TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Aug 4, 2025

Lenoir City Judge Gregg Harrison has been reinstated to the bench and will serve through the end of his original term in 2030, the News Herald reports. Harrison was removed from the post in March after city councilmember Robin McNabb — his opponent in the 2022 judicial election — won a Tennessee Supreme Court decision that Harrison, along with more than a dozen other municipal judges statewide, were disqualified under newly clarified residency requirements. In response to that decision, the General Assembly passed legislation (SB255/HB490) permitting judges elected or appointed before March 7, 2025, to retain their seats through their current terms, even if they no longer meet the revised residency criteria. In light of the new law, 9th Judicial District Chancellor Tom McFarland restored Harrison to the bench with back pay. McNabb has continued to challenge Harrison’s return, filing a new lawsuit claiming the statute is unconstitutional. City attorney Walter Johnson, who was named to the court when Harrison was removed, has returned to his original duties.