TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Oct 20, 2025

Davidson County Chancellor Patricia Head Moskal on Friday denied a motion for a restraining order in a lawsuit challenging Gov. Bill Lee’s deployment of the Tennessee National Guard to Memphis. Instead, she set a hearing on a temporary injunction for Nov. 3, according to the Commercial Appeal. Several local and state lawmakers filed the suit Friday against Lee and the state attorney general, seeking to immediately halt further National Guard activity. The lawsuit argues that Lee’s deployment violates the Tennessee Constitution and state law, citing a provision that states the militia “shall not be called into service except in case of rebellion or invasion, and then only when the General Assembly shall declare, by law, that the public safety requires it.” Gov. Lee's office defended the deployment saying, “The Tennessee National Guard is the state’s army under Tennessee law. As the commander-in-chief, Gov. Lee has the authority to authorize the Title 32 strategic mission to Memphis. We are confident the court will uphold the Governor’s constitutional authority.” WREG has more on that response.