CLATA RENEE BREWER ET AL. v. METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY ET AL.

M2024-01139-COA-R3-CV

Case Overview

Inter. Case No. Style Trial Court Trial Court Judge Trial Court No.
CLATA RENEE BREWER ET AL. v. METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY ET AL. Davidson County Chancery Court Myles, I'Ashea L. 23-538-III

Case Milestones

Description Date
Appeal Filed 07/31/2024
Record Filed 02/07/2025
Appellant(s) Briefing Complete 03/31/2025
Appellee(s) Briefing Complete 07/07/2025
Oral Argument/Submission 10/30/2025
Panel John W. McClarty; Thomas R. Frierson, II; Kristi M. Davis
Decision Date 02/04/2026
Decision Type Opinion
Disposition Affirm in Part
Appeal to S. Ct. Date 04/07/2026
Closed Date

Parties

Names Role Counsel
The Covenant School Appellee/Intervening Defendant Klett, Peter F.
Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson Co. Appellee/Defendant Fox, Lora Barkenbus
Parents of Minor Covenant Students Jane Doe and John Doe Appellee/Intervening Defendant Osborne, Eric Grant
The Tennessean Appellee/Plaintiff Hollow, Richard Lampton
Star News Digital Media, Inc. Appellant/Plaintiff Krog, Paul Joseph
Covenant Presbyterian Church of Nashville Appellee/Intervening Defendant King III, Rocklan W
Gardenhire, Todd Appellant/Plaintiff Hollow, Richard Lampton
Hammond, James Appellant/Plaintiff Harris III, John Isaac
Tennessee Firearms Association, Inc. Appellant/Plaintiff Harris III, John Isaac
Leahy, Michael P. Appellant/Plaintiff Krog, Paul Joseph
Wegner, Rachel Appellee/Plaintiff Hollow, Richard Lampton

