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ðPartðð,€as€that€term€is€used€in€the€¢Tennessee£€¢Code£,€is€a€term€of€art,€and€here€means€Part€1€of€€Title€17,€¢Chapter£€4ð"ðtheÐ ° Ðentire€¢portion£€of€the€¢Tennessee£€Plan€having€to€do€with€ð ð¢Judicial£€¢Selection£.ðð€€€òòSeeóó€4€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€at€xiiiÐ tÄ Ð(1994)(¢numbering£€system€¢appearing£€in€the€¢User£ðð¢s£€¢Guide£€to€the€¢Code)£. ±Ý ƒ!”ˆ!ÝÔ€XßXôôÔÔ€XßXXXßÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ‚ ÿÿÿÝÓ  ÓÔ€ô2–ôXXßÔÔ€ô2–ôôô2–ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÝ  ÝÝ‚ ÿÿÿÝÔ  ÔÔ  ÔòòÝ  Ýò…òÚ  Ú2Ú  Úó…óóóÝ‚ ÿâƒ!ÝÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÝ  Ý€€€The€¢dissent£€reasons€that€¢£Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€17„4„115(¢c£)(1994)€only€¢applies£€ð ðto€¢incumbent£€¢judges£€¢seek[ing›£]Ð ° Тreelection£,ðð€and€that€since€¢Judge£€¢Todd£€did€not€seek€¢reelection£,€the€section€did€not€¢apply£€and€¢Judge£€¢Todd£ðð¢s£€¢seat£€was€to€beÏfilled€¢pursuant£€to€another€¢provision£€of€the€¢Tennessee£€Plan,€¢£Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€17„4„116(1994).€€The€difficulty€with€thisÏ¢reasoning£€is€that€the€¢recommendation£€for€¢retention£€must€¢occur£€before€the€¢qualifying£€¢deadline£,€and€¢£Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð17„¼4„115(¢c£)€¢stipulates£€that€if€a€¢judge£€does€not€receive€such€a€¢recommendation,€only€£€ð ð[¢œa]fter›£€a€¢judge£€is€¢elected£€under€thisÏ¢subsection£€¢£[Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€17„4„115(¢c£),€shall]€the€¢provisions£€of€this€¢chapter£€¢concerning£€the€¢evaluation£€and€¢retention£Ïprocess...again€¢apply£.ðð€€Unless€this€language€does€not€mean€what€it€says,€¢£Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€17„4„116,€which€¢comprises£Ïa€part€of€the€¢Tennessee£€Plan,€cannot€¢apply£€to€¢fill£€the€¢seat£€of€an€¢incumbent£€¢whose£€¢retention£€has€not€been€¢recommended£,Ï¢regardless£€of€whether€or€not€the€¢incumbent£€¢eventually£€€¢chooses£€to€run€for€¢reelection£.€€¢Moreover£,€under€the€¢dissent£ðð¢s£Ïreading€of€the€¢statute£,€even€after€the€¢judicial£€¢evaluation£€commission€failed€to€¢approve£€an€¢incumbent£ðð¢s£€¢retention£,€politicalÏ¢parties£€and€¢potential£€¢candidates£€would€not€know€whether€the€¢Tennessee£€Plan€was€to€¢apply£€to€the€election€until€theÏ¢qualifying£€¢deadline£€passed€without€the€¢incumbent£€¢filing£€a€¢declaration£€of€¢candidacy£.€Thus,€any€rights€¢conferred£€by€¢Tenn.ÏCode€Ann.€ðð€£17„4„115(¢c£)€upon€political€¢parties£€to€¢nominate£€¢candidates£€and€upon€independent€¢candidates£€to€¢qualify£€toÐ à 0    Ðrun€in€the€election,€€would€be€¢effectively£€¢frustrated. ™ Ý ƒ!”ˆ!ÝÔ€(XŸXôôÔÔ€)XŸXXXŸÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ‚ ÿÿÿÝÓ  ÓÔ€)ôâôXXŸÔÔ€(ôâôôôâÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÝ  ÝÝ‚ ÿÿÿÝÔ  ÔÔ  ÔòòÝ  Ýò…òÚ  Ú2Ú  Úó…óóóÝ‚ ÿâƒ!ÝÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÝ  Ý€€€The€¢dissent£€reasons€that€¢£Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€17„4„115(¢c£)(1994)€only€¢applies£€ð ðto€¢incumbent£€¢judges£€¢seek[ing›£]Ð ° Тreelection£,ðð€and€that€since€¢Judge£€¢Todd£€did€not€seek€¢reelection£,€the€section€did€not€¢apply£€and€¢Judge£€¢Todd£ðð¢s£€¢seat£€was€to€beÏfilled€¢pursuant£€to€another€¢provision£€of€the€¢Tennessee£€Plan,€¢£Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€17„4„116(1994).€€The€difficulty€with€thisÏ¢reasoning£€is€that€the€¢recommendation£€for€¢retention£€must€¢occur£€before€the€¢qualifying£€¢deadline£,€and€¢£Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð17„¼4„115(¢c£)€¢stipulates£€that€if€a€¢judge£€does€not€receive€such€a€¢recommendation,€only€£€ð ð[¢œa]fter›£€a€¢judge£€is€¢elected£€under€thisÏ¢subsection£€¢£[Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€17„4„115(¢c£),€shall]€the€¢provisions£€of€this€¢chapter£€¢concerning£€the€¢evaluation£€and€¢retention£Ïprocess...again€¢apply£.ðð€€Unless€this€language€does€not€mean€what€it€says,€¢£Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€17„4„116,€which€¢comprises£Ïa€part€of€the€¢Tennessee£€Plan,€cannot€¢apply£€to€¢fill£€the€¢seat£€of€an€¢incumbent£€¢whose£€¢retention£€has€not€been€¢recommended£,Ï¢regardless£€of€whether€or€not€the€¢incumbent£€¢eventually£€€¢chooses£€to€run€for€¢reelection£.