State Takeover of Nashville Airport Board Unconstitutional, Judges Rule
Court rules newly enacted law targeting Nashville's autonomy ignored local involvement, violated Tennessee's Home Rule provisions, and unfairly removed local officials from office, reinstating old airport board setup.
- Tennessee court judges have ruled that the state takeover of Nashville International Airport's board, which was orchestrated without city officials or voters' approval, violated the state's Constitution.
- The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority board, which was formed in the wake of the state takeover and consisted of six state officials and two mayoral appointees, has been ousted in response to the ruling.
- The previous board, composed of seven appointees selected by the mayor and confirmed by the metro council, has been reinstated following the ruling.
- The Tennessee law being contested was deemed to violate the city’s equal protection guarantees, and was criticized for unfairly removing local officials from office before the termination of their terms.
- The judges noted that Nashville was singularly targeted by the law, and the ruling also nullified the expanded zoning and eminent domain powers previously granted to the airport authority.
Washington Post 
Associated Press 
