvin€H.€Kilcrease,€Jr.Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àChancellorÌà àAppellant,à àà àà àà àà à)à àNo.€01S01„9605„CH„00106Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)ÌBROOK€THOMPSON,à àà àà àà à)ÌCoordinator€of€Elections,€à àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)ÌòòFOR€APPELLANT€HOOKERà àà àóóà à)à àòòFOR€STATEÏDEFENDANTSóóÌJohn€J.€Hooker,€Pro€Seà àà àà àà à)ÌRobert€L.€Delaneyà àà àà àà àà à)à àCharles€W.€BursonÌNashvilleà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àAttorney€General€&ÏReporterÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)ÌòòFOR€APPELLANT€LASKAà àà àà àà àóó)à àAndy€D.€BennettÌBob€Lynch,€Jr.à àà àà àà àà à)à àAssociate€Chief€DeputyÌNashvilleà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àMichael€W.€CatalanoÌòòFOR€INTERVENOR€KINGóóà àà àà àà à)à àAssociate€SolicitorÏGeneralÌJohn€K.€King,€Pro€Seà àà àà àà à)ÌKnoxvilleà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àÌÌÌà@ àò òòòOPINIONóóó óÌÌÌTRIAL€COURTS€AFFIRMEDà àà àà àà àà àBY€THE€SPECIAL€œÌIN›€PART,€REVERSED€œINà àà àà àà àà àà àCOURT›ÌPART€AND€MODIFIEDÌÓỚ̜à àThese€consolidated€cases€arise€from€the€efforts€of€appellants,€LewisÏLaska€and€John€Jay€Hooker,€to€have€their€names€placed€on€the€ballot€for€theÏAugust€1,€1996,€statewide€election€to€the€office€of€Supreme€Court€Justice.€€TheÏdeadline€for€filing€nominating€petitions€for€this€election€was€12:00€noon€on€MayÏ16,€1996,€in€accordance€with€T.C.A.€ðð€2„5„101.ÌÌà@ àòòò òI.Ìà@ àPROCEDURAL€BACKGROUNDó óóóÌà àPrior€to€the€filing€deadline,€both€appellants€sought€to€obtain€a€nominatingÏpetition€from€Appellee€Brook€K.€Thompson,€the€State€Coordinator€of€Elections,Ïpursuant€to€T.C.A.€ðð€2„5„103.€€Mr.€Thompson€refused€to€furnish€AppellantsÏHooker€and€Laska€with€a€nominating€petition.€€Mr.€Thompson€informedÏappellants€that€pursuant€to€T.C.A.€ðð€17„4„101,€òòet€seqóó.€(popularly€known€as€theÏð ðTennessee€Planðð),€Justice€Penny€J.€Whiteœ× ƒ$ ××  ×›€would€be€running€unopposed€onÏthe€ballot€in€a€ð ðretention€election,ðð€whereby€hers€would€be€the€only€name€on€theÏballot€and€the€public€would€be€given€the€opportunity€to€vote€ð ðyesðð€or€ð ðnoðð€as€toÏwhether€she€should€be€retained€as€a€Supreme€Court€Justice.Ìà àOn€May€13,€1996,€Mr.€Laska€sought€injunctive€relief€in€the€United€StatesÏDistrict€Court€for€the€Middle€District€of€Tennessee,€òòLewis€Laska€v.€BrookÏThompsonóó,€Docket€No.€3:96„0441,€requesting€the€federal€court€to€orderÏDefendant/Appellee€Thompson€to€furnish€him€with€a€nominating€petition.× ƒ( ××  ×€ÏUnited€States€District€Court€Judge€Thomas€A.€Higgins€issued€an€order€on€MayÏ16,€1996,€dismissing€the€lawsuit.× ƒ* ××  ×€€On€May€16,€1996,€upon€learning€that€hisÏfederal€court€action€had€been€dismissed,€Mr.€Laska€attempted€to€intervene€in€aÍsimilar€case€which€had€been€filed€on€May€15€by€Mr.€Hooker€in€the€ChanceryÏCourt€for€œDavidson›€County,€Tennessee,€òòState€ex€rel.€John€Jay€Hooker€v.€BrookÏThompson,€in€his€Capacity€as€Coordinator€of€the€Division€of€Elections,€Office€ofÏthe€Secretary€of€State,€et€alóó.,€Docket€No.€96„1519.€€Mr.€Hooker€had€filed€a€òòpro€seóóÏPetition€for€Mandamus,€seeking€to€have€the€Chancellor€issue€a€writ€ofÏmandamus€ordering€the€issuance€to€him€ð ðand€all€others€similarly€situatedðð€of€€aÏnominating€petition€for€the€office€of€Supreme€Court€Justice.€€In€his€request€forÏrelief,€Mr.€Hooker€also€requested€ð ðsuch€other€relief€as€the€court€deems€just€andÏequitable,€including€adjudication€that€said€statutes€17„4„101,€et€seq.€areÏunconstitutional€under€both€the€U.S.€and€Tenn.€Consts.€[sic]."€€On€May€16,€1996,ÏCircuit€Court€Judge€Walter€Kurtz,€sitting€as€Chancellor€by€interchange,€issuedÏan€order€denying€Mr.€Hookerððs€Petition€for€Writ€of€Mandamus€on€grounds€thatÏMr.€Hooker€lacked€standing€to€bring€the€action.× ƒ, ××  ×€€Mr.€Laskaððs€Motion€to€InterveneÏwas€not€addressed€in€that€order.Ìà àOn€May€22,€1996,€Appellant€Laska€filed€a€separate€lawsuit€in€ChanceryÏCourt€for€Davidson€County,€òòState€of€Tennessee€ex€rel.€Lewis€Laska€v.€BrookÏThompson,€in€his€Official€Capacity€as€Coordinator€of€the€Division€of€Elections,€etÍal.,óó€Docket€No.€96„1585,€seeking€a€writ€of€mandamus,€as€well€as€declaratoryÏand€injunctive€relief.€€By€Memorandum€and€Order€entered€on€May€31,€1996,ÏChancellor€Irvin€H.€Kilcrease€dismissed€Mr.€Laskaððs€action,€holding€that€JusticeÏWhite€was€correctly€on€the€ballot€in€a€ð ðyes/noðð€retention€election€under€theÏTennessee€Plan.× ƒ- ××  ×€€Following€a€series€of€appellate€maneuverings,€these€casesÏcame€before€the€Supreme€Court.€€On€June€26,€1996,€all€sitting€Justices€on€theÏTennessee€œSupreme›€Court€disqualified€themselves€from€further€proceedings€inÏthese€cases.× ƒ. ××  ×Ìà àOn€July€2,€1996,€this€Special€Supreme€Court€was€sworn€in€by€Justice€A.ÏA.€Birch,€Jr.,€Chief€Justice€of€the€regularly€constituted€Tennessee€SupremeÏCourt.€€Given€the€impending€election€date€of€August€1,€1996,€and€the€fact€thatÏthese€matters€had€been€pending€in€the€Tennessee€court€system€since€mid„MayÍof€this€year,€this€Court€commenced€deliberations€immediately€after€the€oath€ofÏoffice.€€On€July€2,€1996,€this€Court€entered€Orders€assuming€jurisdiction€of€theseÏmatters€under€T.C.A.€ðð€16„3„201(d)€to€bypass€the€Court€of€Appeals,€finding€thatÏthese€cases€are€of€unusual€public€importance€in€which€there€is€special€need€forÏexpedited€decision€and€which€involve€the€right€to€hold€or€retain€public€office€andÏissues€of€constitutional€law.