€€¢Moreover£,€under€the€¢dissent£ðð¢s£Ïreading€of€the€¢statute£,€even€after€the€¢judicial£€¢evaluation£€commission€failed€to€¢approve£€an€¢incumbent£ðð¢s£€¢retention£,€politicalÏ¢parties£€and€¢potential£€¢candidates£€would€not€know€whether€the€¢Tennessee£€Plan€was€to€¢apply£€to€the€election€until€theÏ¢qualifying£€¢deadline£€passed€without€the€¢incumbent£€¢filing£€a€¢declaration£€of€¢candidacy£.€œThus,€any€rights›€¢conferred£€by€¢Tenn.ÏCode€Ann.€ðð€£17„4„115(¢c£)€upon€political€¢parties£€to€¢nominate£€¢candidates£€and€upon€independent€¢candidates£€to€¢qualify£€toÏrun€in€the€election,€€would€be€¢effectively£€¢frustrated£:€only€when€the€¢incumbent£€œwhose€retention€was€approved€filed€¢£a›Ï¢Declaration£€of€œ¢Candidacy£,›€would€anyone€know€whether€an€open€election€would€be€held,€œ¢and€by€then,€it€might€be€too€lateÐ h¸  ¾ Ðfor€any€other€candidate€to€qualify. ²Ý ƒ!”ˆ!ÝÔ€-XŸvXôôÔÔ€.XŸvXXXŸvÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ‚ ÿÿÿÝÓ  ÓÔ€.ôBüôXXŸvÔÔ€-ôBüôôôBüÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÝ  ÝÝ‚ ÿÿÿÝÔ  ÔÔ  ÔòòÝ  Ýò…òÚ  Ú2Ú  Úó…óóóÝ‚ ÿâƒ!ÝÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÝ  Ý€€€The€¢dissent£€reasons€that€¢£Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€17„4„115(¢c£)(1994)€only€¢applies£€ð ðto€¢incumbent£€¢judges£€¢seek[ing›£]Ð ° Тreelection£,ðð€and€that€since€¢Judge£€¢Todd£€did€not€seek€¢reelection£,€the€section€did€not€¢apply£€and€¢Judge£€¢Todd£ðð¢s£€¢seat£€was€to€beÏfilled€¢pursuant£€to€another€¢provision£€of€the€¢Tennessee£€Plan,€¢£Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€17„4„116(1994).€€The€difficulty€with€thisÏ¢reasoning£€is€that€the€¢recommendation£€for€¢retention£€must€¢occur£€before€the€¢qualifying£€¢deadline£,€and€¢£Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð17„¼4„115(¢c£)€¢stipulates£€that€if€a€¢judge£€does€not€receive€such€a€¢recommendation,€only€£€ð ð[¢œa]fter›£€a€¢judge£€is€¢elected£€under€thisÏ¢subsection£€¢£[Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€17„4„115(¢c£),€shall]€the€¢provisions£€of€this€¢chapter£€¢concerning£€the€¢evaluation£€and€¢retention£Ïprocess...again€¢apply£.ðð€€Unless€this€language€does€not€mean€what€it€says,€¢£Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€17„4„116,€which€¢comprises£Ïa€part€of€the€¢Tennessee£€Plan,€cannot€¢apply£€to€¢fill£€the€¢seat£€of€an€¢incumbent£€¢whose£€¢retention£€has€not€been€¢recommended£,Ï¢regardless£€of€whether€or€not€the€¢incumbent£€¢eventually£€€¢chooses£€to€run€for€¢reelection£.€€¢Moreover£,€under€the€¢dissent£ðð¢s£Ïreading€of€the€¢statute£,€even€after€the€¢judicial£€¢evaluation£€commission€failed€to€¢approve£€an€¢incumbent£ðð¢s£€¢retention£,€politicalÏ¢parties£€and€¢potential£€¢candidates£€would€not€know€whether€the€¢Tennessee£€Plan€was€to€¢apply£€to€the€election€until€theÏ¢qualifying£€¢deadline£€passed€without€the€¢incumbent£€¢filing£€a€¢declaration£€of€¢candidacy£.€Thus,€any€rights€¢conferred£€by€¢Tenn.ÏCode€Ann.€ðð€£17„4„115(¢c£)€upon€political€¢parties£€to€¢nominate£€¢candidates£€and€upon€independent€¢candidates£€to€¢qualify£€toÐ à 0  ¾ Ðrun€in€the€election,€€would€be€¢effectively£€œ¢frustrated. ÂÝ ƒ!”ˆ!ÝÔ€XßXôôÔÔ€XßXXXßÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ‚ ÿÿÿÝÓ  ÓÔ€ô2–ôXXßÔÔ€ô2–ôôô2–ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÝ  ÝÝ‚ ÿÿÿÝÔ  ÔÔ  ÔòòÝ  Ýò…òÚ  Ú3Ú  Úó…óóóÝ‚ ÿâƒ!ÝÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÝ  Ý€€€¢The€plaintiff£€¢agrees£€with€the€¢defendants£€that€¢Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€£17„4„116€was,€by€its€terms,€¢applicable£€to€the€election,Ð ° Тstated€so£€at€¢oral£€¢argument£€before€this€Court,€and€¢reaffirmed£€this€position€in€a€¢brief£€¢lodged£€¢subsequent£€to€¢oral£€¢argument£.€Ï¢The€plaintiff£€apparently€¢anticipated£,€¢correctly£€as€it€¢turns£€out,€that€this€Court€would€not€reach€the€¢merits£€of€¢the€plaintiffððs£Ï¢constitutional£€¢arguments£€unless€it€was€¢convinced£€that€the€¢Tennessee£€Plan€was€¢applicable£€to€the€election€to€¢fill£€¢Judge£Ï¢Todd£ðð¢s£€¢seat£. Ý ƒ!”ˆ!ÝÔ€XßXôôÔÔ€XßXXXßÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ‚ ÿÿÿÝÓ  ÓÔ€ô2–ôXXßÔÔ€ô2–ôôô2–ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÝ  ÝÝ‚ ÿÿÿÝÔ  ÔÔ  ÔòòÝ  Ýò…òÚ  Ú4Ú  Úó…óóóÝ‚ ÿâƒ!ÝÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÝ  Ý€€€As€a€direct€consequence€of€Thompsonððs€erroneous€application€of€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€17„4€116€to€the€facts€of€thisÐ ° Ðcase,€with€which€the€plaintiff€€acquiesced,€there€òòwasóó€no€August€6€election„„retention€or€otherwise„„to€fill€Judge€ToddððsÐ tÄ Ðseat,€òòbecause€there€were€no€candidatesóó.€€This€€affront€to€the€democratic€process€apparently€troubles€neither€party.€€TheÐ <Œ Ðpractical€consequence€of€the€partiesðð€erroneous€reading€of€the€statute€is€that€€the€judge€whose€retention€has€not€beenÏrecommended€would€have€the€power€to€determine,€by€filing€or€failing€to€file€a€declaration€of€candidacy,€whether€or€notÏthere€would€be€a€contested€election€to€fill€his€seat€at€the€expiration€of€his€term€of€office.€€We€can€think€of€no€principledÏreason€why€the€electoral€process€may€be€frustrated€by€an€incumbent€judge€whose€retention€has€not€been€approved. »Ý ƒ!”ˆ!ÝÔ€XßXôôÔÔ€XßXXXßÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ‚ ÿÿÿÝÓ  ÓÔ€ô2–ôXXßÔÔ€ô2–ôôô2–ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÝ  ÝÝ‚ ÿÿÿÝÔ  ÔÔ  ÔòòÝ  Ýò…òÚ  Ú5Ú  Úó…óóóÝ‚ ÿâƒ!ÝÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÝ  Ý€€€Indeed,€we€might€be€inclined€to€consider€the€appeal€moot,€but€for€the€fact€that€ð ðinterests€of€a€public€character€and€ofÐ ° Ðimportance€in€the€administration€of€justice€generally€are€involved.ðð€€òòMcCanless›€€v.€œKlein›óó,€182€Tenn.€631,€638,€188€œS.W.›Ð tÄ М2d›€745,€747€(Tenn.€1945).€€(z2ø$¤¤Ý ƒ!”ˆ!ÝÔ€X^XôôÔÔ€X^XXX^ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÓÓòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó3|xý« ˜à`0Century SchoolbookTTôôM˜à Pâ:+QôP ˜à `*Times New RomanTTTTXX\˜à Pâ:+QXP!˜à `*Times New RomanTTTT>˜à Pâ:+QP 1E81E 0*Times New RomanTTTTXXB0 1E81E`1Eˆ1E˜1EX1(J”ˆ$¡¡Ô€X[éXõôÔÔ€XJÆXXX[éÔÓ  Ó òDó Pô õ[ö[÷úHûüAeýDPlT%ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ d ˜à`0Century SchoolbookTT ˜à `*Times New RomanTT »Ý ƒ!”ˆ!ÝÔ€+XŸXôôÔÔ€,XŸXXXŸÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ‚ ÿÿÿÝÓ  ÓÔ€,ôâôXXŸÔÔ€+ôâôôôâÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÝ  ÝÝ‚ ÿÿÿÝÔ  ÔÔ  ÔòòÝ  Ýò…òÚ  Ú5Ú  Úó…óóóÝ‚ ÿâƒ!ÝÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÝ  Ý€€€Indeed,€we€might€be€inclined€to€consider€the€appeal€moot,€but€for€the€fact€that€ð ðinterests€of€a€public€character€and€ofÐ ° Ðimportance€in€the€administration€of€justice€generally€are€involved.ðð€€òòMcCanless›€€v.€œKlein›óó,€182€Tenn.€631,€638,€188€œS.W.›Ð tÄ М2d›€745,€747€(Tenn.€1945).€€ ˜à`0Century SchoolbookTT ˜à `*Times New RomanTT ˜à`0Century SchoolbookTT ˜à `*Times New RomanTT<à09Z 0Courier (WT) Regular&@FÐZ ‹8CaslonOpnface BT Regular ’ Ý ƒ!”ˆ!ÝÔ€6XŸvXôôÔÔ€7XŸvXXXŸvÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ‚ ÿÿÿÝÓ  ÓÔ€7ôBüôXXŸvÔÔ€6ôBüôôôBüÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÝ  ÝÝ‚ ÿÿÿÝÔ  ÔÔ  ÔòòÝ  Ýò…òÚ  Ú2Ú  Úó…óóóÝ‚ ÿâƒ!ÝÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÝ  Ý€€€The€¢dissent£€reasons€that€¢£Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€17„4„115(¢c£)(1994)€only€¢applies£€ð ðto€¢incumbent£€¢judges£€¢seek[ing›£]Ð ° Тreelection£,ðð€and€that€since€¢Judge£€¢Todd£€did€not€seek€¢reelection£,€the€section€did€not€¢apply£€and€¢Judge£€¢Todd£ðð¢s£€¢seat£€was€to€beÏfilled€¢pursuant£€to€another€¢provision£€of€the€¢Tennessee£€Plan,€¢£Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€17„4„116(1994).€€The€difficulty€with€thisÏ¢reasoning£€is€that€the€¢recommendation£€for€¢retention£€must€¢occur£€before€the€¢qualifying£€¢deadline£,€and€¢£Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð17„¼4„115(¢c£)€¢stipulates£€that€if€a€¢judge£€does€not€receive€such€a€¢recommendation,€only€£€ð ð[¢œa]fter›£€a€¢judge£€is€¢elected£€under€thisÏ¢subsection£€¢£[Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€17„4„115(¢c£),€shall]€the€¢provisions£€of€this€¢chapter£€¢concerning£€the€¢evaluation£€and€¢retention£Ïprocess...again€¢apply£.ðð€€Unless€this€language€does€not€mean€what€it€says,€¢£Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€17„4„116,€which€¢comprises£Ïa€part€of€the€¢Tennessee£€Plan,€cannot€¢apply£€to€¢fill£€the€¢seat£€of€an€¢incumbent£€¢whose£€¢retention£€has€not€been€¢recommended£,Ï¢regardless£€of€whether€or€not€the€¢incumbent£€¢eventually£€€¢chooses£€to€run€for€¢reelection£.