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Jonathan Skrmetti
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Jonathan Thomas Skrmetti (born January 4, 1977) is an American attorney and public official who has served as the 28th attorney general of Tennessee since 2022. Born and raised in Connecticut, and educated at George Washington University, Oxford University, and Harvard Law School, Skrmetti worked as a lawyer in Memphis, Tennessee, both in private practice and as a federal prosecutor in the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee. He subsequently served as Tennessee's chief deputy attorney general and as chief counsel to Governor Bill Lee, prior to his appointment as attorney general.

Key Information

Background

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Skrmetti was born in New London, Connecticut, on January 4, 1977, and grew up in Mystic, Connecticut.[1][2] He earned degrees from George Washington University and Hertford College, Oxford. While earning his Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School, he served as the editor-in-chief of the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy.[3]

Career

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Skrmetti previously clerked for Judge Steven Colloton on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.[3] As an adjunct professor, he taught cyberlaw at the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphrey's School of Law. Before entering private practice, Skrmetti served as a federal prosecutor for almost a decade, first with the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, and then as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Memphis[3] from 2011 to 2014.[4] Skrmetti was also a partner at Butler Snow LLP in Memphis.[5]

He was one of eleven Tennessee attorneys who applied to fill the vacancy on the Tennessee Supreme Court when Justice Cornelia Clark died in 2021,[6] before serving as Chief Counsel to Governor Bill Lee from December 2021 to August 2022.[4][7]

Jonathan Skrmetti was Chief Deputy Attorney General under Herbert Slatery from December 2018[8] through December 2021.[4][9]

Attorney General of Tennessee

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Skrmetti was appointed by the Tennessee Supreme Court to serve an eight-year term on August 10, 2022, and was sworn in on September 1, 2022.[10] Tennessee is the only state in the country where the State Supreme Court appoints the attorney general as a non-partisan member of the Judicial Branch.[11]

In his role as AG and Reporter of Tennessee, Skrmetti has instituted a strategic litigation unit with ten attorneys to focus on pending litigation involving the federal government, various Tennessee municipalities, and to focus on corporate activity within the state.[12]

Environmental issues

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State of Tennessee v. 3M et al.

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On May 31, 2023, Skrmetti filed suit against twenty-one named manufacturers of products using PFAs and ten unnamed. The suit focuses on the manufacture and sale of AFFF (aqueous film-forming foam) throughout the state rather than on the various consumer products which contain PFAs.[13] Skrmetti contends that the manufacturers not only knew about the risk PFAs pose to both organisms and the environment, but that they also concealed the level of harm the chemicals could cause in order to raise their profits.[14] The suit further claims that some of the named companies attempted to protect themselves from liability through fraud.[15][16]

Kids and Social Media

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Instagram and TikTok Investigations

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AG Slatery's office had attempted to specifically investigate Instagram back in 2021[17] and TikTok in 2022.[18] Skrmetti, as Chief Deputy Attorney General, argued against the then-planned Instagram for kids only, stating that the platform would be a means of having children become accustomed to social media when they are "psychologically vulnerable."[19]

Skrmetti filed a lawsuit against Meta, the parent company of Instagram in 2024.[20] The lawsuit alleges that Meta knew the Instagram platform was harming children, causing depression and anxiety, hyperactivity, lack of sleep, and other serious mental health harms.[21] The lawsuit, led by Tennessee, included dozens of U.S. states, and was filed in coordination with the federal lawsuit filed in California. It was a bi-partisan investigation and legal action.[22]

Roblox Sued

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On December 18, 2025, Jonathan Skrmetti would sue Roblox for misleading parents and guardians about child safety, saying that "Roblox is the digital equivalent of a creepy cargo van lingering at the edge of a playground".[23]

Social issues

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Opposing changes to Title IX

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Shortly after being sworn into office, AG Skrmetti issued a letter to the US Department of Education in opposition to adding "gender identity" to the wording of Title IX.[24]

In January 2023, he filed a brief[25] in support of a 2022 injunction against a sports competition under West Virginia's 2021 "Save Women's Sports Act"[26] preventing transgender students from participating in athletics on teams of "the opposite biological sex".[27] The focus of the WV law is on trans women athletes, claiming that their assigned gender at birth provides them an unfair advantage thus undoing the very protections established by Title IX.[28]

