In brief
A Davidson County judge has blocked Governor Bill Lee's decision to deploy the National Guard in Memphis under an initiative promoted by President Trump. The ruling supports local officials who claim that the governor lacks the authority for such deployment without legislative approval. The state has a five-day window to appeal the ruling, as concerns about high crime rates in Memphis continue to rise.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee judge on Monday blocked the use of the National Guard in Memphis under a crimefighting operation by President Donald Trump, but also put the order on hold, giving the government five days to appeal. Davidson County Chancellor Patricia Head Moskal’s decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by Democratic state and local officials who argued that Republican Gov. Bill Lee cannot deploy the Tennessee National Guard for civil unrest unless there is rebellion or invasion, and this would also require legislative action. Furthermore, the plaintiffs claimed that there needs to be a request from local governments for Guard deployment during scenarios involving a breakdown of law and order.The state's position, however, holds that Tennessee law grants the governor the authority to send the Guard whenever he deems necessary. Following the ruling, Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris expressed his satisfaction with the decision, viewing it as a positive step toward enforcing the rule of law. Since the National Guard's deployment on October 10, the troops have been patrolling various neighborhoods in Memphis while wielding no arrest powers. The initiative was part of the Memphis Safe Task Force, created to address the city's ongoing issues with violent crime. While recent statistics show some improvement in crime rates, officials admit that violence remains a significant problem in Memphis. Mayor Paul Young stated that he did not initially request the Guard’s presence, emphasizing the need to focus on targeting violent offenders.
