PRESTON GARNER ET AL. v. SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION ET AL.

E2024-00100-SC-R11-CV

Case Overview

Inter. Case No. Style Trial Court Trial Court Judge Trial Court No.
E2024-00100-COA-R3-CV PRESTON GARNER ET AL. v. SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION ET AL. Blount County Circuit Court Duggan, David Reed L-21220

Case Milestones

Description Date
Application Filed 03/10/2025
Application Disposition 06/20/2025
Record Filed
Appellant(s) Briefing Complete 08/20/2025
Appellee(s) Briefing Complete
Oral Argument/Submission 01/08/2026
Decision Date
Decision Type
Disposition
Panel Jeffrey S. Bivins; Holly Kirby; Sarah K. Campbell; Dwight E. Tarwater; Mary L. Wagner
Closed Date

Parties

Names Role Counsel
Credentials Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention Appellant/Defendant Pietsch, Matthew Christopher
Southern Baptist Convention Appellant/Defendant Pietsch, Matthew Christopher
Garner, Preston Appellee/Plaintiff Costner, Joseph Edwin
Garner, Kellie Appellee/Plaintiff Costner, Joseph Edwin
Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention Appellant/Defendant Bundren, Russell Brandon
Peters, Christy Appellant/Defendant Bundren, Russell Brandon
Guidepost Solutions LLC Appellee/Defendant Jacobson, John R.