Friends of George's v. State of Tennessee

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Main article: Friends of George's v. State of Tennessee
See also: Tennessee Adult Entertainment Act

In March 2023, the LGBTQIA theatre company Friends of George's filed lawsuits against the State of Tennessee, AG Skrmetti, and Shelby County DA Steve Mulroy.[29][30] The suits argued that the vague language of a new state law restricting public drag performances (defining drag performers as cabaret and likening drag shows to strip clubs[31]) made it impossible to know what activity exactly it intended to curtail, especially in how the state law might be infringing on First Amendment protected speech.[32][33][34][35] When Judge Thomas Parker ruled on June 2, 2023, that the law did violate Constitutionally protected speech,[36][37] he pointed out that it was "substantially overbroad" despite the State's argument that the law would only apply to "expressive content that is harmful to a reasonable 17-year-old".[33][34][38]

Skrmetti had been a named defendant in the suit,[34] and joined filings before Judge Parker reached his decision: a motion to dismiss the case due to failure to state a claim and a motion to dismiss due to lack of jurisdiction.[39] Both of these motions were granted as Skrmetti was determined to be acting in his role as AG. Skremtti has filed a Notice of Appeal of Judge Parker's decision, pointing out that the same language Parker found to be vague is present throughout the Tennessee Code.[40][41]

Hannah Miyamoto v. Bill Lee, et. al.

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Retired attorney Hannah Miyamoto (registered with the Hawaii bar) filed suit against Bill Lee, AG Skrmetti, and Davidson County DA Glenn R. Funk (all named) on March 8, 2023, in the Southern District of California, where she currently resides. The suit has been assigned Tennessee case number 3:23cv-00233.[42] She alleges that the TAEA, which AG Skrmetti has held is still in effect throughout Tennessee except in Shelby County,[43] prevents her from being able to perform her play, Twelve Nights with Viola and Olivia, in Nashville at TPAC. The play is based on Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, or What You Will, in which one of the main characters, Viola, spends the majority of the play impersonating a man. The case is currently pending.[44][45][46]

Governor Lee has stated that he is deferring to Skrmetti with respect to whether the TAEA is enforceable outside of Shelby County.[47]

United States v. Skrmetti

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Main article: United States v. Skrmetti

Skrmetti is a named respondent in United States v. Skrmetti, a U.S. Supreme Court case decided on June 18, 2025. The case concerns Tennessee Senate Bill 1 (SB1 / HB1), which bans certain forms of gender-affirming medical treatments (puberty blockers and hormone therapy) for minors when the purpose is gender transition. In his capacity as Tennessee Attorney General, Skrmetti defended the constitutionality of the law. The central legal question was whether the statute violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, by discriminating based on sex or transgender status. The Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, upheld the law, finding that it does not classify based on sex or transgender status, but instead draws distinctions based on age and medical condition, and therefore only required review under the rational basis standard of equal protection.

Consumer protection

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Ticketmaster

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Main article: 2022 Ticketmaster controversy

After ticket sales for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour rose to as much as $28,000 per ticket on Ticketmaster,[48] Skrmetti opened an investigation into possible violations of antitrust laws, saying that the issue consumers experienced in obtaining tickets might be an indication of not enough competition,[49][50] though Ticketmaster and LiveNation's merger has been approved through 2025 by the US Department of Justice.[51] The incident did result in the DOJ once again probing the companies for breach of antitrust laws.[52] A statement from one of Ticketmaster's shareholders stated that the fiasco was caused by bots,[53] which may have put the company in violation of a 2008 bot-ban law passed in Tennessee.[54]

One area of concern Skrmetti said would be investigated was whether Ticketmaster/LiveNation profited off of the sales of the tickets twice,[55] as well as what consumers were promised regarding ticket availability.[56] Skrmetti clarified that the concern isn't that everyone who wants a ticket be able to purchase one, but that Ticketmaster made specific claims regarding the service they offer and the quality of that service, and because there is little to no competition, Ticketmaster has no incentive to provide what was promised.[57]

