A federal judge in Tennessee has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a Democratic state representative against his Republican colleagues. The lawsuit stemmed from his expulsion and later return to the state legislature in 2023.
Judge Eli Richardson of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee rejected Rep. Justin Jones’ claims in a detailed legal opinion. Jones argued that his brief expulsion caused him financial and professional setbacks, and that he was treated unfairly compared to a White colleague.
The judge stated that Jones did not provide enough evidence to prove ongoing harm. He said that Jones’ claims were based on speculation, which is not enough to warrant federal court intervention.
Jones was temporarily removed from the Tennessee House after he and two other Democratic representatives, Justin Pearson and Gloria Johnson, protested on the House floor about gun control. This happened after a shooting in Nashville that killed three children and three adults.
Jones and Pearson were expelled for breaking the rules of decorum during the protest, while Johnson was not. Republicans at the time said the representatives were disrupting the House and that their actions were a publicity stunt. Both Jones and Pearson were later voted back into their seats.