Ìà àFollowing€oral€argument,× ƒ< ××  ×€in€an€attempt€to€salvage€the€validity€of€theÏAugust€1,€1996,€election,€this€Court€issued€a€series€of€Orders€on€an€expeditedÏbasis€in€these€consolidated€cases,€while€noting€that€a€€more€detailed€OpinionÏwould€follow€in€due€course.€€On€July€5,€1996,€this€Court€ordered€that€AppellantÏHooker€could€not€be€placed€upon€the€ballot€because€he€failed€to€meet€theÏrequirement€that€a€candidate€for€Supreme€Court€Justice€must€be€an€attorneyÏlicensed€to€practice€law€in€Tennessee,€remanded€Appellant€Laskaððs€case€to€theÏChancellor€for€a€ruling€as€to€whether€he€was,€as€he€claimed,€a€bona€fideÏresident€of€the€Western€Grand€Division€and€ordered€the€Chancellor€to€issue€aÏwrit€of€mandamus€forthwith€if€he€found€that€Mr.€Laska€was€a€bona€fide€residentÏof€the€Western€Grand€Division.€€This€Court€also€ordered€on€July€5€that€as€anÏequitable€matter,€Justice€White€should€be€deemed€to€have€filed€a€qualifyingÏpetition€for€her€office.€€On€July€8,€1996,€this€Court€vacated€the€portion€of€its€July€5Íorder€remanding€Appellant€Laskaððs€case€back€to€the€Chancellor,€on€the€groundÏthat€T.C.A.€ðð€17„1„301(b)€requires€that€the€vacancy€for€Ìœwhich›€Justice€White€was€running€must€be€filled€from€the€same€grand€division€ofÏthe€state€in€which€the€vacancy€had€occurred,€that€being€the€Eastern€GrandÏDivision;€inasmuch€as€Mr.€Laska€had€made€no€claim€to€be€a€resident€of€€theÏEastern€Grand€Division,€this€Court€ordered€that€his€name€could€not€be€placedÏon€the€ballot.× ƒ> ××  ×€€On€July€8,€1996,€John€King,€the€putative€Republican€candidateÏfor€the€office€held€by€Justice€White,€filed€an€òòamicus€curiaeóó€brief€contending€thatÏhe€should€be€entitled€to€equitable€relief€similar€to€that€granted€Justice€White,€inÏthe€form€of€an€extension€of€the€qualifying€deadline.€€Upon€due€consideration€ofÏMr.€Kingððs€contentions,€on€July€9,€1996,€this€Court€ordered€the€equitable€relief€ofÏextending€the€deadline€for€all€candidates€for€the€Eastern€Grand€DivisionÏSupreme€Court€vacancy€from€May€16,€1996,€to€4:00€p.m.,€July€12,€1996.€€TheÏAttorney€General€filed€a€Motion€for€Clarification,€seeking€clarification€as€toÏwhether€the€equitable€relief€granted€in€this€Courtððs€Order€of€July€8,€1996,Ïextended€to€intermediate€appellate€judges,€who€were€not€parties€to€theseÏconsolidated€cases.€€The€Court€entered€an€Order€on€July€10,€1996,€limiting€theÏequitable€relief€to€these€cases€òòsub€judice,óó€for€which€this€Special€Supreme€CourtÏwas€commissioned.× ƒ@ ××  ×Ìà àThe€following€is€this€Courtððs€opinion€explaining€the€legal€basis€for€itsÏOrders€in€upholding€the€constitutionality€of€the€Tennessee€Plan€of€judicialÏselection,€while€holding€that€the€Plan€is€not€applicable€to€the€August€1,€1996,ÏSupreme€Court€election€and€granting€the€equitable€relief€of€extending€theÏqualifying€and€nominating€deadlines€for€the€August€1,€1996,€election€for€office€ofÏSupreme€Court€Judge.ÌÌÌà@ àòòò òII.Ìà@ àCONSTITUTIONALITY€OF€THE€TENNESSEE€PLANó óóóÌà àIn€the€consolidated€appeals€before€the€Court,€both€appellants€andÏòòamicus€curiaeóó€John€King€have€attacked€the€validity€of€T.C.A.€ðð€17„4„101,€òòet€seqóó.Ï(the€ð ðTennessee€Planðð€of€appellate€judicial€selection)€as€unconstitutional€underÏvarious€provision€of€the€œConstitution›€of€Tennessee,€specifically€Article€I,ÏSections€1,€4€and€5,× ƒA ××  ×€Article€II,€Section€1,× ƒB ××  ×€Article€VI,€Section€3,× ƒC ××  ×€and€ArticleÍXI,€Section€16.× ƒD ××  ×€€Appellant€Hooker€has€also€claimed€that€the€Tennessee€PlanÏviolates€his€rights€under€the€14th€Amendment€to€the€United€States€Constitution.Ìà àAt€the€outset,€we€note€that€laws€enacted€by€the€legislature€are€entitled€toÏa€presumption€of€constitutionality;€òòsee,€e.g.,€State€ex€rel.€Maner€v.€Leech,óó€588ÍS.W.€2d€534,€540€(Tenn.€1979).€€This€Court€dismisses€as€without€merit,€andÏirrelevant€to€these€cases,€œappellantsðð›€contentions€that€the€Tennessee€Plan€ofÏappellate€judicial€selection€violates€any€of€the€following€provisions€of€theÏConstitution€of€Tennessee:€Article€I,€Sections€1€(ð ðAll€power€inherent€in€theÏpeople€„€Government€under€their€control€„€ðð)€and€4€(ð ðNo€religious€or€political€testÏ„ðð)€and€Article€XI,€Section€16€(ð ðBill€of€rights€to€remain€inviolate€„ðð).€€However,ÏAppellantsðð€arguments€regarding€Article€I,€Section€5€(ð ðElections€to€be€free€andÏequal€„€Right€of€suffrageðð);€Article€II,€Section€1(ð ðDivision€of€powersðð),€and€ArticleÏVI,€Section€3€(ð ðSupreme€court€judgesðð€to€be€elected€by€the€qualified€voters€ofÏthis€State)€raise€substantial€constitutional€issues€and€bear€further€analysis€andÏdiscussion.Ìà àThe€gravamen€of€appellantsðð€position€is€that€a€ð ðretention€election,ðð€asÏcontemplated€under€the€Tennessee€Plan,€is€not€a€ð ðfree€and€equalðð€election€andÏdeprives€the€qualified€voters€of€this€state€of€the€opportunity€to€elect€SupremeÏCourt€judges.€€The€issue€of€whether€yes/no€retention€elections€violate€theÏConstitution€of€Tennessee€has€previously€been€decided€by€the€TennesseeÏSupreme€Court€in€the€case€of€òòState€ex€rel.€Higgins€v.€Dunnóó,€496€S.W.€2d€480Ï(Tenn.€1973),€and€no€compelling€reason€has€been€given€to€persuade€this€CourtÏthat€it€should€disturb€that€ruling.