€€¢Moreover£,€under€the€¢dissent£ðð¢s£Ïreading€of€the€¢statute£,€even€after€the€¢judicial£€¢evaluation£€commission€failed€to€¢approve£€an€¢incumbent£ðð¢s£€¢retention£,€politicalÏ¢parties£€and€¢potential£€¢candidates£€would€not€know€whether€the€¢Tennessee£€Plan€was€to€¢apply£€to€the€election€until€theÏ¢qualifying£€¢deadline£€passed€without€the€¢incumbent£€¢filing£€a€¢declaration£€of€¢candidacy£.€Thus,€any€rights€¢conferred£€by€¢Tenn.ÏCode€Ann.€ðð€£17„4„115(¢c£)€upon€political€¢parties£€to€¢nominate£€¢candidates£€and€upon€independent€¢candidates£€to€¢qualify£€toÐ à 0  ô Ðrun€in€the€election,€€would€be€¢effectively£€¢frustrated£:€only€when€the€¢incumbent£€whose€retention€was€approved€filed€¢£aÏ¢Declaration£€of€¢Candidacy£,€would€anyone€know€whether€an€open€election€would€be€held,€¢and€by€then,€it€might€be€too€lateÏfor€any€other€candidate€to€qualify. ˜à`0Century SchoolbookTT ˜à `*Times New RomanTT,†r‰AZ‹"Arial RegularÝ ƒ!”ˆ!ÝÔ€XßXôôÔÔ€XßXXXßÔÓ  ÓÝ  Ýñüñ›ñüññüññññ›ññññüññññ›ñññÖ€ ÿÿÖÑ  ÑÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑñüñœñüñÔ‡3XUüXXXßÔñóñà  àñóññóñ›ñóññóñà ` àñóññóñ›ñóññóñà ¸ àñóññôñ›ñôññóñà  àñóññôñ›ñôññóñà h àñóññôñ›ñôññóñà À àñóññôñ›ñôññóñà  àñóññôñ›ñôññóñà p àñóññôñ›ñôññóñà È àñóññôñ›ñôññóñòòñóññôñFOR€PUBLICATIONñôññõññôñò òó óñôññõññöñóóñöññöññóñóóñóññöññüñ›ñüñÐ ° Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àà  àñüñœñüñòòñòñFOR›€PUBLICATIONñòññüñ›ñüñÌÌÌÌóóÌÌà@P P ìàIN€THE€SPECIAL€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEˆÌÌà@$ìàAT€NASHVILLEˆÌÌÌÌÌÌROBERT€L.€DeLANEY,à  àà h àà À àà  à)Ð h¸  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)Ìà  àPlaintiff„Appellant,à À àà  à)Ð øH  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)Ìà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)€€€Davidson€ChanceryÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)Ìv.à  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)€€€Hon.€Ellen€Hobbs€Lyle,Ð h Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)€€€ChancellorÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)ÌÒà°Òà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)€€€S.€Ct.€No.€ñññœññññüññññœññññüññüñœñüñ01S01ñüñ›ñüññüññññ›ññññüññññ›ñññ„9808„CH„00144ÌÒÀàÒBROOK€THOMPSON,€ET€AL.,à h àà À àà  à)Ð 8ˆ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)Ìà  àDefendants„Appellees.à À àà  à)Ð È ÐÌÌÌÌòòFor€Plaintiff„Appellantóó:à h àà À àà  àà p àòòFor€Defendants„Appelleesóó:Ð °  ÐÌRobert€L.€DeLaneyà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àJohn€Knox€WalkupÐ @" ÐNashvilleà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àAttorney€General€and€à (# àÐ  X# Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à€€€à p àà È àReporterÐ Ð $ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àNashvilleÌà  àÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àMichael€E.€MooreÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àSolicitor€GeneralÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àNashvilleÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àMichael€W.€CatalanoÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àAssociate€Solicitor€GeneralÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àNashvilleÌÌÌÌÌÌà@00%dàòòò òÔ‡3è¤èX3XUüÔÔ#†è‰µèè3è¤)#ÔÔ‡4èFú èè艵ÔO€P€I€N€I€O€NÔ#†è‰µè è4èFúÑ#ÔÔ‡3è¤èè艵ÔÔ#†3XUüXè3è¤#Ôóóó óˆÐ ˆ,Ø'3 ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌJudgment€of€Court€of€ÌAppeals€and€Trial€CourtÌReversed;€Case€Remanded.à h àà À àà  àà p àDavis,€C.J.,€à x àà Ð àà (# àÐ è581> Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h à€€€€à À àà  àà p àSpecial€Supreme€CourtÔ#†XßXX3XUü #ԀР°62? Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àà  àÌÌÌÌÐ P; 6D ЇÌÌÓÓÔ€8X>¯ XXXßÔà  àIn€this€case,€we€are€¢invited£€to€decide€whether€the€¢Tennessee£€Plan€for€election€ofÐ ˆØ Тappellate£€¢judges£,€¢codified£€as€Title€17,€¢Chapter£€4€of€the€¢Tennessee£€¢Code£€¢Annotated£,€isÏ¢unconstitutional£€for€a€variety€of€reasons,€but€most€particularly€because€it€¢contemplates£Ïð ð¢retention£€¢elections£ðð€for€¢incumbent£€¢appellate£€¢judges£.