The Tennessee state court temporarily blocked Governor Bill Lee's plan to deploy National Guard troops to Memphis, ruling the proposed use likely violates the state's militia law. The order halts the deployment while the court reviews the legal question. The decision is temporary and may be reconsidered as the case moves forward.
Tennessee Judge Temporarily Blocks Gov. Lee's National Guard Deployment to Memphis
The Tennessee state court temporarily blocked Governor Bill Lee's plan to deploy National Guard troops to Memphis, ruling the proposed use likely violates the state's militia law. The order halts the deployment while the court reviews the legal question. The decision is temporary and may be reconsidered as the case moves forward.
06:21 PM, 11/18/2025Politics
Tennessee judge halts National Guard deployment to Memphis
NEW YORK (Reuters) — In a state court ruling on Monday, a Tennessee judge temporarily blocked Republican Governor Bill Lee's plan to deploy National Guard troops to the city of Memphis, finding that the planned use of the troops was likely not lawful under Tennessee's militia law.
The order pauses the deployment while the court considers the legal question. The judge concluded the state's militia statute likely does not authorize the proposed use of the Guard in this instance, effectively preventing the deployment from proceeding until the issue is resolved in court.
Court finding: The use of National Guard troops in the manner proposed was likely not legal under Tennessee's militia law.
The decision is temporary and may be revisited as the legal challenge progresses through the state courts. Officials on both sides — including the governor's office and the parties who brought the challenge — can seek further review or clarification from the court.
(Reporting by Dietrich Knauth; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)