€€The€òòHigginsóó€opinion€specifically€dealt€with€theÏissue€of€whether€a€ð ðretention€electionðð€involving€only€a€yes/no€vote€is€the€type€ofÏelection€that€is€contemplated€in€Article€VI,€Section€3€of€the€TennesseeÏConstitution,€answering€that€question€in€the€affirmative.€€The€òòHigginsóó€CourtÏnoted:ÌÓÓà8 àThe€Constitution€of€Tennessee€does€not€define€the€words,€ð ðelectðð,Ïð ðelectionðð,€or€ð ðelectedðð€and€we€have€not€found€nor€have€we€beenÏreferred€to€any€provision€of€the€Constitution€or€of€a€statute€or€to€anyÏdecision€of€one€or€our€appellate€courts€defining€these€words.€òòId.óó€atÏ489.ÌÓÓÌIn€the€absence€of€a€definition€of€ð ðelectionðð€to€the€contrary,€the€òòHigginsóó€Court€thenÏcited€a€number€of€instances€in€which€the€Tennessee€Constitution€provides€forÏreferenda€and€refers€to€them€as€ð ðelections.ðð€€Thus,€the€Court€reasoned:ÌÓÓà8 àIt€seems€to€us€that€if€the€Constitution€itself€denominates€theseÏmethods€of€ratification€as€elections,€it€cannot€be€that€Chapter€198Ïis€unconstitutional€because€the€elections€therein€provided€areÏlimited€to€approval€or€disapproval.€€So€are€the€elections€providedÏin€Sections€of€the€Constitution€referred€to€above.€€òòId.óó€at€489.ÌÌÓÓAlthough€the€dissent€of€Justice€Humphreys€makes€a€number€of€good€points,€thisÏCourt€concludes€that€it€must€follow€the€majority€in€òòHigginsóó.€€To€rule€the€meaningÏof€the€term€œð ðelectionðð›€as€used€in€the€Tennessee€Constitution€is€limited€to€theÏpopular€concept€of€an€election€(i.e.,€a€choice€among€one€or€more€candidates€inÏwhich€the€candidate€with€the€most€votes€wins€the€office),€would€be€to€hold,€inÏeffect,€that€the€Tennessee€Constitution€uses€an€internally€inconsistent€definitionÏof€ð ðelection.ðð€€This€conclusion€is€further€dictated€by€the€fact€that€the€framersÏspecifically€provided€for€a€choice€among€candidates€for€the€election€of€theÏGovernor;€Article€III,€Section€2€provides:ÌÓÓà8 àThe€Governor€shall€be€chosen€by€the€electors€of€the€members€ofÏthe€General€Assembly,€at€the€time€and€places€where€they€shallÏrespectively€vote€for€the€members€thereof...€The€person€having€theÏhighest€number€of€votes€shall€be€Governor;€but€if€two€or€more€shallÏbe€equal€and€highest€in€votes,€one€of€them€shall€be€chosenÏGovernor€by€joint€vote€of€both€Houses€of€the€General€Assembly.ÌÌÓÓThus,€it€being€the€duty€of€this€Court,€if€there€is€a€doubt€as€to€the€meaning€of€theÍConstitution€or€a€seeming€conflict,€ð ð...to€harmonize€such€portions€and€favor€theÏconstruction€which€will€render€every€word€operative...,ðð€òòShelby€County€v.€Haleóó,Ï200€Tenn.€503,€292€S.W.€2d€745€(1956),€this€Court€holds€that€the€yes/noÏretention€vote€provided€for€in€the€Tennessee€Plan€is€in€compliance€with€theÏArticle€VI,€Section€3€mandate€of€the€Tennessee€Constitution€that€Judges€of€theÏSupreme€Court€be€ð ðelected€by€the€qualified€voters.ðð€€No€authority€was€cited€byÏany€party€to€these€proceedings,€nor€has€any€been€found€by€this€Court,€thatÏwould€dictate€a€different€result€under€the€United€Stated€Constitution.× ƒE ××  ×€€It€followsÏthat€Appellantsðð€contention€that€the€Tennessee€Plan€violates€Article€I,€Section€5Ïof€the€Tennessee€Constitution€requiring€that€ð ð...elections€shall€be€free€andÏequalðð€is€also€without€merit,€since€the€constitutional€definition€of€ð ðelectionðð€in€thisÏstate€encompasses€the€yes/no€retention€vote€and€it€has€previously€been€heldÏthat€the€ð ðfree€and€equalðð€requirement€relates€only€to€the€rights€of€suffrage€andÏnot€the€nature€of€elections.€€òòCompare,€Bemis€Pentecostal€Church€v.€State,óó€731ÏS.W.€2d€897,€at€901€(Tenn.€1987),€cert.€denied,€485€U.S.€930,€108€S.Ct.€1102,Ï99€L.Ed.2d€264€(1988).Ìà àWith€respect€to€Appellantsðð€argument€that€the€Tennessee€Plan€violatesÏthe€separation€of€powers€provision€of€Article€II,€Section€1€of€the€TennesseeÏConstitution,€we€œhold›€that€it€does€not.€€Recognizing€that€the€doctrine€ofÏseparation€of€powers€ð ðis€a€fundamental€principle€of€American€constitutionalÍgovernment,ðð€òòUnderwood€v.€State,óó€529€S.W.€2d€45,€7€(Tenn.€1975)€and€that€ð ðaÏjudge€must€be€secured€against€the€political€caprice€of€other€departments€ofÏgovernment,ðð€òòSummers€v.€Thompsonóó€764€S.W.€2d€182€(Tenn.€1988),€òòDrowotaÏconcurring€opinionóó€at€190,€this€Court€acknowledges€that€Justice€Humphreys€inÏhis€dissent€in€òòHigginsóó€postulates€the€potential€for€legislative€action€that€couldÏviolate€the€independence€of€the€judiciary.× ƒF ××  ×€€We€hold,€however,€that€theÏTennessee€Plan€which€provides€for€a€yes/no€retention€vote€based€on€a€majorityÏvote€does€not€cross€that€threshold.Ìà àHaving€found€the€Tennessee€Plan€is€constitutional,€we€turn€to€itsÏinterpretation€as€applied€to€the€factual€situations€in€these€consolidated€cases.ÌÌà@ àò òòòIII.ÌÓÓà@ àTHE€TENNESSEE€PLAN€AS€APPLIED€TO€THE€AUGUST€1,€1996ÌÓÓà@ àELECTION€FOR€SUPREME€COURT€JUSTICEóóó óÌà àGiven€our€decision€that€the€Tennessee€Plan€is€constitutional,€the€centralÏquestion€in€these€cases€is€whether€the€State€Coordinator€of€Elections€acted€inÏviolation€of€the€statute€when€he€refused€to€issue€nominating€petitions€toÏAppellants€Hooker€and€Laska€and€others€similarly€situated,€based€on€his€beliefÏthat€Justice€White€was€entitled€to€be€the€only€candidate€on€the€ballot€for€her€seatÏon€the€Supreme€Court.€€We€conclude€that€the€statute€was€violated.