€€In€general,€the€¢Tennessee£€PlanÏprovides€that€an€¢incumbent£€¢appellate£€¢judge£€may€run€for€¢reelection£€¢unopposed£€on€theÏ¢ballot£,€provided€the€¢incumbent£ðð¢s£€¢retention£€has€been€¢recommended£€by€the€¢judicial£Ï¢evaluation£€commission;€the€¢judge£€will€be€¢retained£€in€office€if€a€¢majority£€of€those€¢voting£€inÏthe€election€for€that€¢judge£ðð¢s£€¢seat£€¢vote£€for€such€¢retention£.€€¢Tenn.€Code€Ann.£€ðð€17„4„¼115(¢d£)(1)(1994).€€It€is€the€¢duty£€of€all€¢courts£,€including€the€¢Supreme£€Court,€to€¢pass£€on€aÏ¢constitutional£€question€only€when€it€is€¢absolutely£€necessary€for€the€¢determination£€of€theÏcase€and€of€the€rights€of€¢parties£€to€the€¢litigation£.€€òò¢Glasgow£€¢v£.€¢Fox£óó,€214€¢Tenn£.€656,€666„Ð øH Ð667,€383€¢ñññœññññüññññœññññüññüñœñüñS.W.ñüñ›ñüññüññññ›ññññüññññ›ñññ£€¢ñññœññññüññññœññññüññüñœñüñ2dñüñ›ñüññüññññ›ññññüññññ›ñññ£€9,€13„14€(1964).€€òòSeeóó€òòalsoóó,€òò¢Jackson£€¢v£.€¢Davis£óó,€530€¢F£.€¢ñññœññññüññññœññññüññüñœñüñSuppñüñ›ñüññüññññ›ññññüññññ›ñññ£.€2,€4€n.€1Ð Ð  Ð(¢E.D.£€¢Tenn£.),€¢òòñññœññññüññññœññññüññüñœñüñaffððdñüñ›ñüññüññññ›ññññüññññ›ñññóó£,€667€¢F£.€¢ñññœññññüññññœññññüññüñœñüñ2dñüñ›ñüññüññññ›ññññüññññ›ñññ£€1026€(¢ñññœññññüññññœññññüññüñœñüñ6thñüñ›ñüññüññññ›ññññüññññ›ñññ£€¢Cir£.€1981).€€We€hold€that€it€is€not€necessary€toÐ ¨ø Ðaddress€the€¢constitutionality£€of€the€¢Tennessee£€Plan€in€this€case,€because€it€is€notÏ¢applicable£€to€the€facts€of€this€case.€For€that€reason,€the€Court€of€¢Appeals£€¢erred£€in€¢holding£Ïthe€¢Tennessee£€Plan€¢constitutional£,€just€as€the€trial€¢judge£€¢erred£€in€¢holding£€the€PlanÏ¢unconstitutional£.€€We€reach€this€¢conclusion£€because€the€¢express£€¢provisions£€of€theÏ¢Tennessee£€Plan€¢render£€it€¢inapplicable£€to€the€election€for€which€¢defendant£€¢Brook£Ï¢Thompson£,€State€¢Coordinator£€of€¢Elections£,€¢refused£€to€accept€a€¢qualifying£€¢petition£Ï¢submitted£€by€the€¢plaintiff£,€Robert€¢L£.€¢DeLaney£.ÌÑ€ÑÌà  à¢Judge£€Henry€¢Todd£ðð¢s£€eight€year€term€on€the€¢Tennessee£€Court€of€¢Appeals£€was€toÏ¢expire£€September€1,€1998.€€¢Judge£€¢Todd£€was€required€to€be€¢evaluated£€by€the€¢Judicial£Ï¢Evaluation£€Commission€¢pursuant£€to€¢Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€£17„4„201(¢d£)(ñññœññññüññññœññññüññüñœñüñSuppñüñ›ñüññüññññ›ññññüññññ›ñññ.€1998)€andÏ¢Rule£€27€of€the€¢Supreme£€Court€Rules.€€¢Judge£€¢Todd£€apparently€had€no€¢intention£€of€runningÏfor€¢reelection£,€and€so€¢advised£€the€¢Judicial£€¢Evaluation£€Commission.ÌÌà  àOn€March€26,€1998,€before€the€Commission€had€¢issued£€any€report€¢concerning£Ð P8 38 ÐÑÑѰ°ÑÑX°ÑÑ  ÑñüñÑÑѰ°ÑÑX°ÑÑ  ÑÑÑѰ°ÑÑX°ÑÑ  ÑÑÑѰ°ÑÑX°ÑÑ  ÑÑÑѰ°ÑÑX°ÑÑ  ÑÑÑѰ°ÑÑX°ÑÑ  ÑÑÑѰ°ÑÑX°ÑÑ  ÑÑÑѰ°ÑÑX°ÑÑ  ÑÑÑѰ°ÑÑX°ÑÑ  ÑÑÑѰ°ÑÑX°ÑÑ  ÑÑÑѰ°ÑÑX°ÑÑ  ÑÑÑѰ°ÑÑX°ÑÑ  ÑÑÑѰ°ÑÑX°ÑÑ  ÑÑÑѰ°ÑÑX°ÑÑ  ÑÑÑѰ°ÑÑX°ÑÑ  ÑÑÑѰ°ÑÑX°ÑÑ  ÑÑÑѰ°ÑÑX°ÑÑ  Ññüñ¢retention£€of€the€¢incumbent£€¢judges£,€¢the€plaintiff£€¢requested£€from€¢£¢Thompson£€a€¢nominating£ÏñöñÑÑѰ°ÑÑX°ÑÑ  ÑñöññòñÑÑѰ°ÑÑX°ÑÑ  ÑñòññññÑÑѰ°ÑÑX°ÑÑ  ÑÑÑѰ°ÑÑX°ÑÑ  ÑÑÑѰ°ÑÑX°ÑÑ  ÑÑÑѰ°ÑÑX°ÑÑ  ÑÑÑѰ°ÑÑX°ÑÑ  ÑÑÑѰ°ÑÑX°ÑÑ  ÑÑÑѰ°ÑÑX°ÑÑ  ÑÑÑѰ°ÑÑX°ÑÑ  ÑÑÑѰ°ÑÑX°ÑÑ  ÑÑÑѰ°ÑÑX°ÑÑ  ÑÑÑѰ°ÑÑX°ÑÑ  ÑÑÑѰ°ÑÑX°ÑÑ  ÑÑÑѰ°ÑÑX°ÑÑ  ÑÑÑѰ°ÑÑX°ÑÑ  Ññññ¢petition£€to€run€as€an€independent€¢candidate£€for€the€¢Tennessee£€Court€of€¢Appeals£.€€By€letterÏ¢dated£€March€27,€1998,€¢£¢Thompson£€¢advised€the€£¢plaintiff£€as€follows:ÌÓÓà0  à[¢ñññœññññüññññœññññüññüñœñüñI]fñüñ›ñüññüññññ›ññññüññññ›ñññ£€the€Commission€does€not€¢recommend£€one€or€more€of€the€¢judges£€for€¢retention£,Ïthen€that€position€or€¢positions£€will€be€considered€¢contested£€¢offices£€and€this€officeÏwill€issue€¢petitions£€to€any€interested€persons.Ð $$ ÐÌÓÓÌà  àThis€statement€by€¢£¢Thompson£€in€his€March€27,€1998€letter€to€¢the€plaintiff£€wasÏ¢entirely£€¢consistent£€with€the€¢provisions£€of€¢£Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€17„4„115€(¢c£),€which€providesÏ¢£as€follows:ÌÓÓà0  àòòUnlessóó€the€¢judicial£€¢evaluation£€commission€òò¢recommends£óó€the€¢retention£€of€a€¢judge£,Ð H˜ Ðòòò òthe€¢provisions£€ofó ó€ò òthis€partó ó€ò òshall€not€be€¢applicable£óóó ó.€€A€political€party€mayÐ 4„ Тnominate£€a€¢candidate£€and€independent€¢candidates£€may€¢qualify£€under€the€generalÏelection€law€for€the€general€election€which€shall€be€the€regular€August€election.€ÏòòAfter€a€¢judge£€is€¢elected£€under€this€¢subsection£€óóthe€¢provisions£€of€this€¢chapter£Ð øH Тconcerning£€the€¢evaluation£€and€¢retention£€process€shall€again€¢apply£.Ð $$ ÐÌÓÓ(¢Emphasis£€¢supplied£).