Lenoir City Council restores municipal judge Greg Harrison, accepts city attorney Chance Harrison’s resignation and swears in Walter Johnson

At its Monday meeting, the Lenoir City Council accepted the resignation of City Attorney Chance Harrison, administered the oath to Walter Johnson as city attorney and voted to restore municipal judge Greg Harrison after a months-long legal dispute over residency and eligibility.

The council’s actions followed a July chancery-court order and a state law passed this spring that affected the status of municipal judges who lived outside city limits. The council voted to allow Greg Harrison to return to the bench; Harrison asked the council to consider four months of back pay he said he missed while off the bench.

“The legislature passed the law … I am the judge,” Municipal Judge Greg Harrison said during the meeting. “As it stands right now, I’m the judge. I’m prepared to step forward. I think our first court date is August 7.”

Why it matters: the question of who may serve as municipal judge in Lenoir City has involved multiple court rulings and recent state legislation. The Tennessee Supreme Court previously ruled that Harrison was disqualified because he did not meet the city residency requirement; the state legislature then enacted a law applying prospectively to some municipal judges. A chancery-court order dated July 18 declared Harrison the “de facto” municipal judge for the term and said any back pay would be at the discretion of the municipality.

Council action and legal background

Councilmembers debated whether the council should act while appeals remain pending. Several councilmembers and the city’s legal adviser argued that the chancery order and the new state law limited the council’s options. Others said the council should act to restore local court operations and the judge’s duties.

Councilmember John Simpson (first name used in meeting for identification) moved to restore Harrison and allow him to return to work; a roll-call vote followed. Councilmember McNabb recorded an abstention; the other members present voted in favor. The minutes do not record a dollar amount of any back-pay award in the public motion record.

Chance Harrison’s resignation and appointment of Walter Johnson

Earlier on the agenda the council considered and accepted the resignation of City Attorney Chance Harrison, who addressed the council and said he appreciated the opportunity to serve. The council then moved to consider Walter Johnson for the city attorney role. Johnson was administered the oath of office at the meeting and assumed the duties of city attorney.

“...I’ll perform with fidelity,” Walter Johnson repeated during the oath before the council.

What remains unresolved

Attorneys and council members noted that appeals are pending in the underlying litigation, and a final appellate ruling could change the legal landscape. Several speakers stressed that constitutional and statutory questions remain for the courts to decide. The chancery-court order that named Harrison a de facto officer is under appeal, and the council’s actions do not resolve the pending appellate process.

Votes at a glance

- Restore Municipal Judge Greg Harrison: Motion passed (roll call: McNabb—abstain; other members present—aye). The record shows the council voted to allow Harrison to return; the council did not specify an approved back-pay amount in the public vote. - Accept resignation of City Attorney Chance Harrison: Motion passed (mover recorded in meeting). Details of the roll call were not recorded in the public transcript excerpt. - Appoint and swear in Walter Johnson as city attorney: Oath administered at the meeting; appointment carried by council action on the agenda.

Context and next steps

Greg Harrison and others said they expect further appellate briefs and potential higher-court review; Harrison said he planned to continue representing himself in some filings. Council members said they will follow court orders and noted that any future appellate decisions could require further action by the council.

The council also moved on to other routine agenda items after the actions described above.