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Sen. McNally to discuss recent Supreme Court decisions at AC Tea Party meeting

Posted at 6:13 pm July 6, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Randy McNally

Randy McNally

Tennessee Senator Randy McNally will discuss recent Supreme Court decisions and what they mean for the state during an Anderson County Tea Party meeting on Tuesday, July 14, a press release said.

McNally, an Oak Ridge Republican, is also expected to discuss how the Tennessee General Assembly plans to address the decisions, the press release said. Those are among the items McNally is expected to address as he talks about items concerning Anderson County and Eastern Tennessee.

The July 14 meeting starts at 7 p.m. at Clinton Church of God. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Front Page News, Government, Meetings and Events, State Tagged With: Anderson County, Anderson County Tea Party, Clinton Church of God, East Tennessee, Finance Ways and Means Committee, Randy McNally, Supreme Court, Supreme Court decisions, Tea Party, Tennessee General Assembly, Tennessee Senate

No same-sex marriage licenses issued in Anderson County yet

Posted at 3:27 pm June 28, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Jeff Cole

Jeff Cole

Note: This story was updated at 4:51 p.m.

The Anderson County Clerk received a few inquiries after the U.S. Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage on Friday, but the office hasn’t issued any licenses yet, an official said Saturday.

Tennessee officials had prepared county clerks for the landmark 5-4 decision. An email from the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office advised county clerks that Friday’s ruling made it legal for same-sex couples to marry. County clerks in the state’s 95 counties were advised to comply promptly, and implementing the federal court’s decision began immediately.

Anderson County Clerk Jeff Cole said residents could get same-sex marriage licenses starting at about 1 p.m. Friday (June 26), after county clerks received guidance on the issue.

“We had a few phone calls, but we didn’t issue any licenses yesterday,” Cole said Saturday. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Faith, Federal, Front Page News, Government, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Clerk, Fourteenth Amendment, Jeff Cole, Kentucky, marriage, Michigan, Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, Obergefell v. Hodges, Ohio, same-sex marriage, same-sex marriage license, Supreme Court, Tanco v. Haslam, Tennessee, Tennessee Attorney General's Office, U.S. Supreme Court

Local church makes plans for same-sex weddings after expected Supreme Court decision

Posted at 12:02 pm June 19, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church

The U.S. Supreme Court will soon rule on the constitutionality of same-sex marriage, and Tennessee residents and state government officials are waiting to see how the Court’s decision will affect the state’s policy. In the midst of the wait, Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church has begun making plans, a press release said.

“In keeping with our beliefs and to offer a sense of love and support to same-sex couples, ORUUC will offer free wedding services and a reception for same-sex couples as soon as the County Clerks’ offices are able to issue licenses,” ORUUC minister Reverend Jake Morrill said in the release. “Those who plan to marry should call the church office to request a time to speak with one of our ministers prior to the wedding day.”

“In the Book of Ruth, when Ruth tells Naomi, ‘Where you go, I will go; your people will be my people,’ people don’t get caught up with the gender,” said ORUUC Minister of Faith Formation Reverend Tandy Scheffler. “What they hear is love. What counts in this life is love. And at ORUUC, we are ready to bless public commitments of love between couples who’ve waited too long for the rights and honor denied to their families.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Churches, Community, Faith, Federal, Front Page News, Government, Top Stories Tagged With: 14th Amendment, Christine Purcell, Jake Morrill, Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, ORUUC, same-sex couples, same-sex marriage, same-sex weddings, Supreme Court, Tandy Scheffler, wedding services

Gov. Haslam, Bredesen to discuss Amendment 2 at UT on Wednesday

Posted at 11:34 am September 15, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Governor Bill Haslam

Bill Haslam

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and former Governor Phil Bredesen will discuss a constitutional amendment that could affect the judicial system during a Wednesday celebration of Constitution Day at the University of Tennessee.

Amendment 2 to the Tennessee Constitution will be on the ballot in November. It proposes new checks and balances to the governor’s appointment of Supreme Court and intermediate appellate court judges. It also protects the rights of Tennesseans to vote to retain or replace those judges in retention elections, UT said in a press release.

Haslam and Bredesen will discuss the amendment at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Toyota Auditorium of the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy. The discussion will be moderated by Doug Blaze, dean of UT’s College of Law.

It’s part of the Baker Center’s celebration of Constitution Day on Wednesday. Free and open to the public, the day’s events will also include: [Read more…]

Filed Under: College, Education, Government, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Amendment 1, Amendment 2, appellate court, Baker Center, Bill Haslam, College of Law, Constitution, Constitution Day, constitutional amendment, Doug Blaze, Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy, judges, Mary English, Phil Bredesen, retention elections, Supreme Court, U.S. Constitution, University of Tennessee, UT

Guest column: Tennessee retention elections explained by LWVTN

Posted at 12:34 am August 6, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Guest Columns Leave a Comment

By League Issues: Making Democracy Work

On August 7, Tennesseans will vote in a statewide retention election for appellate judges. Included are three of the five Tennessee Supreme Court justices as well as judges currently sitting on the Court of Appeals and Court of Criminal Appeals.

The August 7 retention election represents the last such election under the much-respected Tennessee Plan—the 40-plus year plan for merit selection and retention of appellate judges. The plan was designed to reduce partisanship and outside influences in electing and retaining our appellate judges. The final phase of the plan—merit retention—expired June 30, 2014.

This year’s retention election is particularly important. Fair and impartial court supporters in our state—including Governor Haslam—are concerned about media reports that the three Supreme Court justices seeking retention in Tennessee might become the targets of heavily financed campaigns organized by groups outside the state. There have been reports of such campaigns targeting high court justices in several other states across our nation.

What does merit retention mean? [Read more…]

Filed Under: Guest Columns, Opinion Tagged With: appellate judges, Attorney General, Cornelia Clark, court advocates, Court of Appeals, Court of Criminal Appeals, fair and impartial, fair and impartial courts, Gary Wade, job performance, JPEC, Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission, justices, League of Women Voters, League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, Mary Ann Reeves, merit retention, merit selection, Patrick Bryan, retention election, Sharon Lee, Supreme Court, Tennessee Plan, Tennessee Supreme Court

Guest column: UU minister responds to historic decisions on marriage equality

Posted at 8:31 pm June 28, 2013
By Jake Morrill 3 Comments

As one ordained to spread the good news of the unending power of love in this world, this week I celebrate the Supreme Court decisions on marriage equality and that the Defense of Marriage Act has been declared unconstitutional.

The faith I affirm challenges me to speak and act for justice for all who express their love in the commitment of marriage.  Support for marriage equality is in scriptures and traditions that proclaim overriding messages of love, justice, and inclusion of those on the margins of society. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Guest Columns Tagged With: Christian, civil marriage, Defense of Marriage Act, Jake Morrill, marriage, marriage equality, religious traditions, same-sex couples, sexual orientations, Supreme Court, unconstitutional, United States

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Classifieds

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

Public notice: Draft environmental assessment for Y-12 Development Organization at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

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