TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Julia Wilburn on Jun 26, 2025

California legal scholar Eugene Volokh has filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging Tennessee’s law that limits public records access to state residents. After being denied court records by the Williamson County Archives due to his California residency, Volokh argues the restriction violates his rights under the First Amendment and the Privileges and Immunities Clause. His suit contends that court records are essential for his academic research and that denying access based on residency is an unjust barrier. Although the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a similar Virginia law, Volokh asserts his case is different because it involves constitutional, not merely statutory, rights. The Nashville Banner has the story.