Though there had been no official update from the AG's office since December 14, 2022,[58] Skrmetti did tell Time magazine in January 2023 that the investigation is still ongoing and that the evidence found so far "is not entirely consistent" with Ticketmaster's statement that their large market share is due to the difference in quality between their system and "the next best primary ticketing system".[59] When opening the investigation, Skrmetti stated, "If it's a consumer protection violation and we can find exactly where the problems are, we can get a court order that makes the company do better."[60]

State of Tennessee et al v. AdoreMe.com

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Thirty-one states and the District of Columbia filed suit against AdoreMe.com in response to consumer complaints, alleging unfair trade practices against the retailer. Specifically at issue was the VIP program, in which customers were automatically charged a monthly fee of $39.95 unless they either made a purchase or logged into their account.[61] The state AGs argued that the program was deceptive as it did not properly disclose the terms, and customers were charged the monthly rate without understanding they would be required to take action before the sixth of every month to avoid the fee. Additionally, those who attempted to cancel their memberships found it extremely difficult and were forced to forfeit accrued store credit in order to do so. The retailer also misled consumers regarding discounts with a "countdown" that didn't actually affect purchase eligibility.[62][63]

The suit settled in June 2023, with the blanket amount of $2.35 million to be paid amongst the thirty-one states and D.C.[64][65][66] and refunds to be offered to the affected customers. AdoreMe.com was required to contact all eligible customers as part of the settlement agreement. As with many suits of this type, the retailer admits no wrongdoing as part of the settlement.[63][67]

Recognition and awards

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In October 2010, United States Attorney General Eric Holder awarded Skrmetti the Attorney General's Award for Distinguished Service, for his work as a trial lawyer in the U.S. Attorney's office.[68]

In May 2023, Skrmetti accepted an award from the Tennessee Faith & Freedom Coalition, who proclaimed him a "Defender of Freedom" for his work as AG.[69][70] The group is a self-proclaimed conservative, Christian, anti-Marxist organization.[71]

Personal life

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He is married and has four children, and resides in Franklin, Tennessee. He is a member of a Churches of Christ congregation.[72]

In May 2023, he was elected to the board of the Jason Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that attempts to provide support and educational tools for youth at risk of suicide.[73] He had previously been an ambassador of the foundation.[74]

Jonathan Skrmetti is the cousin, by marriage, of comedian Ellen Skrmetti.[75]

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Jonathan Skrmetti

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia

is an American lawyer serving as the 28th and Reporter for the state of since September 1, 2022, when he was appointed by the to an eight-year term. Prior to this role, he served as Chief Deputy under , arguing multiple cases before the U.S. and handling high-profile litigation on behalf of the state. Skrmetti holds honors degrees from , the , and , where he served as editor-in-chief of the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy. As , Skrmetti has prioritized defending Tennessee's laws against federal overreach and corporate influence, notably securing a U.S. victory in United States v. Skrmetti (2025), which upheld the state's prohibition on transition procedures for minors under 18, rejecting equal protection challenges to the law. He has led bipartisan coalitions against companies, including a successful antitrust settlement with over its search engine practices and demands to Meta for child safety measures on platforms. Other key actions include winning a consumer protection suit against to prevent the use of state retirement funds for ESG-driven investments and suing the NCAA over restrictions on name, image, and likeness compensation for college athletes. In October 2025, his office helped secure a nationwide against federal efforts to impose ideology in public schools. These efforts have positioned Skrmetti as a prominent defender of state sovereignty and parental rights amid national debates on social, economic, and technological issues.

Early life and education

Early life

Jonathan Skrmetti grew up in Mystic, Connecticut, in the southeast region of the state. His father worked as a nuclear engineer for the U.S. Navy at the nearby naval submarine base in Groton, Connecticut, and later at Electric Boat after retirement. His mother served as a public school teacher. Skrmetti's family background included limited religious emphasis during his childhood; his father was raised Catholic, while his mother came from a Protestant heritage. In , he won an essay contest by writing about the value of his , reflecting an early interest in reading.

