The Tennessee Chancery Court reported that Chancellor Patricia Head Moskal has temporarily blocked Gov. Bill Lee’s National Guard deployment, ruling crime levels did not meet the constitutional threshold. Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti announced an appeal, while Lee’s office defended the move. The injunction took effect with a $50,000 bond and does not affect the separate federal task force.
Moskal wrote that the state constitution allows militia activation only in cases of rebellion or invasion. Plaintiffs argued Lee failed to formally notify the Memphis City Council, the Shelby County Commission, or the General Assembly before deploying the Guard.
Moskal stated, “The absence of a clear documentary record establishing any request made directly to Governor Lee or a command or order by Governor Lee activating the Tennessee National Guard makes it difficult for the court to evaluate the circumstances of and purposes for the Tennessee National Guard’s activation and deployment to Memphis.”…