TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Apr 13, 2022

The Tennessee Supreme Court today vacated an injunction issued by a three-judge panel that prevented enforcement of a redistricting plan enacted by the General Assembly for state Senate districts. The lower court had issued the injunction after finding the map violated the state constitution. It gave the legislature 15 days to rectify the map and extended the filing deadline for Senate candidates. The state appealed to the Court of Appeals, but the Tennessee Supreme Court, on its own motion, granted appeal, saying the case raised issues of compelling public interest. Today the court said the lower court failed to “adequately consider the harm the injunction will have on the election officials and also failed to adequately consider the public interest in ensuring orderly elections and avoiding voter confusion.” The court vacated the injunction and set a new filing deadline of 4 p.m. tomorrow. Justice Sharon G. Lee dissented from the majority opinion.