TN Judge Temporarily Blocks House Rule Prohibiting Signs, Lawsuit Filed Against Cameron Sexton And Others
Image Credit: capitol.tn.gov
The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –
Following the removal of three gun control activists from a House subcommittee meeting on Tuesday, a lawsuit was filed against House leadership and a Davidson County judge has now temporarily blocked a new House rule against the usage of signs.
When Tennessee’s special session on public safety began on Monday afternoon, prompted by The Covenant School shooting in March of this year, the House of Representatives adopted a set of rules.
This is done by both the House and Senate each time they gather for a legislative session.
However, this particular set of rules included a provision stating, “No voice or noise amplification devices, flags, signs, or banners shall be permitted in the galleries of the House of Representatives.”
Further discussion on the House floor clarified that this rule would also stand for House committee meetings unless otherwise dictated by a committee chairperson.
The rule was likely adopted in an attempt to avoid any disruptions similar to those that occurred during this year’s official legislative session in the aftermath of The Covenant School shooting.
Several legislative workdays were significantly disrupted by both protestors in the gallery and elected officials on the House floor, urging gun control via protests which involved booing and chanting, as well as the usage of signs, flags, banners, bullhorns and more.
This new rule was enforced on Tuesday, by state troopers during a meeting of the House Civil Justice subcommittee when three Tennesseans holding up paper signs promoting gun control, ignored the committee’s request to lower the signs.
Subcommittee Chair Lowell Russell (R-Vonore-District 21) also had the rest of the public removed from the room after audience members clapped multiple times.
Clapping, cheering, booing, and other loud noises are behaviors not typically allowed from members of the public or their elected officials during legislative debate.
On Wednesday, the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee (ACLU-TN) filed a lawsuit in the Chancery Court of Davidson County on behalf of the three individuals initially removed from the committee meeting, Allison Polidor, Erica Bowton, and Maryam Abolfazli.
According to the legal complaint, the suit was brought against Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville-District 25), Chief Clerk of the House Tammy Letzler, Sergeant-At-Arms Bobby Trotter, and Colonel of the Tennessee Highway Patrol Matt Perry.
The lawsuit sought “an emergency temporary restraining order to immediately stop the ban on signs,” arguing that the House rule was in violation of free speech.
That same day, Chancellor Anne C. Martin responded by issuing a temporary restraining order against the Tennessee House of Representatives, effectively blocking the legislative body’s new rule prohibiting signs in the galleries.
“We applaud the court for taking swift action to protect the free speech rights of Tennesseans,” said ACLU-TN Executive Director Kathryn Sinback.
According to ACLU-TN Legal Director Stella Yarbrough, “These rules are unreasonable,” and the ban on signs “directly undermines Tennesseans’ First Amendment right to express their opinions on issues that affect them and their families.”
A hearing on this temporary injunction has been scheduled for September 5th, at 10am (CT).
About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
Is this a Judicial overreach? I do believe that TC, like USC, assigns each House of the Legislature authority to ‘make their own rules.’
TN’s Constitution at Article II, section 12 appears relevant and unambiguous.
I thought this piece pretty closely describes this phenom of raw emotion attempting to influence lawmakers that we observed this week at the Statehouse. My impression is these people so concerned with public safety are more concerned with finding someone to assuage their primal fears, the ones that have been largely manufactured by the interests who benefit from burning it all down.
https://alt-market.us/understanding-the-parasitic-cooperation-between-globalists-and-leftists/
All have the right to contact THEIR representatives to express their viewpoints. The REPRESENTATIVES then convey the wishes of their constituents when speaking and voting in the TN House or Senate. Bull horns or other noise makers as well as signs should not be allowed on the floor nor in the gallery (which allows visitors to WATCH the proceedings, not PARTICIPATE in them). This is NOT a free speech issue. This is not be the appropriate time to communicate with those you have elected to represent you.
Yup, lucifer’s ACLU, always with their nose where it’s neither wanted nor needed.
Correct. Saul Alinsky would be proud of his followers.