Case History

Date Event Filer PDF
04/07/2026 Action-Case Appealed to Supreme Court
02/04/2026 Opinion-Filed PDF PDF
02/04/2026 Appellate Record-Checked In from Court
01/15/2026 Brief (Other)-Supplemental Authority Filed Leahy, Michael P. (Appellant/Plaintiff); Star News Digital Media, Inc. (Appellant/Plaintiff)
10/31/2025 Appellate Record-Checked Out to Court
10/30/2025 Docket Activity-Heard
10/29/2025 Notice (Incoming)-Correspondence Received WZTV Fox 17 (Non-Case Participant)
10/27/2025 Notice (Incoming)-Correspondence Received WSMV D/B/A WSMV TV (Non-Case Participant)
09/05/2025 Docket Activity-Attorney Confirmed Oral Argument
09/05/2025 Docket Activity-Attorney Confirmed Oral Argument
09/04/2025 Docket Activity-Attorney Confirmed Oral Argument
09/03/2025 Docket Activity-Docketed (Oral Argument)
08/22/2025 Order-Reserving Judgment on Filing PDF
08/22/2025 Docket Activity-Case Removed From Docket
08/14/2025 Docket Activity-Docketed - 10 Day Notice
08/08/2025 Brief-Reply Brief Filed Leahy, Michael P. (Appellant/Plaintiff); Star News Digital Media, Inc. (Appellant/Plaintiff)
08/08/2025 Motion-Consider Post-Judgment Facts Leahy, Michael P. (Appellant/Plaintiff); Star News Digital Media, Inc. (Appellant/Plaintiff) PDF PDF
08/07/2025 Brief-Reply Brief Filed Hammond, James (Appellant/Plaintiff)
07/22/2025 Brief (Other)-Amicus Brief Filed Franklin Road Academy (Amicus Curiae); Montgomery Bell Academy (Amicus Curiae); Oak Hill School (Amicus Curiae); St. Paul Christian Academy (Amicus Curiae)
07/22/2025 Order-Amicus - Leave to File Brief Granted PDF
07/11/2025 Brief (Other)-Amicus Brief Lodged Franklin Road Academy (Amicus Curiae); Montgomery Bell Academy (Amicus Curiae); Oak Hill School (Amicus Curiae); St. Paul Christian Academy (Amicus Curiae)
07/11/2025 Motion-Amicus Request for Participation Franklin Road Academy (Amicus Curiae); Montgomery Bell Academy (Amicus Curiae); Oak Hill School (Amicus Curiae); St. Paul Christian Academy (Amicus Curiae) PDF PDF
07/07/2025 Case Status-APPELLEE BRIEFING COMPLETE
07/03/2025 Brief-Appellee's Brief Filed Covenant Presbyterian Church of Nashville (Appellee/Intervening Defendant); The Covenant School (Appellee/Intervening Defendant)
07/03/2025 Brief-Appellee's Brief Filed Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson Co. (Appellee/Defendant)
07/03/2025 Brief-Appellee's Brief Filed Parents of Minor Covenant Students Jane Doe and John Doe (Appellee/Intervening Defendant)
06/03/2025 Order Related to Extension-Granted PDF
06/03/2025 Motion for Extension to File-Brief Covenant Presbyterian Church of Nashville (Appellee/Intervening Defendant); Gardenhire, Todd (Appellant/Plaintiff); Hammond, James (Appellant/Plaintiff); Parents of Minor Covenant Students Jane Doe and John Doe (Appellee/Intervening Defendant); Star News Digital Media, Inc. (Appellant/Plaintiff); Tennessee Firearms Association, Inc. (Appellant/Plaintiff); The Covenant School (Appellee/Intervening Defendant); Leahy, Michael P. (Appellant/Plaintiff); Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson Co. (Appellee/Defendant) PDF PDF PDF
05/30/2025 Order to Show Cause-Filed PDF
05/09/2025 Order Related to Extension-Granted PDF
05/08/2025 Motion-Supplemental Motion The Covenant School (Appellee/Intervening Defendant) PDF PDF PDF PDF
05/08/2025 Motion for Extension to File-Brief The Covenant School (Appellee/Intervening Defendant) PDF PDF PDF PDF
05/02/2025 Administrative Order-Appellee Brief Not Filed PDF
04/17/2025 Brief (Other)-Amicus Brief Filed Aufderheide, Patricia (Amicus Curiae); First Amendment Coalition (Amicus Curiae); Fishman, Joseph (Amicus Curiae); Freedom of the Press Foundation (Amicus Curiae); Ghosh, Shubha (Amicus Curiae); Gibbons, Llewellyn Joseph (Amicus Curiae); Goodman, Ellen P. (Amicus Curiae); Lerner, Jack (Amicus Curiae); Malone, Matt (Amicus Curiae); Murray, Heather E. (Amicus Curiae); Ochoa, Tyler T. (Amicus Curiae); Perzanowski, Aaron (Amicus Curiae); Quilter, Laura (Amicus Curiae); Reid, Amanda (Amicus Curiae); Reporters Committee For Freedom of the Press (Amicus Curiae); Tennessee Coalition for Open Government, Inc. (Amicus Curiae); The National Freedom of Information Coalition (Amicus Curiae); The Society of Professional Journalists (Amicus Curiae); Tushnet, Rebecca (Amicus Curiae); Volokh, Eugene (Amicus Curiae) PDF PDF
04/17/2025 Order-Amicus - Leave to File Brief Granted PDF