Case History

Date Event Filer PDF
03/25/2026 Order-Pro Hac Vice Denied PDF
03/25/2026 Order-Pro Hac Vice Denied PDF
03/25/2026 Order-Amicus - Leave to File Brief Denied PDF
03/19/2026 Response-to Motion Credentials Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention (Appellant/Defendant); Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention (Appellant/Defendant); Peters, Christy (Appellant/Defendant); Southern Baptist Convention (Appellant/Defendant) PDF PDF
03/13/2026 Brief (Other)-Amicus Brief Lodged Garner, Kellie (Appellee/Plaintiff); Garner, Preston (Appellee/Plaintiff); Whitt, M. Jeffrey (Attorney) PDF PDF
03/13/2026 Motion-Amicus Request for Participation Garner, Kellie (Appellee/Plaintiff); Garner, Preston (Appellee/Plaintiff) PDF PDF
03/13/2026 Motion-Pro Hac Vice Request Garner, Kellie (Appellee/Plaintiff); Garner, Preston (Appellee/Plaintiff) PDF PDF
03/13/2026 Motion-Pro Hac Vice Request Garner, Kellie (Appellee/Plaintiff); Garner, Preston (Appellee/Plaintiff) PDF PDF
01/08/2026 Docket Activity-Heard
01/07/2026 Appellate Record-Checked Out to Court
12/17/2025 Order (Other)-Miscellaneous (Sua Sponte) PDF
11/13/2025 Docket Activity-Attorney Confirmed Oral Argument
11/13/2025 Docket Activity-Docketed (Oral Argument)
11/03/2025 Brief-Reply Brief Filed Credentials Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention (Appellant/Defendant); Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention (Appellant/Defendant); Peters, Christy (Appellant/Defendant); Southern Baptist Convention (Appellant/Defendant)
10/20/2025 Brief-Appellee's Brief Filed Garner, Kellie (Appellee/Plaintiff); Garner, Preston (Appellee/Plaintiff)
09/16/2025 Administrative Order-Extension Granted PDF
09/12/2025 Motion for Extension to File-Brief Garner, Kellie (Appellee/Plaintiff); Garner, Preston (Appellee/Plaintiff) PDF PDF
09/10/2025 Brief (Other)-Amicus Brief Filed State of Tennessee - Civil (Amicus Curiae)
09/10/2025 Order-Amicus - Leave to File Brief Granted PDF
09/03/2025 Brief (Other)-Amicus Brief Filed Anglican Church in North America (Amicus Curiae); Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America (Amicus Curiae); General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (Amicus Curiae); Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (Amicus Curiae); Tennessee Catholic Convention (Amicus Curiae)
09/03/2025 Order-Amicus - Leave to File Brief Granted PDF
09/03/2025 Brief (Other)-Amicus Brief Filed Garnett, Richard (Amicus Curiae); Laycock, Douglas (Amicus Curiae); McConnell, Michael (Amicus Curiae)
09/03/2025 Brief (Other)-Amicus Brief Filed The Jewish Coalition for Religious Liberty (Amicus Curiae)
09/03/2025 Order-Amicus - Leave to File Brief Granted PDF
09/03/2025 Order-Amicus - Leave to File Brief Granted PDF
08/28/2025 Administrative Order-Pro Hac Vice Admission Allowed PDF
08/28/2025 Administrative Order-Pro Hac Vice Admission Allowed PDF
08/28/2025 Administrative Order-Pro Hac Vice Admission Allowed PDF
08/28/2025 Administrative Order-Pro Hac Vice Admission Allowed PDF
08/28/2025 Administrative Order-Pro Hac Vice Admission Allowed PDF
08/27/2025 Brief (Other)-Amicus Brief Lodged Garnett, Richard (Amicus Curiae); Laycock, Douglas (Amicus Curiae); McConnell, Michael (Amicus Curiae)
08/27/2025 Brief (Other)-Amicus Brief Lodged The Jewish Coalition for Religious Liberty (Amicus Curiae)
08/27/2025 Motion-Amicus Request for Participation Anglican Church in North America (Amicus Curiae); Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America (Amicus Curiae); General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (Amicus Curiae); Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (Amicus Curiae); Tennessee Catholic Convention (Amicus Curiae) PDF PDF
08/27/2025 Motion-Pro Hac Vice Request Garnett, Richard (Amicus Curiae); Laycock, Douglas (Amicus Curiae); McConnell, Michael (Amicus Curiae) PDF PDF
08/27/2025 Motion-Pro Hac Vice Request Garnett, Richard (Amicus Curiae); Laycock, Douglas (Amicus Curiae); McConnell, Michael (Amicus Curiae) PDF PDF
08/27/2025 Motion-Pro Hac Vice Request Garnett, Richard (Amicus Curiae); Laycock, Douglas (Amicus Curiae); McConnell, Michael (Amicus Curiae) PDF PDF
08/27/2025 Motion-Pro Hac Vice Request Garnett, Richard (Amicus Curiae); Laycock, Douglas (Amicus Curiae); McConnell, Michael (Amicus Curiae) PDF PDF
08/27/2025 Motion-Pro Hac Vice Request Garnett, Richard (Amicus Curiae); Laycock, Douglas (Amicus Curiae); McConnell, Michael (Amicus Curiae) PDF PDF
08/27/2025 Motion-Amicus Request for Participation Garnett, Richard (Amicus Curiae); Laycock, Douglas (Amicus Curiae); McConnell, Michael (Amicus Curiae) PDF PDF
08/27/2025 Brief (Other)-Amicus Brief Filed Anglican Church in North America (Amicus Curiae); Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America (Amicus Curiae); General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (Amicus Curiae); Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (Amicus Curiae); Tennessee Catholic Convention (Amicus Curiae)
08/27/2025 Motion-Amicus Request for Participation The Jewish Coalition for Religious Liberty (Amicus Curiae) PDF PDF
08/26/2025 Brief (Other)-Amicus Brief Lodged State of Tennessee - Civil (Amicus Curiae) PDF
08/26/2025 Motion-Amicus Request for Participation State of Tennessee - Civil (Amicus Curiae) PDF PDF
08/20/2025 Case Status-APPELLANT BRIEFING COMPLETE
08/20/2025 Brief-Appellant's Brief Filed Credentials Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention (Appellant/Defendant); Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention (Appellant/Defendant); Peters, Christy (Appellant/Defendant); Southern Baptist Convention (Appellant/Defendant)
07/21/2025 Administrative Order-Pro Hac Vice Admission Allowed PDF
07/19/2025 Motion-Pro Hac Vice Request Peters, Christy (Appellant/Defendant); Southern Baptist Convention (Appellant/Defendant) PDF PDF
07/09/2025 Administrative Order-Extension Granted PDF
07/03/2025 Motion for Extension to File-Brief Credentials Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention (Appellant/Defendant); Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention (Appellant/Defendant); Peters, Christy (Appellant/Defendant); Southern Baptist Convention (Appellant/Defendant)
06/20/2025 Brief (Other)-Amicus Brief Filed Anglican Church in North America (Amicus Curiae); Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America (Amicus Curiae); General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (Amicus Curiae); Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (Amicus Curiae); Tennessee Catholic Convention (Amicus Curiae)
06/20/2025 Brief (Other)-Amicus Brief Filed The Jewish Coalition for Religious Liberty (Amicus Curiae)
06/20/2025 Order-TRAP 11 Granted PDF
06/11/2025 Brief (Other)-Supplemental Authority Filed Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention (Appellant/Defendant); Peters, Christy (Appellant/Defendant)
05/16/2025 Brief (Other)-Amicus Brief Lodged Anglican Church in North America (Amicus Curiae); Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America (Amicus Curiae); General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (Amicus Curiae); Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (Amicus Curiae); Tennessee Catholic Convention (Amicus Curiae) PDF PDF
