U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee Mike Dunavant has joined the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in filing an amicus brief in support of the State of Tennessee’s appeal over a legal challenge to Governor Bill Lee’s deployment of the Tennessee National Guard in Memphis.
The case, Mayor Lee Harris et al. v. Governor Bill Lee et al., was filed by Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and several state lawmakers in the Chancery Court of Davidson County. Their complaint raised constitutional and statutory objections to the Guard’s mobilization in support of the Memphis Safe Task Force.
U.S. Attorney Dunavant Files Amicus Brief in Support of State of Tennessee Appeal in National Guard Case
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In November, Tennessee Chancery Court Judge Patricia Head Moskal granted a temporary injunction against the deployment but stayed the injunction pending the State’s appeal.
As noted by Dunavant’s office, the injunction also affects a federal request from President Donald Trump for the Tennessee National Guard to assist local law enforcement operations in Memphis.
The DOJ, citing a substantial interest in the litigation, filed the amicus brief to support the State’s position and assist the court in resolving the appeal.
The Tennessee Court of Appeals has expedited the case, scheduling oral arguments for March 5, 2026, at the Tennessee Supreme Court building in Nashville.
U.S. Attorney Dunavant (pictured here), who was sworn into the role last October, highlighted the importance of the Guard in the task force’s success, stating, “The Tennessee National Guard has played a critical role in the unprecedented success of the Memphis Safe Task Force.
“As the chief federal law enforcement officer in West Tennessee, I am proud to stand with General Skrmetti in defending the constitutionality of Governor Lee’s exercise of executive authority and continuing to work with the Tennessee National Guard in protecting Memphians,” Dunavant added.
The Memphis Safe Task Force has made more than 5,400 arrests, confiscated hundreds of firearms, and achieved substantial reductions in crime across the city since its launch on September 29, 2025.
Under the task force, guardsmen support law enforcement by maintaining a visible presence and assisting with community safety patrols.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