04/04/2025 Brief (Other)-Amicus Brief Lodged Aufderheide, Patricia (Amicus Curiae); First Amendment Coalition (Amicus Curiae); Fishman, Joseph (Amicus Curiae); Freedom of the Press Foundation (Amicus Curiae); Ghosh, Shubha (Amicus Curiae); Gibbons, Llewellyn Joseph (Amicus Curiae); Goodman, Ellen P. (Amicus Curiae); Lerner, Jack (Amicus Curiae); Malone, Matt (Amicus Curiae); Murray, Heather E. (Amicus Curiae); Ochoa, Tyler T. (Amicus Curiae); Perzanowski, Aaron (Amicus Curiae); Quilter, Laura (Amicus Curiae); Reid, Amanda (Amicus Curiae); Reporters Committee For Freedom of the Press (Amicus Curiae); Tennessee Coalition for Open Government, Inc. (Amicus Curiae); The National Freedom of Information Coalition (Amicus Curiae); The Society of Professional Journalists (Amicus Curiae); Tushnet, Rebecca (Amicus Curiae); Volokh, Eugene (Amicus Curiae)
04/04/2025 Motion-Amicus Request for Participation Aufderheide, Patricia (Amicus Curiae); First Amendment Coalition (Amicus Curiae); Fishman, Joseph (Amicus Curiae); Freedom of the Press Foundation (Amicus Curiae); Ghosh, Shubha (Amicus Curiae); Gibbons, Llewellyn Joseph (Amicus Curiae); Goodman, Ellen P. (Amicus Curiae); Lerner, Jack (Amicus Curiae); Malone, Matt (Amicus Curiae); Murray, Heather E. (Amicus Curiae); Ochoa, Tyler T. (Amicus Curiae); Perzanowski, Aaron (Amicus Curiae); Quilter, Laura (Amicus Curiae); Reid, Amanda (Amicus Curiae); Reporters Committee For Freedom of the Press (Amicus Curiae); Tennessee Coalition for Open Government, Inc. (Amicus Curiae); The National Freedom of Information Coalition (Amicus Curiae); The Society of Professional Journalists (Amicus Curiae); Tushnet, Rebecca (Amicus Curiae); Volokh, Eugene (Amicus Curiae) PDF PDF
03/31/2025 Case Status-APPELLANT BRIEFING COMPLETE
03/31/2025 Brief-Appellant's Brief Filed Gardenhire, Todd (Appellant/Plaintiff)
03/28/2025 Brief-Appellant's Brief Filed Leahy, Michael P. (Appellant/Plaintiff); Star News Digital Media, Inc. (Appellant/Plaintiff)
03/28/2025 Brief-Appellant's Brief Filed Hammond, James (Appellant/Plaintiff); Tennessee Firearms Association, Inc. (Appellant/Plaintiff)
03/06/2025 Order Related to Extension-Granted PDF
03/05/2025 Motion for Extension to File-Brief Covenant Presbyterian Church of Nashville (Appellee/Intervening Defendant); Gardenhire, Todd (Appellant/Plaintiff); Hammond, James (Appellant/Plaintiff); Leahy, Michael P. (Appellant/Plaintiff); Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson Co. (Appellee/Defendant); Parents of Minor Covenant Students Jane Doe and John Doe (Appellee/Intervening Defendant); Star News Digital Media, Inc. (Appellant/Plaintiff); Tennessee Firearms Association, Inc. (Appellant/Plaintiff) PDF PDF PDF
02/07/2025 Appellate Record-Original Filed
11/12/2024 Appellate Record-Original Received
11/08/2024 Order (Other)-Miscellaneous Granted PDF
11/04/2024 Filing-Miscellaneous Gardenhire, Todd (Appellee/Plaintiff); Hammond, James (Appellee/Plaintiff); Leahy, Michael P. (Appellant/Plaintiff); Star News Digital Media, Inc. (Appellant/Plaintiff); Tennessee Firearms Association, Inc. (Appellee/Plaintiff) PDF PDF PDF
09/03/2024 Notice (Incoming)-Miscellaneous Court Forms Gardenhire, Todd (Appellee/Plaintiff)
08/19/2024 Notice (Incoming)-Nonparticipating Party to Appeal Brewer, Clata Renee (Appellee/Plaintiff)
08/15/2024 Notice (Incoming)-Miscellaneous Court Forms Parents of Minor Covenant Students Jane Doe and John Doe (Appellee/Intervening Defendant)
08/15/2024 Notice (Incoming)-Miscellaneous Court Forms Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson Co. (Appellee/Defendant)
08/12/2024 Notice (Outgoing)-Lead Counsel Designated
08/12/2024 Notice (Incoming)-Miscellaneous Court Forms Star News Digital Media, Inc. (Appellant/Plaintiff)
08/12/2024 Notice (Incoming)-Miscellaneous Court Forms Hammond, James (Appellee/Plaintiff); Tennessee Firearms Association, Inc. (Appellee/Plaintiff)
08/09/2024 Notice (Incoming)-Lead Counsel Designation Received Covenant Presbyterian Church of Nashville (Appellee/Intervening Defendant); King III, Rocklan W (Attorney)
08/06/2024 Notice (Incoming)-Lead Counsel Designation Received Osborne, Eric Grant (Attorney)
08/05/2024 Additional Initiating Document-TRAP 3 Notice of Appeal Filed Gardenhire, Todd (Appellee/Plaintiff) PDF PDF
07/31/2024 Additional Initiating Document-TRAP 3 Notice of Appeal Filed Hammond, James (Appellee/Plaintiff); Tennessee Firearms Association, Inc. (Appellee/Plaintiff) PDF PDF
07/31/2024 Notice (Outgoing)-Lead Counsel Designated
07/31/2024 Notice (Outgoing)-Lead Counsel Designated
07/31/2024 Notice (Outgoing)-Lead Counsel Designated
07/31/2024 Notice (Outgoing)-Lead Counsel Designated
07/31/2024 Notice (Outgoing)-Lead Counsel Designated
07/31/2024 Notice (Incoming)-Correspondence Received Davidson County Chancery Court (Trial Court Clerk)
07/31/2024 Initiating Document-TRAP 3 Notice of Appeal Filed Leahy, Michael P. (Appellant/Plaintiff); Star News Digital Media, Inc. (Appellant/Plaintiff) 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 15 Original
Transcript of Evidence 9 Original
Technical Record (Sealed) 1 Original