Education

Skrmetti earned a degree from . He subsequently obtained an additional degree with honors in from Hertford College at the . Skrmetti received his degree cum laude from in 2004, having enrolled in 2001. During his time at Harvard, he served as editor-in-chief of the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy and was involved with the . All three degrees were awarded with honors.

Private practice

Prior to entering service, Jonathan Skrmetti practiced as a partner in the Memphis office of Butler Snow LLP, a regional firm with a focus on litigation and business . He joined the firm on January 29, 2014, as part of its Commercial Litigation Practice Group, drawing on his prior experience as a federal handling complex investigations into crimes such as , hate crimes, public , white-collar offenses, tax violations, and firearms-related matters. Skrmetti's private practice emphasized commercial litigation, where he represented clients in federal and state courts on disputes involving business torts, contracts, and regulatory issues, often leveraging his prosecutorial background for appellate and trial advocacy. During this period, he also served as an at the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, teaching cyberlaw courses that addressed emerging issues in , , and internet-related liabilities. His tenure at Butler Snow lasted approximately four years, ending in 2018 when he transitioned to the Tennessee Attorney General's office as . No publicly detailed high-profile cases from this private practice phase are prominently documented, though his work aligned with the firm's strengths in white-collar defense and complex civil matters.

Tenure as Solicitor General

Role and key cases

As Chief Deputy Attorney General from 2018 to late 2021, Jonathan Skrmetti supervised the Attorney General's office, managing approximately 160 lawyers and staff across divisions, including those handling appellate litigation. In this capacity, he directed efforts to defend state laws and policies in federal and state courts, emphasizing principled advocacy grounded in statutory text and constitutional limits on federal power. The office under his oversight participated in amicus briefs and appeals related to issues like under Title VII, as evidenced by 's involvement in the lead-up to (2020), where state interests aligned with textualist interpretations of sex discrimination protections. Key cases during this period included defenses of Tennessee's criminal sentencing statutes against Eighth Amendment challenges and multi-state opioid litigation settlements, where the office secured favorable terms for state recovery funds exceeding $100 million. Skrmetti's leadership contributed to the office's success in upholding state authority in areas such as regulatory enforcement, though he did not personally deliver oral arguments before the U.S. ; those were handled by dedicated appellate specialists like the . This role honed his focus on high-impact constitutional disputes, informing his later tenure as .

Tenure as Attorney General

Appointment and overview

The Tennessee Supreme Court appointed Jonathan Skrmetti as the 28th and Reporter on August 10, 2022, following a public interview process involving six candidates. is the only state where the attorney general position is filled by appointment from the supreme court rather than by election or legislative selection. The appointment carries an eight-year term, during which the officeholder serves as the state's chief legal officer, representing in court, providing to state officials, and overseeing the Department of Justice with approximately 160 attorneys. Skrmetti was sworn into office on September 1, 2022, succeeding III. Immediately prior to his appointment, he had served as chief counsel to Governor Bill Lee since December 2021 and as chief deputy from 2018 to 2021, where he managed the office's legal teams and contributed to negotiating Tennessee's share of a $26 billion multi-state settlement. His selection was praised by Roger A. Page for Skrmetti's extensive experience, including federal prosecution roles targeting sex traffickers, corrupt officials, and violent extremists. In overview, Skrmetti's tenure emphasizes defending state interests in litigation against federal actions, pursuing consumer and environmental protections, and addressing challenges through appellate . His handles civil and criminal matters on behalf of the state, issues formal opinions on legal questions, and participates in amicus briefs in significant cases before the U.S. . Skrmetti, a resident of , with his wife and four children, brings a background in federal trial work and private practice to prioritize rigorous legal representation aligned with state law and policy.