ÌÓÓà àThe€Legislature€adopted€the€Tennessee€Plan€in€1994€toÌÌà8 à...assist€the€governor€in€finding€and€appointing€the€best€qualifiedÏpersons€available€for€service€on€the€appellate€courts€ofÏTennessee,€and€to€assist€the€electorate€of€Tennessee€to€elect€theÏbest€qualified€persons€to€the€courts;€to€insulate€the€judges€of€theÏcourts€from€political€influence€and€pressure;€to€improve€theÏadministration€of€justice;€to€enhance€the€prestige€of€and€respect€forÏthe€courts€by€eliminating€the€necessity€of€political€activities€byÏappellate€justices€and€judges,€and€to€make€the€courtsÏð ðnonpolitical.ððÌÌÓÓT.C.A.€ðð€17„4„101.€€These€are€laudable€goals€and€much€has€been€written€aboutÏthe€Ìœsuperiority›€of€a€judiciary€selected€on€the€basis€of€merit€and€elected€underÏð ðretention€electionsðð€over€popularly€elected€judges.× ƒG ××  ×€€Ìà àThe€question€before€this€Court€is€whether€or€not€Justice€Penny€White€wasÏentitled€to€be€on€the€ballot€for€a€yes/no€retention€vote€on€August€1,€1996,€in€theÏabsence€of€a€favorable€judicial€evaluation.€€In€analyzing€the€Tennessee€PlanððsÏstatutory€scheme,€we€first€note€that€the€Tennessee€Supreme€Court€judges€mayÏbe€up€for€election€either€for€a€full€eight„year€term€pursuant€to€Article€VI,€Section€3Ïof€the€Tennessee€Constitution€or,€if€the€judge€has€been€appointed€to€fill€aÏvacancy€on€the€Court,€the€judge€must€be€elected€to€fill€the€unexpired€eight„yearÏterm€of€the€judge€who€vacated€the€bench€and€the€election€must€be€held€at€theÏnext€regular€biennial€August€election.€€Article€VII,€Section€5€of€the€TennesseeÏConstitution.€€The€1994€Tennessee€Plan€addresses€each€of€these€situationsÍseparately.Ìà àWith€respect€to€judges€seeking€election€to€a€full€eight„year€term,€T.C.A.€ððÏ17„4„115€provides€that€any€judge€seeking€to€be€elected€for€a€full€term× ƒH ××  ×€mayÏqualify€to€run€on€a€yes/no€retention€ballot.€€However,€ðð€17„4„115(c)Ïunequivocally€states:ÌÓÓà8 à(c)à àUnless€the€judicial€evaluation€commission€recommends€theÏretention€of€a€judge,€the€provisions€of€this€part€shall€not€beÏapplicable.€€A€political€party€may€nominate€a€candidate€andÏindependent€candidates€may€qualify€under€the€general€electionÏlaw€for€the€general€election€which€shall€be€the€regular€AugustÏelection.€€After€a€judge€is€elected€under€this€subsection€theÏprovisions€of€this€chapter€concerning€the€evaluation€and€retentionÏprocess€shall€again€apply.ÌÌÓÓWith€respect€to€judges€seeking€to€fill€an€unexpired€term,€T.C.A.€ðð€17„4„114Ïmakes€the€yes/no€retention€vote€applicable€under€the€Tennessee€Plan,€andÏT.C.A.€ðð€17„4„114(c)€also€unequivocally€states:ÌÓÓà8 à(c)à àUnless€the€judicial€evaluation€commission€recommends€theÏretention€of€a€judge,€the€provisions€of€this€act€shall€not€beÏapplicable.€€A€political€party€may€nominate€a€candidate€andÏindependent€candidates€may€qualify€under€the€general€electionÏlaw€for€the€general€election€which€shall€be€the€regular€AugustÏelection.€€After€a€judge€is€elected€under€this€subsection,€theÏprovisions€of€this€chapter€concerning€the€evaluation€and€retentionÏprocess€shall€again€apply.ÌÌÓÓÌThus,€both€statutes€setting€up€the€right€to€be€elected€under€a€yes/no€retentionÏvote,€T.C.A.€ðð€17„4„115€and€ðð€17„4„114,€,€using€identical€language,€predicate€aÍjudge's€right€to€run€on€the€yes/no€ballot€upon€the€recommendation€of€retentionÏof€that€judge€by€the€judicial€evaluation€commission.Ìà àThe€establishment€of€the€judicial€evaluation€commission€is€set€out€inÏT.C.A.€ðð€17„4„201;€this€commission€is€required€to€be€established€by€July€1,Ï1995.€€By€the€terms€of€ðð€17„4„201(e),€"[t]he€judicial€evaluation€program,Ïincluding€the€public€report€and€the€ballot€information,€shall€apply€to€eachÏappellate€court€judge€who€seeks€to€serve€a€complete€term€after€September€1,Ï1994."œ× ƒI ××  ×›Ìà àThe€impact€of€T.C.A.€ðð€17„4„201(e)€on€the€election€of€Justice€White€is€atÏthe€heart€of€the€controversy€before€this€Court.€€The€state€defendants€argue€thatÏthis€language€means€that€no€judicial€evaluations€were€required€for€any€judgeÏuntil€the€full€term€elections€in€1998;€the€appellants€argue€that€this€provision€doesÏnot€act€to€exempt€judges€seeking€to€fill€unexpired€terms€pursuant€to€T.C.A.€ðð€17„4„114€from€the€evaluation€if€they€wish€to€run€on€a€yes/no€retention€ballot€prior€toÏthe€1998€elections.€€At€oral€argument€on€July€5th,€counsel€for€the€stateÏdefendants€admitted€that€they€had€reviewed€the€legislative€history€of€theÏTennessee€Plan€and€had€found€no€legislative€history€supportive€of€the€state'sÏposition.€There€is€no€dispute€that€the€judicial€evaluation€commission€did€notÏevaluate€Justice€White,€apparently€believing€that€it€was€not€required€to€performÍany€judicial€evaluations€until€the€1998€elections.Ìà àThe€Tennessee€Supreme€Court€has€previously€articulated€the€guidelinesÏfor€this€Court's€role€in€statutory€interpretation.€€As€succinctly€stated€in€òòCrowe€v.ÏFergusonóó,€814€S.W.€2d€721,€723€(Tenn.€1991):ÌÓÓà8 à.€.€.€the€cardinal€rule€of€Tennessee€statutory€interpretation€is€toÏascertain€and€give€effect€to€the€intent€and€purpose€of€theÏLegislature€in€relation€to€the€subject€matter€of€the€legislation,€allÏrules€of€construction€being€but€aids€to€that€end€.€.€.€.€€A€statute€mustÏbe€construed€so€as€to€ascertain€and€give€effect€to€the€intent€andÏpurpose€of€the€legislation,€considering€the€statute€as€a€whole€andÏgiving€words€their€common€and€ordinary€meaning.