TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Feb 2, 2026

A federal judge will allow a group of taxpayers to intervene in a lawsuit from a Christian nonprofit seeking to open a religious charter school in Knox County. U.S. District Judge Charles Atchley Jr. last week granted a motion allowing a group of citizens to oppose the lawsuit from Wilberforce Academy, Knox News reports. The judge said the group’s motion is timely and of legal interest because the members oppose using tax dollars to support religion. Wilberforce is suing the board to obtain approval for a faith-based school in Cedar Bluff. The board argues that it cannot authorize a religious charter without a state waiver. It will meet Thursday to discuss a resolution asking the Tennessee Commissioner of Education to grant such a waiver.