Ý‚ ÿÿÿÝÔ  ÔÔ  ÔòòÝ  ÝÑÈѢ׃×Ý ƒÿÿÝò…òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó…óóóÝ  Ý×  ×£€€The€entire€¢Tennessee£€Plan€¢pertaining£€to€the€election€of€¢appellate£Ð ¼  Тjudges£€appears€in€Part€1€(ð ð¢Judicial£€¢Selection£ðð)€of€Chapter€4€of€¢Title£€17€of€the€¢Code£.€ÏTherefore,€under€¢£Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€17„4„115(¢c£),€the€failure€of€the€Commission€toÏ¢recommend£€the€¢retention£€of€any€¢judge£€would€¢render£€the€¢Tennessee£€Plan€¢inapplicable£€toÏthe€election€to€¢fill£€that€¢judge£ðð¢s£€¢seat£,€and€the€election€ñññœñññtherefore€wouldñññ›ñññ€ñññœñññbeñññ›ñññ€¢conducted£€as€anyÏother€election€(rather€than€as€a€ð ð¢retention£€election).€€Under€the€¢express£€direction€of€¢£Tenn.ÏCode€Ann.€ðð€17„4„115(¢c£),€in€this€situation,€political€¢parties£€can€¢nominate£€¢candidates£€andÏindependent€¢candidates£€can€¢qualify£€,€and€only€after€the€election€will€the€¢Tennessee£€PlanÏagain€¢apply£.€€ñññœñññAccordingly,€anyñññ›ñññ€interested€person€would€be€¢entitled£€to€receive€a€¢qualifying£Ï¢petition£€and€to€seek€to€¢qualify£€to€have€his€or€her€name€placed€on€the€¢ballot£€in€the€electionÏfor€that€¢judge£ðð¢s£€¢seat£.Ý‚ ÿÿÿÝÔ  ÔÔ  ÔòòÝ  Ý¢ññññàñœñàññññññññüññ÷ñœñ÷ññüññ÷ññüñ׃Ü×ñüññüñ׃Ü×ñüññ÷ññ÷ñ׃5Ü×ñ÷ñññññññ׃Ü×ñññÝ ƒÿÿÝò…òÚ  Ú2Ú  Úó…óóóÝ  Ý×  ×ñüñ›ñüññññ›ñññ£Ð ,.|)- Ðà  àRather€than€waiting€to€see€whether€the€Commission€would€¢fail£€to€¢recommend£Ï¢retention£€of€any€¢judge£,€on€April€3,€1998,€the€¢plaintiff£€¢filed£€this€action€in€¢Davidson£€CountyÏ¢Chancery£€Court€to€seek€to€¢enjoin£€¢£¢Thompson£€from€¢placing£€the€names€of€several€¢incumbent£Ï¢judges£€on€the€¢ballot€on€a€retention€election€basis£.€€¢The€plaintiff£€did€not€ask€the€Court€toÏ¢compel£€the€¢defendant£€to€issue€him€a€¢qualifying£€¢petition,€£or€to€¢extend£€the€¢qualifying£Ï¢deadline£.ÌÌà  àOn€April€10,€1998,€the€¢Judicial£€¢Evaluation£€Commission€¢issued£€the€ð ð¢Tennessee£Ï¢Appellate£€¢Judges£€¢Evaluation£€Reportðð.€€This€Report€did€not€¢recommend£€the€¢retention£€ofÏ¢Judge£€¢Todd£,€but€¢stated£€that€the€Commission€was€¢informed£€that€¢Judge£€¢Todd£€would€notÏseek€¢reelection£.€€¢Interestingly£€enough,€the€Office€of€the€¢Attorney£€General€had€¢previously£Ï¢advised£€the€¢Judicial£€¢Evaluation£€Commission€that€it€could€not€¢fail£€to€¢evaluate£€an€¢incumbent£Ï¢judge£€in€just€this€situation.€€In€Opinion€No.€97„101€(July€17,€1997),€the€¢Office€of€theÏAttorney€General£ñññœ›ñññ£€¢stated£€as€follows:ÌÓÓà0  àà ` àThe€¢Judicial£€¢Evaluation£€Commission€is€not€¢relieved£€of€its€¢obligation£€toÏ¢evaluate£€the€¢judge£€¢regardless£€of€any€expression€of€such€¢intention£€[not€to€seekÏ¢reelection£],€because€the€Commission€has€not€been€given€any€legal€authority€toÏ¢utilize£€such€a€statement€to€¢remove£€a€¢judge£€from€the€¢evaluation£€process.Ð $$ ÐÌÓÓBased€on€the€position€¢taken£€in€¢£¢Thompson£ðð¢s£€March€27€letter€to€the€¢plaintiff£;€based€on€theÏ¢Attorney€General€Opinion£€to€the€effect€that€the€Commission€was€under€an€¢obligation£€toÏ¢evaluate£€¢Judge£€¢Todd£€¢regardless£€of€his€¢intention£€to€run€for€office;€and€based€upon€theÏabove„¢quoted£€language€of€¢£Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€17„4„115€(¢c£)€that€ð ðòòunless€the€judicialÐ ¤(ô#' Ðevaluation€commission€¢recommends€the€retention€of£€a€¢judge£,€the€¢provisions£€of€óó[theÐ |*Ì%) ТTennessee£€Plan]€òòshall€not€¢be€applicable£ðð,óó€one€might€have€expected€the€¢plaintiff£€to€¢renew£Ð T,¤'+ Ðhis€¢request£€for€a€¢qualifying£€¢petition£,€or€¢£¢Thompson£€to€¢promptly£€issue€the€¢petition£€withoutÏany€additional€¢request£.€€However,€the€¢plaintiff£€apparently€did€not€again€demand€aÏ¢qualifying£€¢petition£€from€¢£¢Thompson£€until€May€12,€1998,€more€than€a€month€after€theÏCommission€¢issued£€its€Report.€€While€¢£¢Thompson£€did€on€May€13€provide€¢the€plaintiff£€withÏthe€¢requested£€¢qualifying£€¢petition£,€¢£¢Thompson£€at€that€time€¢modified£€the€position€he€hadÏ¢taken£€in€his€March€27€letter€to€¢plaintiff£.€€In€a€¢notice£€to€¢plaintiff£,€he€¢stated£€as€follows:ÌÓÓà0  àòòIf€¢Judge£€Henry€¢Todd£óó€òòdoes€not€¢file£€a€¢declaration£€of€¢candidacy£óó€for€the€office€of€¢Judge£Ð <9Œ49 Ðof€the€Court€of€¢Appeals£,€Middle€Section,€¢pursuant£€to€¢Tennessee£€¢Code£€¢Annotated£€ððÏ17„4„115(a)(1),€by€the€¢qualifying£€¢deadline£€of€May€21,€1998,€then€any€¢qualifying£Ï¢petitions£€for€¢candidacy£€for€the€office€of€¢Judge£€of€the€Court€of€¢Appeals£,€MiddleÏSection,€¢presently£€held€by€¢Judge£€¢Todd£€that€are€¢lodged£€with€this€office€will€not€beÏ¢filed£€and€are€¢void£€and€of€no€legal€effect.