CHATTANOOGA — The Tennessee Supreme Court is set to designate a three-judge panel to hear a complaint filed by the city of Chattanooga and the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority. This panel is required to address a new state law that transfers the appointment of the Airport Board from the mayor to state officials.

A hearing was scheduled for Tuesday, June 30, 2026, in Hamilton County Chancery Court to consider a request to temporarily prevent changes to the Airport Authority's Board of Commissioners. However, the Hamilton County Chancery Court was unable to take action during the hearing because the three-judge panel had not yet been appointed by the Tennessee Supreme Court.

Presiding Judge Alex McVeagh referred the matter to the state's Supreme Court for the designation of the panel. McVeagh entered an order on Monday, June 29, 2026, for this referral. The requirement for a three-judge panel for this type of complaint is established under Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 54. The hearing will be rescheduled once the Tennessee Supreme Court appoints the special three-judge panel.

Why It Matters

This legal challenge concerns the process for appointing members to the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority's Board of Commissioners. The case involves the city of Chattanooga and the Airport Authority, and its progress is currently dependent on the appointment of a specific judicial panel by the Tennessee Supreme Court. Once the panel is designated, the Hamilton County Chancery Court can proceed with the hearing on the request to prevent changes to the board appointments.