Full Breakdown
Tennessee Judges Recuse Themselves from Senator Blackburn’s Lawsuit Against Jack Smith
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Judicial Recusals in the Blackburn v. Smith Case
On October 5, an order filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee recorded that every active district judge in Middle Tennessee has stepped aside from the lawsuit filed by Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn against former special counsel Jack Smith. The order, signed by Chief Judge William L. Campbell Jr., did not explain the reason for the recusals and indicated that a judge from outside the district will be assigned by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Background & Context: Blackburn’s Challenge to the Arctic Frost Investigation
Senator Blackburn filed the complaint on September 30, alleging that Smith’s “Arctic Frost” probe into attempts to overturn the 2020 election obtained phone-metadata records tied to her personal cellphone. The complaint asserts violations of the Speech or Debate Clause, the First Amendment, and the Fourth Amendment, and also questions the legality of Smith’s appointment as special counsel. Blackburn contends that the subpoenas revealed who she communicated with, the timing and duration of calls, but did not capture call contents. Smith has responded that the subpoenas were cleared by the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section and complied with departmental regulations.
Official Statements & Responses
Smith maintains that the record-collection was lawful and consistent with DOJ policy. The court’s order simply notes the judges’ recusal under 28 U.S.C. § 455, which requires disqualification when a judge’s impartiality might reasonably be questioned.
Data & Statistics: Judges of the Middle District of Tennessee
- William L. Campbell Jr. – Chief judge, appointed by President Donald Trump (July 2017).
- Aleta A. Trauger – Appointed by President Bill Clinton (September 1998).
- Waverly D. Crenshaw Jr. – Appointed by President Barack Obama (February 2015).
- Eli J. Richardson – Appointed by President Donald Trump (October 2018).
Verbatim Quotes
- “All District Judges of the Middle District of Tennessee have recused in this matter.” — Middle District, signed by chief
- “Through his Arctic Frost witch hunt that targeted conservatives across America and even the President of the United States, Jack Smith perpetrated one of the worst abuses of government power in our nation's history,” — Marsha Blackburn, republican tennessee senator