€€òòIn€that€situation,€¢Tennessee£€¢Code£Ð `° ТAnnotated£€ðð€17„4„116(a)€óó[that€is,€the€¢Tennessee£€Plan]òò€will€control€the€¢filling£€of€theÐ L œ Тvacancy£.óóÐ8 ˆ$$ ÐÌÓÓ(¢Emphasis£€¢supplied£.)€€The€p¢laintiff£€did€¢lodge£€his€¢qualifying£€¢petition£€on€May€19,€1998,€butÏ¢Judge£€¢Todd£€did€not€¢file£€a€¢Declaration£€of€¢Candidacy£€by€the€¢qualifying£€¢deadline£€of€May€21.€Ï¢£¢Thompson£€then€¢informed£€¢the€plaintiff£€that€his€¢qualifying£€¢petition£€was€¢void£€and€of€no€legalÏeffect,€because€the€election€was€to€be€¢governed£€by€the€¢Tennessee£€Plan,€¢specifically£Ï¢£Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€17„4„116€(1994).€€This,€in€effect,€meant€that€no€election€would€be€heldÏfor€¢Judge£€¢Todd£ðð¢s£€¢seat£€until€after€the€Governor€had€¢appointed£€a€new€¢judge£,€somethingÏwhich€was€¢unlikely£€to€¢happen£,€and€did€not€in€fact€¢happen£,€ñüñœñüññúñuntil›€ñúññûñbefore€ñûññúñafter›€ñúñAugustñüñ›ñüñ€6,€1998,€theÏelection€day€¢specified£€by€Article€¢VII,£€ðð€5€of€the€¢Tennessee£€¢Constitution£.ÌÌà  àAs€far€as€we€are€able€to€determine€from€the€record€before€us,€the€¢plaintiff£€neverÏ¢challenged£€¢£¢Thompson£ðð¢s£€position€that€¢£Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€17„4„116€would€¢apply£€to€theÏelection€for€¢Judge£€¢Todd£ðð¢s£€¢seat£.€€Instead,€¢the€plaintiff£€¢chose£€to€rest€his€position€in€the€trialÏcourt€¢entirely£€upon€the€¢asserted£€¢unconstitutionality£€of€the€¢Tennessee£€Plan.€€The€trial€courtÏagreed€with€¢the€plaintiff£€that€the€¢Tennessee£€Plan€was€¢unconstitutional£€and€¢enjoined£Ï¢£¢Thompson£€to€place€the€¢plaintiff£ðð¢s£€name€on€the€¢ballot£€for€the€August€6,€1998€election€to€¢fill£Ï¢Judge£€¢Todd£ðð¢s£€¢seat£.€€¢The€defendants£€¢appealed£,€and€¢persuaded£€the€Special€Court€ofÏ¢Appeals£€¢appointed£€to€hear€this€case,€to€¢dissolve£€the€¢injunction£.€€The€Special€Court€ofÏ¢Appeals£€then€¢reversed£€the€trial€court,€and€¢pronounced£€the€¢Tennessee£€Plan€¢constitutional£.€ÏWe€¢granted£€the€¢plaintiff£ðð¢s£€¢application£€to€¢appeal£,€and€we€now€¢reverse£€the€decision€of€theÏCourt€of€¢Appeals£€because€the€¢Tennessee£€Plan€was€not€¢applicable£€to€the€election€to€¢fill£Ï¢Judge£€¢Todd£ðð¢s£€¢seat£.ÌÌà  àWhile€¢£¢Thompson£€recognized€in€his€March€27€letter€to€the€¢plaintiff£€that€theÏCommissionðð¢s£€failure€to€¢recommend£€¢Judge£€¢Todd£ðð¢s£€¢retention£€would€¢render£€the€¢Tennessee£ÏPlan€¢inapplicable£€to€the€election€for€his€¢seat£€under€¢£Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€17„4„115(¢c£),€heÏapparently€considered€¢Judge£€¢Todd£ðð¢s£€òò¢subsequent£óó€failure€to€¢file£€a€¢Declaration£€of€¢Candidacy£Ð (:x5: Ðas€¢changing£€the€situation€and€¢triggering£€the€procedure€described€in€¢£Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ððÏ17„4„116.Ý‚ ÿÿÿÝÔ  ÔÔ  ÔòòÝ  ݢ׃×Ý ƒÿÿÝò…òÚ  Ú3Ú  Úó…óóóÝ  Ý×  ×£€€¢£¢Thompson£€was€simply€incorrect.€€Section€17„4„116,€a€part€of€the€TennesseeÐ ˆØ ÐPlan,€must€be€read€in€the€light€of€the€preceding€section,€and€most€especially€Tenn.€CodeÏAnn.€ðð€17„4„115€(c),€which€expressly€declares€that€the€Tennessee€Plan€is€not€applicable€ifÏthe€Judicial€Evaluation€Commission€does€not€recommend€that€an€incumbent€judge€beÏretained,€and€will€not€again€be€applicable€until€after€the€election€specified€in€thatÏsubsection.€€If€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€17„4„116€was€applicable€when€the€Commission€has€notÏrecommended€such€retention,€then€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€17„4„115€(c)€would€beÏmeaningless.€€We€are€bound€by€established€principles€of€statutory€construction€toÏconstrue€statutes,€whenever€possible,€in€a€way€which€gives€meaning€to€every€portion€ofÏthe€statute.€€òòAnderson€Fish€&€Oyster€Co.€v.€Oldsóó,€197€Tenn.€604,€277€ñññœññññüññññœññññüññüñœñüñS.W.ñüñ›ñüññüññññ›ññññüññññ›ñññ€ñññœññññüññññœññññüññüñœñüñ2dñüñ›ñüññüññññ›ññññüññññ›ñññ€344€(1954).€Ð  p ÐTherefore,€we€must€reject€an€interpretation€which€would€render€the€provisions€of€Tenn.ÏCode€Ann.€ðð€17„4„115(c)€meaningless.