€€The€CourtÏshould€assume€that€the€Legislature€used€each€word€in€the€statuteÏpurposely€and€that€the€use€of€these€words€conveyed€some€intentÏand€had€a€meaning€and€purpose.€€[citations€omitted]ÌÌÓÓThe€intent€and€purpose€of€the€Tennessee€Plan€having€been€explicitly€stated€toÏbe€to€enhance€the€prestige€of€the€Courts€by€eliminating€the€necessity€for€politicalÏactivities€by€œappellate›€judges€while€assisting€the€electorate€with€the€election€ofÏthe€best€qualified€persons€to€the€judiciary,€the€evaluation€process€is€clearly€anÏintegral€part€of€the€statutory€scheme.€€To€a€large€degree,€the€evaluationÏcommission€takes€the€place€of€the€political€arena€to€provide€the€voters€ofÏTennessee€with€a€basis€for€casting€an€informed€ballot.€€Considering€theÏTennessee€Plan€as€a€whole€and€giving€the€words€therein€their€common€andÏordinary€meaning,€the€conclusion€is€inescapable€that€T.C.A.€ðð€17„4„114(c)Ïmeans€exactly€what€it€says:€€unless€the€judicial€evaluation€commission€acts€toÏrecommend€the€retention€of€a€judge€running€to€fill€an€unexpired€term€of€thatÏjudge's€predecessor,€the€provisions€of€the€Tennessee€Plan€for€a€yes/noÏretention€vote€do€not€apply,€opening€the€race€to€the€regular€election€laws;Ípolitical€parties€may€nominate€candidates€and€independent€candidates€mayÏqualify€under€the€general€election€law.€€€Assuming,€as€we€must,€that€theÏLegislature€used€each€word€in€the€statute€purposely€and€that€the€use€of€theseÏwords€conveyed€some€intent,€we€cannot€ignore€the€plain€meaning€of€T.C.A.€ððÏ17„4„114(c).Ìà àIn€the€absence€of€any€clear€indication€to€the€contrary,€this€Court€isÏpersuaded€that€the€Legislature€used€each€word€in€the€statute€purposely€and€thatÏthe€use€of€these€words€conveyed€some€intent€and€had€a€meaning€and€purpose.€ÏAppellees€have€argued€that€the€provisions€of€T.C.A.€ðð€17„4„201(e)€make€it€clearÏthat€the€judicial€evaluation€program€was€intended€to€apply€òòonlyóó€to€appellateÏcourt€judges€seeking€to€serve€a€complete€term€after€September€1,€1994.€€ThisÏCourt€does€not€read€the€statute€to€convey€that€meaning,€based€on€its€plainÏlanguage.€€Nowhere€in€the€statutory€scheme€of€the€Tennessee€Plan€does€theÏLegislature€state€that€the€judicial€evaluation€procedures€shall€not€apply€to€theÏAugust€1,€1996€election.€€Indeed,€the€legislation€specifically€states€that€theÏSupreme€Court€is€required€to€implement€the€judicial€evaluation€program€afterÏSeptember€1,€1994,€but€before€July€1,€1995,€or€the€entire€Tennessee€Plan€willÏbe€void.€€Accordingly,€there€was€sufficient€time€allowed€by€the€Legislature€forÏevaluation€and€publication€of€a€report€and€retention€recommendation€180€daysÏbefore€May€16,€1996,€assuming€only€that€the€judge€to€be€elected€had€beenÏappointed€sufficiently€in€advance€of€the€election.€€T.C.A.€ðð€17„4„201(c)€makesÏthe€evaluation€program€mandatory€for€each€judge€seeking€a€œcomplete›€term€afterÏœSeptember›€1,€1994;€there€is€no€similar€provision€with€respect€to€judges€seekingÍto€fill€an€unexpired€term.€€This€makes€sense€in€the€overall€statutory€scheme€ofÏthe€Tennessee€Plan,€because€the€timing€of€a€judicial€appointment€to€anÏunexpired€term€might€not€allow€sufficient€time€to€conduct€the€full€evaluationÏprocess,€in€which€event€ðð€17„4„114(c)€dictates€that€the€yes/no€retention€vote€isÏnot€applicable.× ƒJ ××  ×Ìà àGiven€the€stated€purpose€of€the€Legislature€to€"assist€the€electorate€ofÏTennessee€to€elect€the€best€qualified€persons,"€as€set€forth€in€T.C.A.€ðð€17„4„101(a),€and€the€stated€purpose€of€the€judicial€evaluation€program€".€.€.€to€aid€theÏpublic€in€evaluating€the€performance"€of€appellate€judges,€this€Court€does€notÏfind€it€inconsistent€with€the€intent€of€the€Legislature€in€enacting€the€TennesseeÏPlan€to€require€that€a€judge€be€evaluated€and€recommended€for€retention€inÏorder€to€run€in€a€"yes/no€retention€election"€in€1996.€€The€Plan€specifically€statesÏat€T.C.A.€ðð€17„4„114€that€the€provisions€of€the€Plan€shall€òònot€óóbe€applicableÏ"unless€the€judicial€evaluation€commission€recommends€the€retention€of€aÏjudge"€and€further€provides€that€when€the€Plan€is€not€applicable,€"[a]€politicalÏparty€may€nominate€a€candidate€and€independent€candidates€may€qualifyÏunder€the€general€election€law€for€the€general€election€which€shall€be€theÏregular€August€election."€€Plainly€stated,€where€the€Plan€does€not€function€toÏhave€a€well„informed€commission€advise€the€public€about€how€they€should€vote,Ïthe€concept€of€a€retention€election€is€thrown€out.€€We€find€that€this€is€consistentÍwith€the€overall€intent€and€scheme€of€the€Tennessee€Plan.Ìà àHaving€found€that€the€provisions€of€the€Tennessee€Plan€do€not€apply€toÏthe€Supreme€Court€election€of€August€1,€1996,€this€Court€was€faced€with€the€factÏthat€no€one€had€properly€qualified€under€the€general€election€laws€to€run€for€theÏunexpired€term€of€Justice€O'Brien,€filled€in€the€interim€by€Justice€White.€€AsÏnoted€previously,€the€deadline€for€so€qualifying€was€May€16,€1996€pursuant€toÏT.C.A.€ðð€2„5„101(a)(2).ÌÓÓÌÌà@ àòòò òIV.ó óóóÌÌà@ àò òòòEQUITABLE€RELIEF€FROM€THE€QUALIFYING€DEADLINEóóó óÌÌÓÓà àThis€Court€has€broad€equitable€powers,€and€there€is€ample€precedent€forÏextending€the€qualifying€deadline.€€As€noted€by€the€Supreme€Court€in€òòCrowe€v.ÏFergusonóó,€814€S.W.€2d€721,€at€725,€".€.€.