STEPHEN L. HUGHES ET AL. v. BILL LEE ET AL.

W2025-01327-COA-R3-CV

Case Overview

Inter. Case No. Style Trial Court Trial Court Judge Trial Court No.
STEPHEN L. HUGHES ET AL. v. BILL LEE ET AL. Gibson County (Trenton) Chancery Court Mansfield, Michael 24475

Case Milestones

Description Date
Appeal Filed 09/02/2025
Record Filed 11/06/2025
Appellant(s) Briefing Complete 01/06/2026
Appellee(s) Briefing Complete 03/06/2026
Oral Argument/Submission 06/23/2026
Panel Andy D. Bennett; Carma Dennis McGee; Valerie L. Smith
Decision Date
Decision Type
Disposition
Appeal to S. Ct. Date
Closed Date

Parties

Names Role Counsel
Hughes, Stephen L. Appellee/Plaintiff Harris III, John Isaac
GOVERNOR, STATE OF TENNESSEE Appellant/Defendant Groves Jr., Edwin Alan
Commissioner, TN. Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security Appellant/Defendant Groves Jr., Edwin Alan
Commissioner, TN. Dept. of Environment & Conservation Appellant/Defendant Groves Jr., Edwin Alan
District Attorney General - 28th Judicial District Appellant/Defendant Groves Jr., Edwin Alan
STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL Appellant/Defendant Groves Jr., Edwin Alan
O'Mara, Duncan Appellee/Plaintiff Harris III, John Isaac
Kehel, Elaine Appellee/Plaintiff Harris III, John Isaac
Gun Owners of America Appellee/Plaintiff Harris III, John Isaac
Gun Owners Foundation Appellee/Plaintiff Harris III, John Isaac

