KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Two appellate court judges and a lawyer from Memphis are the three finalists to be the state's next Supreme Court justice.

The finalists include Kyle Hixson, a former Knox County prosecutor who has quickly risen from trial court judge in Knox County to the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals' eastern section.

The other candidates are J. Ross Dyer of the Court of Criminal Appeals' western section and Shea Sisk Wellford, a longtime attorney with a Memphis law firm Martin, Tate, Morrow & Marston.

The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments met Tuesday in Nashville to narrow a pool of interested candidates to three.

It'll be up to Gov. Bill Lee to make the final pick.

Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Holly Kirby announced in September her plans to retire from the be

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