€€We€therefore€hold€that€when€the€Commission€filedÏthe€Report€of€the€Judicial€Evaluation€Commission€on€April€10,€1998,€and€did€notÏrecommend€that€Judge€Todd€be€retained€in€office,€the€provisions€of€the€Tennessee€PlanÏbecame€inapplicable€to€the€election€for€Judge€Toddððs€seat€on€the€Court€of€Appeals€underÏthe€plain€language€of€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€17„4„115(c)€until€after€the€open€electionÏspecified€in€that€subsection.€€ÌÌà  àJudge€Toddððs€subsequent€failure€to€file€any€declaration€of€candidacy€cannotÏlogically€change€the€result.€€Otherwise,€rather€than€being€inapplicable€to€the€election€untilÏafter€a€new€judge€is€elected€as€expressly€commanded€by€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€17„4„115(c),Ïthe€Tennessee€Plan€would€merely€be€conditionally€suspended€until€such€time€as€theÏincumbent€failed€to€file€a€Declaration€of€Candidacy.€€This€would€be€especially€anomalous;Ïwhen€a€judgeððs€eight€year€term€of€office€expired,€political€parties,€potential€candidates€andÏthe€electorate€itself€would€not€know€the€manner€of€filling€such€a€regularly€recurringÏvacancy€on€the€Court€of€Appeals€òòuntil€the€expiration€of€the€qualifying€deadline€for€theÐ  4ð/4 ÐelectionóóÝ‚ ÿÿÿÝÔ  ÔÔ  ÔòòÝ  Ý׃×Ý ƒÿÿÝò…òÚ  Ú4Ú  Úó…óóóÝ  Ý×  ×.€€This€cannot€have€been€the€Legislatureððs€intent,€and€is€certainly€not€the€lawÐ ° Ðunless€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€17„4„115(c)€is€entirely€inoperative.€€Therefore,€Tenn.€CodeÏAnn.€ðð€17„4„116,€as€a€part€of€the€Tennessee€Plan,€must€apply€only€to€the€situation€inÏwhich€an€incumbent€appellate€court€judge€òòwhose€retention€has€been€recommended€by€theÐ 8 ˆ ÐCommissionóó€fails€to€file€a€declaration€of€candidacy€or€withdraws€as€a€candidate.€€This,€inÐ  ` Ðfact,€seems€the€plain€and€obvious€meaning€of€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€17„4„115€as€understoodÏby€Thompson€himself€as€expressed€in€his€March€27,€1998€letter€to€the€plaintiff.€€It€isÏpuzzling€that€Thompson€changed€his€interpretation,€and€it€is€even€more€puzzling€that€theÏplaintiff€acquiesced€in€Thompsonððs€new,€and€strained,€interpretation.€€One€might€beÏforgiven€for€suspecting€that€both€sides€ñññœñññoverlooked€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€17„4„115(c),€in€theirÏhaste€to€test€theñññ›ñññ€constitutionality€of€the€Tennessee€ñññœñññPlan.€€ÌÌà  àSince€we€hold€that€the€Tennessee€Plan€was€inapplicable€to€the€election€to€fill€JudgeÏToddððs€seat€for€the€term€commencing€September€1,€1998,€we€need€not€reach€any€of€theÏconstitutional€challenges€to€the€Tennessee€Plan€advanced€by€the€plaintiff.€€As€alreadyÏpointed€out,€in€the€trial€court,€the€plaintiff€never€challenged€the€defendantsðð€interpretationÏof€the€Tennessee€Plan€as€applicable€to€the€election€in€question.€€Our€jurisdiction€isÏappellate€only,€and€we€are€not€in€a€position€to€rule€upon€claims€which€the€plaintiff€mightÏhave€asserted,€but€failed€to€assert,€in€the€trial€court.€€Moreover,€while€it€appears€from€theÏmeager€record€before€us€that€the€plaintiff€properly€qualified€to€have€his€name€placed€onÏthe€ballot€for€the€August€6,€1998€election€to€fill€Judge€Toddððs€seat,€an€election€which€neverÏoccurred,€the€courts€cannot€turn€back€the€constitutional€clock.€€Article€VII,€ðð€5€of€theÏConstitution€of€Tennessee€prohibits€special€elections€to€fill€a€vacancy€in€the€office€ofÏJudge€except€at€the€time€fixed€for€the€biennial€elections,€and€the€next€such€election€will€notÏoccur€until€August€of€the€year€2000.Ý‚ ÿÿÿÝÔ  ÔÔ  ÔòòÝ  Ýñññ׃ô×ññññññ׃*ô×ñññÝ ƒÿÿÝò…òÚ  Ú5Ú  Úó…óóóÝ  Ý×  ×ñññ›ñññ€€Ð ð0@,0 Їà  àWe€therefore€REVERSE€the€decision€of€the€Court€of€Appeals€and€REMAND€thisÏcase€to€the€trial€court€for€further€proceedings€not€inconsistent€with€this€opinion.€ÌÌà  àCosts€of€the€appeal€are€taxed€to€the€plaintiff,€Robert€L.€ñññœññññüññññœññññüññüñœñüñDeLaneyñüñ›ñüññüññññ›ññññüññññ›ñññ.ÌÓÓà  àÌÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à_________________________________Ìà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àAmes€Davis,€C.J.,€Special€Supreme€CourtÌÌÌÌÌÌConcur:ÌBenjamin€Hooks,€€J.,€€Special€Supreme€Court€ÌGary€D.€ñññœññññüññññœññññüññüñœñüñGerbitzñüñ›ñüññüññññ›ññññüññññ›ñññ,€J.,€Special€Supreme€CourtÌÌDissent:€€ÌRobert€D.€Arnold,€J.,€Special€Supreme€CourtÌÌConcurring€in€Dissent:ÌœJeanñýñnñýñie›€M.€Todd,€J.,€Special€Supreme€Court