A Davidson County judge is mulling issuing an injunction on deployment of the Tennessee National Guard to Memphis. (Photo: Karen Pulfer Focht/Tennessee Lookut)

The Tennessee Attorney General’s Office argued Monday against removing the National Guard from Memphis, claiming the governor has authority to mobilize them even without action by the legislature or local government bodies.

The claims countered a challenge in Davidson County Chancery Court by Democratic state lawmakers and Memphis officials who say Gov. Bill Lee violated state law and the Constitution by mobilizing troops for police work as part of the Memphis Safe Task Force.

Davidson County Chancellor Patricia Moskal did not decide Monday whether to grant an injunction that would remove the National Guard from Memphis.

Moskal

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