Tennessee Judge Halts National Guard Deployment in Memphis Over Legal Dispute

Tue Nov 18 2025 06:52:26 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A Tennessee judge has temporarily blocked the deployment of the National Guard in Memphis under a crime-fighting initiative announced by President Trump, siding with local officials who raise concerns about its legality.

Davidson County Chancellor Patricia Head Moskal has put a hold on Republican Governor Bill Lee’s deployment of the National Guard in Memphis as part of a crime-fighting operation. The judge's ruling supports Democratic officials' assertion that state law requires legislative approval for such actions during civil unrest. Mayor Lee Harris welcomed the decision as a step towards accountability in governance, noting that Guard members, deployed without direct formal orders, lack arrest authority but have been patrolling affected neighborhoods. The state plans to appeal the ruling as they argue the Governor’s constitutional powers allow for deployment in troubled times.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Tennessee judge on Monday deemed the deployment of the National Guard in Memphis unconstitutional, emerging from a ruling that grants the state five days to appeal the injunction. Chancellor Patricia Head Moskal's decision underscores the legality concerns raised by local Democratic officials, who argue that Republican Governor Bill Lee's deployment of the National Guard amid rising crime lacks proper legislative backing.

The case arose from a lawsuit filed by several local leaders who contend that the governor requires explicit legislative approval to mobilize the Guard under conditions of civil unrest and also argue that such requests should originate from local government in specific scenarios, such as during a breakdown of law and order. Currently, Memphis has been facing high crime rates, leading to an unprecedented mobilization of military police-style patrols in various neighborhoods.

Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris expressed satisfaction with the injunction, stating it represented a progressive path towards ensuring legal principles are adhered to, specifically emphasizing that even high officials should be held accountable to statutory laws.

Critics noted that many citizens had not requested the Guard’s presence; however, once its deployment was initiated, some city leaders, including Mayor Paul Young, sought assurance it would effectively target violent offenders. The lawsuit challenges the legality of the mobilization, emphasizing that neither a formal order nor proper legislative approvals were executed before the initiative commenced.

Governor Lee has defended his actions, stating that as the commander-in-chief, he has both the right and responsibility to ensure state safety through resources at his disposal for public security. With the path to a possible appeal, the forthcoming weeks remain critical for the state and local jurisdictions in addressing their ongoing public safety strategies amidst escalating crime in Memphis.