Case History

Date Event Filer PDF
06/24/2026 Brief (Other)-Supplemental Authority Filed Gun Owners Foundation (Appellee/Plaintiff); Gun Owners of America (Appellee/Plaintiff); Hughes, Stephen L. (Appellee/Plaintiff); Kehel, Elaine (Appellee/Plaintiff); O'Mara, Duncan (Appellee/Plaintiff)
06/23/2026 Docket Activity-Heard
06/22/2026 Brief (Other)-Supplemental Authority Filed Gun Owners Foundation (Appellee/Plaintiff); Gun Owners of America (Appellee/Plaintiff); Hughes, Stephen L. (Appellee/Plaintiff); Kehel, Elaine (Appellee/Plaintiff); O'Mara, Duncan (Appellee/Plaintiff)
06/17/2026 Docket Activity-Attorney Confirmed Oral Argument
06/17/2026 Docket Activity-Attorney Confirmed Oral Argument
05/18/2026 Notice (Incoming)-Miscellaneous Court Forms Gun Owners Foundation (Appellee/Plaintiff); Gun Owners of America (Appellee/Plaintiff); Hughes, Stephen L. (Appellee/Plaintiff); Kehel, Elaine (Appellee/Plaintiff); O'Mara, Duncan (Appellee/Plaintiff)
05/12/2026 Docket Activity-Attorney Confirmed Oral Argument
05/11/2026 Brief (Other)-Supplemental Authority Filed Commissioner, TN. Dept. of Environment & Conservation (Appellant/Defendant); Commissioner, TN. Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security (Appellant/Defendant); District Attorney General - 28th Judicial District (Appellant/Defendant); GOVERNOR, STATE OF TENNESSEE (Appellant/Defendant)
05/08/2026 Docket Activity-Docketed (Oral Argument)
04/01/2026 Brief (Other)-Supplemental Authority Filed Commissioner, TN. Dept. of Environment & Conservation (Appellant/Defendant); Commissioner, TN. Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security (Appellant/Defendant); District Attorney General - 28th Judicial District (Appellant/Defendant); GOVERNOR, STATE OF TENNESSEE (Appellant/Defendant); STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Appellant/Defendant)
03/20/2026 Brief (Other)-Amicus Brief Filed Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (Amicus Curiae)
03/20/2026 Brief (Other)-Amicus Brief Filed Foundation for Judicial Reform (Amicus Curiae)
03/20/2026 Order-Amicus - Leave to File Brief Granted PDF
03/19/2026 Brief-Reply Brief Filed Commissioner, TN. Dept. of Environment & Conservation (Appellant/Defendant); Commissioner, TN. Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security (Appellant/Defendant); District Attorney General - 28th Judicial District (Appellant/Defendant); GOVERNOR, STATE OF TENNESSEE (Appellant/Defendant); STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Appellant/Defendant)
03/13/2026 Brief (Other)-Amicus Brief Lodged Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (Amicus Curiae)
03/13/2026 Motion-Amicus Request for Participation Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (Amicus Curiae) PDF PDF
03/12/2026 Brief (Other)-Amicus Brief Lodged Foundation for Judicial Reform (Amicus Curiae)
03/12/2026 Motion-Amicus Request for Participation Foundation for Judicial Reform (Amicus Curiae) PDF PDF
03/06/2026 Case Status-APPELLEE BRIEFING COMPLETE
03/06/2026 Brief-Appellee's Brief Filed Gun Owners Foundation (Appellee/Plaintiff); Gun Owners of America (Appellee/Plaintiff); Hughes, Stephen L. (Appellee/Plaintiff); Kehel, Elaine (Appellee/Plaintiff); O'Mara, Duncan (Appellee/Plaintiff)
02/20/2026 Notice (Incoming)-Notice of Appearance Filed Foundation for Judicial Reform (Amicus Curiae)
01/15/2026 Administrative Order-Extension Granted PDF
01/14/2026 Motion for Extension to File-Brief Gun Owners Foundation (Appellee/Plaintiff); Gun Owners of America (Appellee/Plaintiff); Hughes, Stephen L. (Appellee/Plaintiff); Kehel, Elaine (Appellee/Plaintiff); O'Mara, Duncan (Appellee/Plaintiff) PDF PDF
01/06/2026 Case Status-APPELLANT BRIEFING COMPLETE
01/06/2026 Brief-Appellant's Brief Filed Commissioner, TN. Dept. of Environment & Conservation (Appellant/Defendant); Commissioner, TN. Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security (Appellant/Defendant); District Attorney General - 28th Judicial District (Appellant/Defendant); GOVERNOR, STATE OF TENNESSEE (Appellant/Defendant); STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Appellant/Defendant)
11/24/2025 Administrative Order-Extension Granted PDF
11/24/2025 Motion for Extension to File-Brief Commissioner, TN. Dept. of Environment & Conservation (Appellant/Defendant); Commissioner, TN. Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security (Appellant/Defendant); District Attorney General - 28th Judicial District (Appellant/Defendant); GOVERNOR, STATE OF TENNESSEE (Appellant/Defendant); STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Appellant/Defendant) PDF PDF
11/07/2025 Notice (Incoming)-Notice of Appearance Filed Commissioner, TN. Dept. of Environment & Conservation (Appellant/Defendant); Commissioner, TN. Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security (Appellant/Defendant); District Attorney General - 28th Judicial District (Appellant/Defendant); GOVERNOR, STATE OF TENNESSEE (Appellant/Defendant); STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Appellant/Defendant) PDF PDF
11/06/2025 Appellate Record-Original Filed
10/22/2025 Appellate Record-Original Received
09/30/2025 Order-Stay (TRAP 7) Granted PDF
09/26/2025 Response-to Motion Gun Owners Foundation (Appellee/Plaintiff); Gun Owners of America (Appellee/Plaintiff); Hughes, Stephen L. (Appellee/Plaintiff); Kehel, Elaine (Appellee/Plaintiff); O'Mara, Duncan (Appellee/Plaintiff)
09/17/2025 Order Related to Extension-Granted PDF
09/17/2025 Notice (Incoming)-Miscellaneous Court Forms Gun Owners Foundation (Appellee/Plaintiff); Gun Owners of America (Appellee/Plaintiff); Hughes, Stephen L. (Appellee/Plaintiff); Kehel, Elaine (Appellee/Plaintiff); O'Mara, Duncan (Appellee/Plaintiff)
09/17/2025 Motion for Extension to File-Response Gun Owners Foundation (Appellee/Plaintiff); Gun Owners of America (Appellee/Plaintiff); Hughes, Stephen L. (Appellee/Plaintiff); Kehel, Elaine (Appellee/Plaintiff); O'Mara, Duncan (Appellee/Plaintiff) PDF PDF
09/15/2025 Motion-Stay (Review of TCt Order TRAP 7) Commissioner, TN. Dept. of Environment & Conservation (Appellant/Defendant); Commissioner, TN. Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security (Appellant/Defendant); District Attorney General - 28th Judicial District (Appellant/Defendant); GOVERNOR, STATE OF TENNESSEE (Appellant/Defendant); STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Appellant/Defendant)
09/12/2025 Notice (Incoming)-Miscellaneous Court Forms Commissioner, TN. Dept. of Environment & Conservation (Appellant/Defendant); Commissioner, TN. Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security (Appellant/Defendant); District Attorney General - 28th Judicial District (Appellant/Defendant); GOVERNOR, STATE OF TENNESSEE (Appellant/Defendant); STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Appellant/Defendant) PDF PDF
09/03/2025 Notice (Incoming)-Correspondence Received Gibson County (Trenton) Chancery Court (Trial Court Clerk)
09/03/2025 Bond-Bond Not Needed
09/02/2025 Initiating Document-TRAP 3 Notice of Appeal Filed Commissioner, TN. Dept. of Environment & Conservation (Appellant/Defendant); Commissioner, TN. Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security (Appellant/Defendant); District Attorney General - 28th Judicial District (Appellant/Defendant); GOVERNOR, STATE OF TENNESSEE (Appellant/Defendant); STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Appellant/Defendant) PDF PDF
**NOTE: The case history section will include a column that will allow for the display of permitted documents in a PDF format.

Record Information

Volume Type Volumes Record Type
Technical Record 7 Original
Transcript of Evidence 4 Original