€if€a€candidate€misses€a€qualifyingÏdeadline€due€to€her€reasonable€and€justifiable€reliance€upon€an€official€opinion,Ïrelief€from€the€mandatory€deadline€is€appropriate,€provided€filing€takes€placeÏwith€all€reasonable€dispatch€after€it€is€discovered€that€the€opinion€is€incorrect."€ÏThe€facts€in€the€òòCroweóó€case€are€similar€to€the€case€at€bar:€a€person€interested€inÏrunning€for€office€was€misled€by€election€officials€as€to€whether€she€was€eligibleÏto€file€a€qualifying€petition.€€Relying€on€the€precedent€of€òòKoella€v.€€State€ex€rel.ÏMoffettóó,€218€Tenn.€629,€405€S.W.€2d€184€(Tenn.€1966),€the€Supreme€Court€ruledÏthat€the€candidate€in€question,€who€filed€after€the€qualifying€deadline,€wasÏproperly€placed€on€the€ballot.Ìà àAccordingly,€we€ruled€as€a€matter€of€equity€that€Justice€White's€nameÍshould€be€placed€on€the€ballot€as€if€she€had€properly€qualified.€€Based€on€briefsÏfiled€subsequent€to€our€initial€ruling€granting€this€equitable€relief€to€JusticeÏWhite,€this€Court€also€ruled€that€equitable€relief€should€be€granted€to€allÏcandidates€similarly€misled,€and€therefore€extended€the€qualifying€deadline€forÏthe€August€1,€1996€election€for€the€seat€on€the€Supreme€Court€at€issue€untilÏ4:00€p.m.,€July€12,€1996.€€As€previously€noted€in€our€Order€of€July€€9,€inÏaccordance€with€T.C.A.€ðð€17„1„301,€candidates€for€the€unexpired€term€of€JusticeÏO'Brien,€who€resided€in€the€Eastern€Grand€Division€of€Tennessee,€must€beÏresidents€of€the€Eastern€Grand€Division.ÌÓÓÌÔ&  Ôà@ àò òòòV.ÌÌà@ àTHE€RESIDENCY€REQUIREMENT€TO€FILL€A€VACANCY€FORÌà@ àAN€UNEXPIRED€TERM€OF€A€SUPREME€COURT€JUDGE€WHOÏRESIGNSóóó óÌÌÓÓà àThe€TennesseeÔ'  Ô€Constitution€provides€limited€constitutional€mandatesÏwith€respect€to€residency€requirements€of€Supreme€Court€judges€in€this€State.€ÏArticle€VI,€Section€2€provides€in€pertinent€part:ÌÓÓà8 àThe€Supreme€Court€shall€consist€of€five€Judges,€of€whom€not€moreÏthan€two€shall€reside€in€any€one€of€the€grand€divisions€of€the€State.ÌÌÌArticle€VI,€Section€3,€provides€as€follows:ÌÌà8 àThe€Judges€of€the€Supreme€Court€shall€be€elected€by€the€qualifiedÏvoters€of€the€State.€€The€Legislature€shall€have€power€to€prescribeÏsuch€rules€as€may€be€necessary€to€carry€out€the€provisions€ofÏsection€two€of€this€article.€€Every€Judge€of€the€Supreme€Court€shallÏbe€thirty„five€years€of€age,€and€shall€before€his€election€have€beenÏa€resident€of€the€State€for€five€years.€€His€term€of€service€shall€beÏeight€years.ÌÌÓÓThe€Tennessee€legislature€has€enacted€laws€declaring€that€there€are€threeÏgrand€divisions€of€the€State:€€the€Eastern,€Middle,€and€Western,€and€hasÏspecified€the€counties€of€which€each€grand€division€is€comprised.€€T.C.A.€ðððð€4„1„201€„€4„1„204.€€In€response€to€the€mandates€of€Article€VI€of€the€TennesseeÏConstitution,€the€legislature€enacted€T.C.A.€ðð€16„3„101€regarding€theÏcomposition€of€the€Supreme€Court:ÌÓÓà8 àComposition€„„€Election€of€judges€„„€Qualifications€„€ConcurrenceÏnecessary€for€decisions.€„„€(a)€The€supreme€court€shall€consist€ofÏfive€(5)€judges,€one€(1)€of€whom€shall€reside€in€each€grandÏdivision,€and€not€more€than€two€(2)€in€the€same€grand€division.ÌÌà8 à(b)à àJudges€of€the€supreme€court€shall€be€elected€as€follows:€Ïone€(1)€of€the€supreme€court€judges€shall€be€elected€from€each€ofÏthe€three€(3)€grand€divisions€and€two€(2)€of€the€supreme€courtÏjudges€shall€be€elected€from€the€state€at€large.€€Each€candidateÏshall€reside€in€the€grand€division€for€which€the€candidate€is€electedÏand€the€two€candidates€elected€for€the€state€at€large€shall€notÏreside€in€the€same€grand€division.ÌÌà8 à(c)à àEach€judge€shall€be€thirty„five€(35)€years€of€age€and€shall,Ïbefore€election,€have€been€a€resident€of€the€state€for€five€(5)€years.ÌÌà8 à(d)à àA€judge's€term€of€office€shall€be€eight€(8)€years.̛̜Ìà8 à(e)à àThe€concurrence€of€three€(3)€of€the€judges€is€necessary€to€aÏdecision€in€every€case.ÌÌÓÓBoth€Article€VI,€Section€3€of€the€Constitution€and€the€statutory€scheme€enactedÏunder€its€mandate€make€it€clear€that€a€"term€of€office"€is€eight€years€for€judges€onÏthe€Supreme€Court€of€this€state.Ìà àThe€sitting€members€of€the€Supreme€Court€and€the€positions€they€heldÏwhen€these€cases€were€presented€were€as€follows:€€Justice€Lyle€Reid,€WesternÍDivision;€Justice€A.€A.€Birch,€Jr.,€Middle€Division;€Justice€E.€Riley€Anderson,ÏEastern€Division;€Justice€Frank€F.€Drowota,€III,€State€at€Large€(residing€in€theÏMiddle€Division);€and€Justice€Penny€J.€White,€State€at€Large€(residing€in€theÏEastern€Division).Ìà àThe€position€on€the€bench€at€issue€in€these€lawsuits,€being€the€seat€heldÏby€Justice€White,€is€an€"at€large"€position.€€In€August€1990,€Justice€CharlesÏO'Brien€was€elected€to€a€full€eight„year€term€as€an€"at€large"€judge€residing€inÏthe€Eastern€Grand€Division.€€He€œresigned›€in€October,€1994.€€Pursuant€to€theÏselection€procedure€of€the€Tennessee€Plan,€Justice€Penny€White,€also€aÏresident€of€the€Eastern€Grand€Division,€was€appointed€December€17,€1994,€toÏfill€a€portion€of€Justice€O'Brien's€unexpired€term,€to€wit,€until€August€31,€1996.€ÏT.C.A.€ðððð€17„4„109;€17„4„112.€€The€last€sentence€of€Article€VII,€Section€5€of€theÏTennessee€Constitution€requires€that€the€remaining€two€years€of€the€unexpiredÏportion€of€Justice€O'Brien's€eight„year€term€"be€filled€at€the€next€biennial€electionÏrecurring€more€than€thirty€days€after€the€vacancy€occurs."€€The€next€biennialÏelection€after€Justice€O'Brien's€resignation€creating€the€vacancy€in€hisÏunexpired€eight„year€term€was€the€election€held€on€August€1,€1996.