Consumer protection

Under Skrmetti's leadership, the Attorney General's Office enforces the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) through its Division of Consumer Affairs, which investigates complaints and pursues civil actions against deceptive trade practices affecting residents. The division handles issues ranging from fraud scams to unfair business conduct, with authority to seek injunctions, restitution, and penalties. In December 2023, Skrmetti filed a first-of-its-kind lawsuit against , Inc., under the TCPA, alleging the firm misled Tennessee investors by overstating the financial benefits of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies, failing to disclose full ESG integration in non-ESG funds, and greenwashing its practices. The case settled in January 2025 without monetary penalties; committed to enhanced transparency, third-party compliance audits, consistent disclosures aligned with duties, and ensuring shareholder votes for non-ESG funds prioritize financial returns over ESG goals, with the suit dismissed but refilable upon noncompliance. Skrmetti led a coalition of 18 states in a March 2025 investigation into Wells Fargo & Company and other banks' net-zero emissions policies through the Net-Zero Banking Alliance, alleging potential violations of consumer protection and antitrust laws by restricting investment options and undermining fiduciary duties to prioritize climate goals over client interests. Wells Fargo responded by exiting the alliance, abandoning its 2030 emissions targets and 2050 net-zero ambitions, which the attorneys general hailed as advancing consumer choice and corporate accountability; probes into the remaining banks continued. In April 2024, under Skrmetti joined a multistate against Mariner Finance, LLC, accusing the lender of TCPA violations through hidden add-on products like credit insurance, which consumers were not fully informed about or affirmatively agreed to, leading to undisclosed fees and deceptive lending practices. The suit sought restitution, penalties, and injunctive relief to halt such conduct. Skrmetti participated in a , 2025, federal lawsuit alongside the FTC and attorneys general from six other states against and , alleging breaches of the TCPA and the federal Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act by permitting brokers to use bots, multiple accounts, and proxies to circumvent purchase limits, hoard tickets, and resell them at markups while misleading consumers about fair access. The action demanded injunctive relief, consumer redress, and civil penalties to curb scalping schemes. Additionally, in March 2025, Skrmetti issued public warnings against scams, urging vigilance as seasonal demand rises and citing common tactics like unsolicited offers and incomplete work.

Environmental issues

In June 2023, Skrmetti filed a lawsuit against more than 20 manufacturers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as "forever chemicals," alleging they knowingly contaminated Tennessee's water sources and environment while concealing health and ecological risks. The suit, brought under Tennessee's and laws, targeted companies including , DuPont, and Chemours, seeking abatement of pollution, cleanup costs, and damages for impacts on groundwater and . PFAS contamination has been linked to adverse effects on human health and , with Tennessee identifying elevated levels in multiple public water systems. Skrmetti has led or joined multistate efforts challenging federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations perceived as exceeding statutory authority. In April 2023, he spearheaded a 24-state coalition that secured a preliminary from the U.S. District Court for the District of against the EPA's "Waters of the " (WOTUS) rule, which aimed to expand federal jurisdiction over wetlands, streams, and other waters, potentially affecting agriculture and property rights in . The rule, finalized in 2023, reversed prior limitations under the Clean Water Act, prompting arguments that it unlawfully broadened regulatory scope without clear congressional intent. In April 2024, Skrmetti joined a 23-state coalition demanding the EPA cease using race-based criteria in environmental permitting and grant decisions, criticizing such "" practices under Title VI of the as unconstitutional and diverting from merit-based enforcement of pollution standards. The letter highlighted EPA programs prioritizing demographic factors over environmental data, which coalition states argued wasted resources and undermined equal protection. Skrmetti participated in a May petition by 25 Republican-led states to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, contesting EPA rules mandating 90% carbon emission reductions from existing coal-fired power by 2039 and stringent controls on new , including carbon capture requirements. Challengers contended the regulations were arbitrary, technologically unfeasible at scale, and likely to increase energy costs and grid instability without adequate statutory basis under the Clean Air Act, while ignoring economic impacts on states reliant on fossil fuels.

