CHATTANOOGA — The Tennessee Supreme Court named a three-judge panel to hear a dispute regarding which board should operate the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport.

The panel consists of Chancellor Jeff Atherton, Judge Joseph Middleton of the Middle Grand Division, and Chancellor Michael Mansfield of the Western Grand Division. Atherton will serve as chief judge of the special three-judge panel.

The dispute centers on control of the airport authority following the enactment of new state legislation. Sandy Mattice was hired by the new state-appointed board formed under the law. John Konvalinka represents the locally appointed board in the ongoing legal proceedings. The Tennessee Supreme Court's Rule 54 mandates three-judge panels for cases involving constitutional challenges to state legislation.

The City spokesperson said that because the constitutional challenge has been referred for consideration by a three-judge panel under Tennessee law, the court cannot rule on any motions until the panel hears the case. Until then, any and all motions filed in connection with the case remain pending before the court, including any motions seeking dismissal of any party from the litigation in connection with the case.

In 2023, Tennessee passed a law attempting to reconstitute airport boards, leading to a Nashville lawsuit that later reached a three-judge appellate panel. The City spokesperson said litigation challenging Public Chapter 978 continues in both state and federal court, and the Federal Aviation Administration has not recognized any change in the governance of the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority while those proceedings remain pending. At present, nothing has materially changed with respect to the legal status of the litigation or the FAA’s recognition of the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority’s governing board.