A RESOLUTION to call a joint convention of the Senate and House of Representatives for the purpose of voting on the confirmation of Judge Valerie Smith to the Tennessee Court of Appeals, Western Section, and Judge Steven Sword to the Tennessee Court of Appeals, Eastern Section, pursuant to Article VI, Section 3 of the Constitution of Tennessee and Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 17, Chapter 4.

This resolution calls for a meeting of both the Senate and House of Representatives in Tennessee to vote on the confirmation of two judges appointed by the governor. The judges are Valerie Smith for the Western Section and Steven Sword for the Eastern Section of the Tennessee Court of Appeals. The resolution is a formal step required by the state constitution for confirming judicial appointments.

TN SJR0307 is a senate bill in the Tennessee 114th General Assembly, sponsored by Jack Johnson (R), currently “Passed” since March 24, 2025.

We track 9,160 Tennessee bills this session, 353 of them sponsored by Jack Johnson.

Supporters of this resolution would highlight the importance of confirming qualified judges to ensure a fair and effective judicial system in Tennessee. They would emphasize that both Judge Smith and Judge Sword bring valuable experience and expertise to their respective courts, which will benefit the state's legal landscape.

Critics might argue that the confirmation process is merely a formality that lacks transparency and accountability. They could express concerns about potential political motivations behind the governor's appointments and question whether these judges truly represent the interests of the public.

The bill SJR0307 is a resolution to confirm judges to the Tennessee Court of Appeals, which does not directly intersect with the sponsor Jack Johnson's personal financial interests. Johnson's primary occupation is as Vice President of Client Relations at CIGNA Healthcare, which operates in the health services industry, while the bill pertains to judicial appointments. Additionally, his ownership of a small business consulting firm and other investments do not have a direct connection to the judicial confirmation process outlined in the bill. The absence of any financial interests in the legal or judicial sectors further minimizes the potential for conflicts of interest.

Moreover, while Johnson has various investments in funds and companies, none of these investments appear to be affected by the confirmation of judges. The judicial appointments are unlikely to influence the operations of CIGNA Healthcare or his other business interests, as they are primarily focused on healthcare and consulting rather than legal matters. Therefore, the risk of personal financial gain influencing the legislative process in this instance is low.

Unlike federal analysis based on campaign donations, state analysis examines legislators' personal financial interests — their jobs, businesses, and investments.

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