Ìà àOur€ruling€that€the€vacancy€created€by€Justice€O'Brien's€resignation€mustÏbe€filled€from€the€Eastern€Grand€Division€is€based€on€T.C.A.€ðð€17„1„301,€whichÏreads€in€pertinent€part:ÌÓÓà8 àVacancies€in€office.€„„€(a)€Whenever€a€vacancy,€either€by€death,Ïresignation,€or€removal,€shall€occur€in€the€office€of€a€judge€of€theÏsupreme€court€.€.€.€the€vacancy€in€such€office€shall€be€filled€by€theÏqualified€voters€of€the€whole€state€for€judges€of€the€supreme€court€.Ï.€.€at€the€next€biennial€election€in€August,€occurring€more€than€thirtyÍ(30)€days€after€such€vacancy,€and€in€the€meantime,€the€governorÏshall€appoint€a€person€learned€in€the€law€and€constitutionallyÏqualified€to€discharge€the€duties€of€such€office€until€such€electionÏcan€be€had.ÌÌà8 à(b)à àIf€a€vacancy€shall€occur€in€the€office€of€a€judge€of€theÏsupreme€court€.€.€.€it€shall€be€filled€from€the€grand€division€of€theÏstate€in€which€the€vacancy€occurs.ÌÌÓÓIt€is€noteworthy€that€this€requirement€is€echoed€in€T.C.A.€ðð€8„48„109,€whichÏprovides:ÌÓÓà8 àJudicial€vacancies€filled€from€same€grand€division.€„„€Any€vacancyÏin€the€office€of€supreme€court€or€appeals€court€judge€shall€be€filledÏby€a€person€residing€in€the€grand€division€of€the€state€in€which€theÏvacancy€occurs.ÌÌÓÓAppellant€Laska€relied€on€an€opinion€of€the€Attorney€General€(AG€No.€80„153,ÏJune20,€1980)€in€asserting€that€he€was€qualified€as€a€resident€of€the€WesternÏGrand€Division€of€Tennessee€to€run€for€the€office€vacated€by€Justice€O'Brien€andÏfilled€in€the€interim€by€Justice€White.€€This€opinion€held€that€a€vacancy€createdÏby€the€death€of€Justice€Joe€Henry,€an€"at€large"€justice€residing€in€the€MiddleÏGrand€Division,€could€be€filled€from€either€the€Middle€Grand€Division€or€theÏWestern€Grand€Division€where€only€one€member€of€the€court€resided.€€AfterÏnoting€the€relevance€of€T.C.A.€ðð€17„1„301,× ƒK ××  ×€the€opinion€ignored€the€limitation€inÏthat€statute€to€the€division€in€which€the€vacancy€occurred.€€The€AttorneyÏœGeneral's›€analysis€pointed€out€in€detail€that€filling€the€vacancy€would€not€violateÏArticle€VI,€Section€2€of€the€state€constitution€but€offered€no€reason€for€failing€toÏapply€the€residency€limitation€adopted€by€the€Legislature€in€T.C.A.€ðð€17„1„301(b).Ìà àWithout€violating€the€constitutional€residency€requirement,€theÏLegislature€could€easily€have€enacted€a€provision€that€a€vacancy€on€theÏSupreme€Court€bench€could€be€filled€from€either€one€of€the€two€grand€divisionsÏof€the€state€having€only€one€current€member,€but€it€did€not€do€so.€€Instead,€itÏexpressly€provided€that€the€vacancy€be€filled€"from€the€grand€division€of€theÏstate€in€which€the€vacancy€occurs."€€That€limitation€is€not€in€conflict€with€theÏconstitutional€residency€requirement€and€is€clearly€within€the€power€of€theÏLegislature€in€implementing€the€judicial€article€of€the€constitution.€€See€òòState€exÏrel.€€Cole€v.€City€of€Hendersonvilleóó,€223€Tenn.€365,€445€S.W.€2d€652,€at€656Ï(1969).€€It€is€relevant€to€note€that,€in€order€to€comply€with€the€constitutionalÏresidency€requirement,€a€vacancy€created€by€the€resignation€of€a€justice€holdingÏany€of€the€three€grand€division€seats€must€be€filled€by€a€resident€of€the€sameÏgrand€division€in€which€the€vacancy€occurs.€€There€may€well€be€good€reason€forÏthe€two€"at€large"€positions€to€remain€in€the€same€two€grand€divisions€for€theÏremainder€of€the€eight„year€term€the€people€elected€them€to€occupy.€€But€goodÏor€bad,€it€is€the€law,€and€cannot€be€ignored€by€the€courts€of€this€state€or€theÏAttorney€General.Ìà àAppellant€Laska€asserts€that€this€special€courtððs€interpretation€of€T.C.A.€ððÏ17„1„301€will€result€in€ð ðfreezingðð€the€at€large€seats€on€the€Supreme€Court€inÏMiddle€and€East€Tennessee.€€Our€interpretation€is€that€the€two€statutes€limitingÏresidency€to€the€grand€division€where€the€vacancy€occurs,€T.C.A.€ðððð€8„48„109Ïand€17„1„301€apply€only€to€biennial€elections€to€fill€unexpired€terms.€€A€vacancyÍcreated€by€the€rejection€of€an€incumbent€justice€seeking€a€full€eight€year€termÏcan€be€filled€from€one€of€two€grand€divisions,€subject€to€the€residencyÏrequirements€of€Article€VI,€Section€2,€Tennessee€Constitution€„€the€divisionÏwherein€the€rejected€judge€resides€or€the€grand€division€where€only€one€judgeÏresides.Ìà àThe€result€articulated€in€the€1980€opinion€of€the€Office€of€the€AttorneyÏGeneral€is€clearly€erroneous.€€The€unequivocal€mandate€of€the€LegislatureÏexpressed€in€T.C.A.€ðð€17„1„301(b),€as€well€as€T.C.A.€ðð€8„48„109,€governs€theÏresidency€requirement€for€those€who€would€seek€to€fill€the€unexpired€termÏresulting€from€the€death,€resignation€or€removal€of€a€œSupreme›€Court€Justice,Ïwhether€the€vacating€justice€holds€a€grand€division€position€or€a€state€at€largeÏposition.€€There€are€statutorily€only€three€grand€divisions€in€this€state;€there€is€noÏ"at€large"€grand€division,€and€a€judge€vacating€his€or€her€office€is€necessarily€aÏresident€of€one€of€the€three€grand€divisions€of€the€state.€€Thus,€a€vacancy€in€oneÏof€the€"at€large"€positions€for€an€unexpired€term€must€be€filled€by€a€resident€ofÏthe€grand€division€in€which€the€vacancy€occurs,€which€is€that€in€which€the€"atÏlarge"€judge€resides.ÌÓÓÌÌÌà@ àò òòòVI.