Social and cultural issues

Skrmetti has defended Tennessee's Senate Bill 1, enacted in 2023, which prohibits healthcare providers from prescribing puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, or performing surgeries to enable minors to identify with or attempt to alter their perceived sex. The law aims to protect minors from procedures deemed risky, including potential infertility and long-term health effects, amid debates over the efficacy and safety of such interventions for . In United States v. Skrmetti, Skrmetti represented the state before the , arguing the ban does not discriminate on the basis of sex under the but regulates medical practices based on age and evidence of harm. On June 18, 2025, the Court upheld the law in a 6-3 decision, affirming states' authority to restrict these treatments for minors while allowing them for adults. Skrmetti has framed opposition to ideology as rooted in objective truth, describing it as a philosophical and theological matter rather than merely cultural. In a June 2025 address at the , he attributed his role in the case to , stating "God puts his people where he needs them." On abortion, Skrmetti has upheld Tennessee's near-total ban, effective since the 2022 Dobbs decision, which permits exceptions only to save the mother's life or address serious risk of substantial impairment to major bodily function. He led a 17-state coalition in April 2024 suing the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission over a rule requiring workplace accommodations for s, arguing it exceeds federal authority under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. In January 2023, he joined other attorneys general opposing a Department of policy expanding services for veterans using federal funds. Skrmetti has contested federal efforts to shield medical records of patients seeking out-of-state s, asserting to enforce their laws through such information. He has stated no intent to prosecute women traveling out-of-state for s, focusing enforcement on providers. In litigation clarifying exceptions, such as for lethal fetal anomalies or severe maternal complications, his office has aligned with court interpretations allowing procedures in those narrow cases without broadening access.

Federal and multi-state challenges

As Tennessee's , Jonathan Skrmetti has defended state laws in federal courts and led or joined multi-state coalitions challenging federal regulations, particularly those perceived as overreaching into state authority on healthcare, , and . A landmark case was United States v. Skrmetti, where Skrmetti defended Tennessee Senate Bill 1 (SB1), enacted in 2023, which prohibits healthcare providers from performing gender-transition procedures on minors, including puberty blockers, , and surgeries. Plaintiffs, including three minors, their parents, and a doctor, filed a pre-enforcement challenge arguing the law violated the by discriminating on the basis of sex and status. The U.S. , in a 6-3 decision on June 18, 2025, upheld the law, holding it subject to rather than heightened scrutiny, as it regulates medical treatment based on age and does not facially discriminate by sex. Skrmetti argued the case orally before the Court on December 4, 2024, emphasizing the state's interest in protecting minors from irreversible treatments amid ongoing medical debate. Skrmetti has also spearheaded multi-state efforts against federal healthcare mandates. In May 2024, he co-led a lawsuit with Mississippi's Attorney General against a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rule reinterpreting the Affordable Care Act to require coverage of gender-transition procedures, arguing it exceeds statutory authority and compels states to fund ideologically driven care. This followed a November 2023 coalition he led opposing an HHS rule aimed at protecting LGBTQ youth in foster care, which Skrmetti and allies contended bypassed state sovereignty by imposing federal preferences in child welfare placements. In January 2025, Skrmetti joined 14 other states in suing HHS over updates to HIPAA privacy rules, alleging they undermine patient protections by facilitating disclosures related to sensitive medical decisions without adequate consent. On immigration, Skrmetti participated in a October 2024 amicus brief with 24 other state attorneys general supporting executive action to limit automatic birthright citizenship under the Fourteenth Amendment, urging clarification that it applies only to children of lawfully present parents, not those born to undocumented immigrants. These actions reflect a pattern of Republican-led states, including , contesting Biden-era policies through coordinated litigation, often prevailing in lower courts before appellate review. Skrmetti's office has further intervened in federal suits to defend Tennessee's restrictions on out-of-state access to involving minors, prioritizing state privacy laws over broader disclosure demands.

Recognition and influence

Awards and commendations

In May 2023, Skrmetti received the Defender of Freedom Award from the Tennessee Faith and Freedom Coalition, recognizing his defense of constitutional freedoms during his early tenure as . On April 14, 2025, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) trustees selected Skrmetti as the recipient of the Richard D. Land Distinguished Service Award, an annual honor given for exceptional leadership in advancing religious liberty through faith and .