05/16/2025 Motion-Amicus Request for Participation Anglican Church in North America (Amicus Curiae); Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America (Amicus Curiae); General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (Amicus Curiae); Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (Amicus Curiae); Tennessee Catholic Convention (Amicus Curiae) PDF PDF
05/09/2025 Order-Pro Hac Vice Denied PDF
04/11/2025 Administrative Order-Pro Hac Vice Admission Allowed PDF
04/11/2025 Administrative Order-Pro Hac Vice Admission Allowed PDF
04/11/2025 Administrative Order-Pro Hac Vice Admission Allowed PDF
04/09/2025 Motion-Pro Hac Vice Request Anglican Church in North America (Amicus Curiae); Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America (Amicus Curiae); General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (Amicus Curiae); Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (Amicus Curiae); Tennessee Catholic Convention (Amicus Curiae)
04/09/2025 Motion-Pro Hac Vice Request Anglican Church in North America (Amicus Curiae); Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America (Amicus Curiae); General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (Amicus Curiae); Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (Amicus Curiae); Tennessee Catholic Convention (Amicus Curiae)
04/09/2025 Motion-Pro Hac Vice Request Anglican Church in North America (Amicus Curiae); Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America (Amicus Curiae); General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (Amicus Curiae); Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (Amicus Curiae); Tennessee Catholic Convention (Amicus Curiae)
04/02/2025 Motion-Pro Hac Vice Request Anglican Church in North America (Amicus Curiae); Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America (Amicus Curiae); General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (Amicus Curiae); Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (Amicus Curiae); Tennessee Catholic Convention (Amicus Curiae)
04/02/2025 Motion-Pro Hac Vice Request Anglican Church in North America (Amicus Curiae); Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America (Amicus Curiae); General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (Amicus Curiae); Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (Amicus Curiae); Tennessee Catholic Convention (Amicus Curiae)
04/02/2025 Motion-Pro Hac Vice Request Anglican Church in North America (Amicus Curiae); Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America (Amicus Curiae); General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (Amicus Curiae); Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (Amicus Curiae); Tennessee Catholic Convention (Amicus Curiae)
03/25/2025 Answer-to TRAP 11 Garner, Kellie (Appellee/Plaintiff); Garner, Preston (Appellee/Plaintiff)
03/20/2025 Response-to Motion Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention (Appellant/Defendant); Peters, Christy (Appellant/Defendant) PDF PDF
03/18/2025 Response-to Motion Garner, Kellie (Appellee/Plaintiff); Garner, Preston (Appellee/Plaintiff) PDF PDF
03/18/2025 Motion-to Strike Garner, Kellie (Appellee/Plaintiff); Garner, Preston (Appellee/Plaintiff) PDF PDF
03/17/2025 Brief (Other)-Amicus Brief Lodged Anglican Church in North America (Amicus Curiae); Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America (Amicus Curiae); General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (Amicus Curiae); Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (Amicus Curiae); Tennessee Catholic Convention (Amicus Curiae)
03/17/2025 Brief (Other)-Amicus Brief Lodged The Jewish Coalition for Religious Liberty (Amicus Curiae)
03/17/2025 Motion-Pro Hac Vice Request Anglican Church in North America (Amicus Curiae); Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America (Amicus Curiae); General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (Amicus Curiae); Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (Amicus Curiae); Tennessee Catholic Convention (Amicus Curiae) PDF PDF
03/17/2025 Motion-Pro Hac Vice Request Anglican Church in North America (Amicus Curiae); Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America (Amicus Curiae); General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (Amicus Curiae); Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (Amicus Curiae); Tennessee Catholic Convention (Amicus Curiae) PDF PDF
03/17/2025 Motion-Pro Hac Vice Request Anglican Church in North America (Amicus Curiae); Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America (Amicus Curiae); General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (Amicus Curiae); Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (Amicus Curiae); Tennessee Catholic Convention (Amicus Curiae)
03/17/2025 Motion-Amicus Request for Participation Anglican Church in North America (Amicus Curiae); Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America (Amicus Curiae); General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (Amicus Curiae); Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (Amicus Curiae); Tennessee Catholic Convention (Amicus Curiae) PDF PDF
03/17/2025 Motion-Pro Hac Vice Request The Jewish Coalition for Religious Liberty (Amicus Curiae) PDF PDF
03/17/2025 Motion-Pro Hac Vice Request The Jewish Coalition for Religious Liberty (Amicus Curiae) PDF PDF
03/17/2025 Motion-Pro Hac Vice Request The Jewish Coalition for Religious Liberty (Amicus Curiae) PDF PDF
03/17/2025 Motion-Amicus Request for Participation The Jewish Coalition for Religious Liberty (Amicus Curiae) PDF PDF
03/12/2025 Administrative Order-Pro Hac Vice Admission Allowed PDF
03/12/2025 Administrative Order-Pro Hac Vice Admission Allowed PDF
03/12/2025 Administrative Order-Pro Hac Vice Admission Allowed PDF
03/12/2025 Administrative Order-Pro Hac Vice Admission Allowed PDF
03/11/2025 Motion-Pro Hac Vice Request Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention (Appellant/Defendant); Peters, Christy (Appellant/Defendant)
03/11/2025 Motion-Pro Hac Vice Request Peters, Christy (Appellant/Defendant); Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention (Appellant/Defendant) PDF PDF
03/11/2025 Motion-Pro Hac Vice Request Peters, Christy (Appellant/Defendant); Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention (Appellant/Defendant) PDF PDF
03/11/2025 Motion-Pro Hac Vice Request Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention (Appellant/Defendant); Peters, Christy (Appellant/Defendant) PDF PDF
03/10/2025 Additional Initiating Document-TRAP 11 Permission to Appeal Credentials Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention (Appellant/Defendant); Southern Baptist Convention (Appellant/Defendant)
03/10/2025 Initiating Document-TRAP 11 Permission to Appeal Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention (Appellant/Defendant); Peters, Christy (Appellant/Defendant)
**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 4 Original
Transcript of Evidence 1 Original