ÌÌà@ àCONSIDERATION€OF€POST€JUDGMENT€FACTSóóÌÌÓÓó óà àWe€take€judicial€notice€that€following€the€issuance€of€our€orders€in€theseÏcases€something€approaching€legal€chaos€ensued.€€Appellant€Hooker€sued€thisÍCourt€in€the€United€States€District€Court€for€the€Middle€District€of€Tennessee.€ÏJustice€White€joined€other€appellate€judges€in€seeking€and€obtaining€a€rulingÏfrom€Judge€Bernice€Donald,€United€States€Judge€for€the€Western€District€ofÏTennessee,€that€required€that€the€judges€be€placed€on€the€ballot€for€retentionÏelection.€€The€retention€election€was€held€on€August€1,€1996,€and€€Justice€WhiteÏwas€voted€out€of€office.€€On€September€9,€1996,€the€Attorney€General's€OfficeÏissued€its€Opinion€No.€96„117€holding€that€the€vacancy€in€the€unexpired€term€ofÏJustice€O'Brien€could€be€filled€by€a€resident€of€either€the€Eastern€or€WesternÏGrand€Division€of€the€state.€€In€that€Opinion,€the€Attorney€General€distinguishedÏthe€post„election€situation€from€the€issue€which€this€Special€Supreme€CourtÏdealt€with€by€asserting,€òòipsi€dixitóó,€that€the€vacancy€on€the€Supreme€Court€benchÏwas€not€created€by€Justice€O'Brien's€resignation,€but€by€Justice€White's€failureÏto€receive€a€majority€of€votes€for€retention€in€the€August1,€1996€election.Ìà àRule€14,€Tennessee€Rules€of€Appellate€Procedure,€grants€power€to€theÏappellate€courts€to€consider€post„judgment€facts€"capable€of€readyÏdemonstration,€affecting€the€positions€of€the€parties€or€the€subject€matter€of€theÏaction€such€as€.€.€.€other€judgments€or€proceedings€.€.€.€."€€An€appellate€court€mayÏact€on€its€own€motion.€€We€believe€that€the€Attorney€General€Opinion€No.€96„117Ïaffects€the€subject€matter€of€this€action€and€that€its€validity€should€be€consideredÏby€this€Court.Ìà àAs€noted€previously,€the€Tennessee€Constitutional€mandate€for€fillingÏvacancies€for€unexpired€terms€on€the€Supreme€Court€is€the€last€sentence€ofÏArticle€VII,€Section€5,€of€the€Constitution€of€Tennessee€which€provides€asÍfollows:ÌÓÓà8 àNo€special€election€shall€be€held€to€fill€a€vacancy€in€the€office€ofÏJudge€or€€District€Attorney,€but€at€the€time€herein€fixed€for€theÏbiennial€election€of€civil€officers;€and€such€vacancy€shall€be€filledÏat€the€next€Biennial€[sic]€election€recurring€more€than€thirty€daysÏafter€the€vacancy€occurs.ÌÌÓÓThis€mandate€that€Supreme€Court€vacancies€be€filled€at€the€biennial€electionÏrecurring€more€than€thirty€days€after€the€vacancy€occurs,€requires€a€two„stepÏprocess€to€fill€a€vacancy:€(1)€the€vacancy€is€first€filled€until€the€biennial€election;Ï(2)€a€judge€is€elected€at€the€biennial€election€to€fulfill€the€unexpired€term.€€TheÏLegislature€implemented€Article€VII,€Section€5,€by€enacting€T.C.A.€ðð€17„1„301,Ïproviding,€in€part,€that€the€Governor€appoint€a€qualified€person,€"until€suchÏelection€can€be€held."€€That€appointment€expires€on€August31€of€the€biennialÏelection€year€and€the€vacancy€is€filled€by€the€biennial€election€for€the€periodÏfrom€September1€of€the€biennial€election€year€to€the€end€of€the€full€eight„yearÏterm€of€the€justice€who€has€created€the€vacancy.€€òòCompareóó,€òòState€ex€rel.€HigginsÏv.€Dunn,óó€òòsupraóó,€at€491.Ìà àThe€vacancy€that€was€on€the€ballot€to€be€filled€in€the€August1,€1996Ïbiennial€election€was€the€unexpired€term€of€Justice€O'Brien.€€The€premise€of€theÏAttorney€Generalððs€€Opinion€that€the€vacancy€to€be€filled€now€is€that€of€JusticeÏWhite€is€that€a€new€vacancy€was€created€by€the€rejection€of€a€justice€who€hadÏno€unexpired€term€to€be€filled.€€That€position€ignores€ArticleVII,€Section€5,€of€theÏTennessee€Constitution€and€is€facially€untenable.Ìà àNothing€in€the€Tennessee€Plan€indicates€that€it€was€intended€to€overrideÏT.C.A.€ðð€17„1„301(b).€€Therefore,€we€hold€that€Attorney€General€Opinion€No.€96„117€is€erroneous;€the€requirements€of€T.C.A.€ðð€17„1„301(b)€and€T.C.A.€ðð€8„48„109€must€be€followed;€and€the€"at€large"€vacancy€created€by€the€resignation€ofÏJustice€O'Brien€must€be€filled€by€a€resident€of€the€Eastern€Grand€Division,€theÏgrand€division€in€which€the€vacancy€originally€occurred.Ìà àAll€motions€and€petitions€filed€since€July€5,€1996,€not€heretofore€or€hereinÏruled€upon,€have€been€considered€by€the€Court,€found€to€be€without€merit€or€notÏwithin€the€scope€of€this€special€courts€commission,€and€œare›€denied.Ìà àCosts€are€adjudged€as€follows:€John€King€and€each€intervenor€shall€payÏthe€costs€resulting€from€their€respective€filings.€€The€remaining€costs€shall€beÏassessed€one„fourth€to€Appellant€Hooker,€one„fourth€to€Appellant€Laska€andÏone„half€to€the€state€defendants.ÌœÌÌÌENTERED€this€the€_____€day€of€October,€1996.ÌÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà à____________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àWilliam€H.€D.€Fones,€ChiefÏJusticeÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà à_____________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àMartha€S.€L.€Black,€JusticeÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà à_____________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àS.€Morris€Hadden,€JusticeÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà à_____________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àLin€S.€Howard,€JusticeÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà à_____________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àA.€C.€Wharton,€Jr.,€JusticeÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àÌ