A Tennessee state court judge has temporarily blocked Republican Governor Bill Lee's deployment of National Guard troops to the city of Memphis, ruling the use of troops was likely not legal under the state's militia law.

Chancellor Patricia Head Moskal of the Davidson County Chancery Court in Nashville said the militia law required Tennessee's General Assembly to call in the National Guard for public safety.

She ruled on Monday that crime rates in Memphis were not a "grave emergency" or "disaster" that would authorise Lee to send troops in his role as commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.

Her order blocks the governor from "continuing the activation and deployment of Tennessee National Guard personnel" pending further court proceedings.

But it will not take effect for fiv

See Full Page