Every eight years, Tennessee's state judges go before voters and ask to keep their jobs. Based on a system adopted in Missouri decades ago, Tennessee's approach was designed to limit partisanship in the judiciary by letting the people ratify appointments made by the state's governor. Usually, these elections are sleepy affairs. Not this year. In the weeks leading up to the Aug. 7 election, outside groups known for spending to influence presidential and congressional elections have been buying television and radio ads targeting three state supreme court justices.
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