The process is not yet formally under way to select the next chancellor, but Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts public information office Sue Allison said on Monday applications will soon be accepted.

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"We simply haven't had time to do that," said Allison. "It's the same process by the Judicial Selection Commission."

Qualified attorneys will be able to apply when the deadline is set, said Allison.

The format to guide the commission's choice is a public hearing followed by private interviews.

The commission then chooses three names and forwards them to Gov. Phil Bredesen for his consideration.

Allison said appellate court choices put forth by the commission can be rejected entirely, but at the trial level, like the chancery court, the governor can choose one person.