Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche praised Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti after the Tennessee Court of Appeals handed down a ruling clearing the way for the continued deployment of the National Guard assisting with efforts under the Memphis Safe Task Force.
In the decision released Tuesday, a three-judge panel found that all of the seven plaintiffs – including Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris as well as several state and local lawmakers – lacked legal standing to bring the case.
“After considering the excellent briefs and oral arguments from by both sides, we have concluded that there is one issue that clearly resolves this case. That issue is standing,” Judge Andy D. Bennett wrote in the majority opinion, which was joined by Judges Frank G. Clement and Jeffrey Usman.
Blanche praised Skrmetti and his office’s work in securing Tuesday’s ruling, calling it an “outstanding victory.”
Congratulations to @AGTennessee on this outstanding victory! We were proud to file a brief in support of Tennessee’s efforts to Make Memphis Safe Again. Thanks to the great work of the Memphis Safe Task Force, homicides in Memphis have plummeted by 41%, aggravated assaults by… https://t.co/KIAquTw8qc
— Acting AG Todd Blanche (@DAGToddBlanche) April 28, 2026
The acting attorney general further said he was “proud” of the U.S. Department of Justice for its filing of an amicus brief backing Tennessee’s appeal earlier this year.
Blanche added, “Thanks to the great work of the Memphis Safe Task Force, homicides in Memphis have plummeted by 41%, aggravated assaults by 32%, sexual assaults by 36%, robberies by 51%, and motor vehicle thefts by 66%.”
The appellate court’s ruling effectively nullifies an earlier order from Tennessee Chancery Court Judge Patricia Head Moskal of Davidson County, who had granted a temporary injunction in November 2025 and concluded that the plaintiffs had standing and were likely to succeed on key claims, temporarily blocking deployment.
Tuesday’s decision removes the basis for any court-ordered halt to the National Guard’s involvement. The case now returns to the lower court without the injunction in place.
Skrmetti called the ruling a “big win for Memphis and a big win for Tennessee.”
“The Governor’s activation of the National Guard has provided critical support for the lifesaving work of the Memphis Safe Task Force. This significant Court of Appeals opinion recognizes that an elected official who disagrees with this effort does not have the right to veto the Governor by filing a lawsuit. When elected officials disagree about policy, we resolve that at the ballot box, not the courts,” Skrmetti added.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X.
