NASHVILLE (AP) – Gov. Bill Haslam and the Legislature's two speakers have announced a joint proposal to address how judges are selected in Tennessee.

The three Republicans have said they oppose the popular election of Supreme Court justices.

They proposed a constitutional amendment on Wednesday that would allow judges to be nominated by a commission based on merit, appointed by the governor, and elected in a retention election as they currently are.

They say legislation will also be filed to extend the Judicial Nominating Commission and the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission until at least 2015, which they hope will allow enough time for the amendment to be considered.

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