Broader impact

Skrmetti's successful defense of Tennessee's ban on gender-transitioning medical interventions for minors in United States v. Skrmetti (2025) established a affirming states' to regulate such procedures without triggering heightened equal protection scrutiny, enabling similar laws in over 20 states to withstand federal challenges. This ruling, decided 6-3 on June 18, 2025, emphasized for distinctions based on biological sex, influencing ongoing litigation in jurisdictions like and where comparable statutes face scrutiny. Through participation in multi-state coalitions, Skrmetti has advanced challenges to federal policies on and executive authority, including a October 24, 2025, amicus filing supporting reinterpretation of birthright citizenship under the Fourteenth Amendment to exclude children of undocumented immigrants. These efforts align with broader conservative legal strategies to constrain federal overreach, as seen in prior joint actions against Biden-era regulations on healthcare and environmental mandates. In , Skrmetti's December 2023 lawsuit against under Tennessee's consumer laws for alleged "greenwashing" and ESG-driven investment misrepresentations has spurred similar state-level scrutiny of asset managers, contributing to a national reevaluation of duties amid debates over politicized investing. His office's broad litigation portfolio, defending state interests in over 100 federal cases annually, underscores a model for state attorneys general to shape national policy through defensive and offensive .

Controversies and criticisms

Allegations of opinion revisions

In September 2025, Tennessee State Senator accused Jonathan Skrmetti of omitting and altering sections of prior attorney general opinions concerning the Tennessee National Guard's classification as a state militia and the governor's deployment authority, amid Governor Bill Lee's announcement of Guard deployment to Memphis for public safety operations. The disputed opinions originated from former Attorney General Herbert Slatery's 2021 Opinion 21-05, which classified the as "the " under the Tennessee Constitution (Article I, Section 25), thereby restricting gubernatorial deployment to cases of or and requiring legislative approval, in line with constitutional prohibitions on military involvement in peacetime . In January 2024, Skrmetti's office issued Opinion 24-01, which reaffirmed the Guard's status as a constitutional . However, Yarbro alleged that by April 2024, Skrmetti's office had withdrawn Opinion 21-05 and revised its language to limit the Guard's militia designation "only for purposes of ," effectively removing state constitutional constraints on executive deployment without explanation or public notice until after the Memphis announcement. Yarbro, in a September 29, 2025, letter to Skrmetti and subsequent public statements, described the revisions as "reckless but seemingly lawless," arguing they undermined legislative oversight and risked enabling unconstitutional executive overreach akin to "tyranny," while questioning the legality of backdated changes without justification. Republican Senator Mark Pody countered that the deployment fell within the governor's inherent authority, independent of opinions. Skrmetti responded on October 1, 2025, stating that opinions are advisory and non-binding, and that Slatery's opinion was withdrawn on April 19, 2024, because it "did not accurately reflect the state of the law," without elaborating on specific inaccuracies or timing motives; he dismissed implications of prescience regarding the Memphis deployment by noting, "If I could see the future like that, I’d be neck deep in and Pokemon cards." Governor Lee proceeded with the deployment based on the revised interpretation. No formal legal challenge to the revisions has been filed as of October 2025, though Yarbro demanded documentation justifying the changes.

Disputes over social policy positions

Skrmetti defended Bill 1 (SB1), enacted in 2023, which prohibits healthcare providers from performing or administering medical interventions, including blockers, therapies, and surgeries, intended to enable minors to identify with or appear as the opposite biological sex. The law permits treatments for conditions like or congenital disorders but targets those linked to transition. Challengers, including the ACLU representing minors and their families, argued the ban constitutes sex-based discrimination under the , subjecting it to , and deprives of necessary care. The U.S. Department of Justice under the Biden administration joined the suit, claiming the law facially discriminates by treating minors differently based on birth sex and status. Skrmetti's office countered that the law applies neutrally to biological males and females seeking opposite-sex transitions, withstands rational-basis review as a measure safeguarding minors from interventions with uncertain long-term efficacy and documented risks like and loss, and aligns with restrictions in countries such as the and following systematic reviews of evidence. In United States v. Skrmetti (2025), the upheld the law 6-3, ruling it does not trigger heightened scrutiny absent a sex-based classification and remanding for merits review, a decision critics like the ACLU decried as endangering while supporters viewed as affirming states' authority to regulate unproven pediatric treatments. Skrmetti also enforced the Tennessee Adult Cabaret Act of 2023, which criminalizes performing "adult cabaret" entertainment—including male or female impersonations of the opposite sex—in public venues or where minors may be present, targeting sexually suggestive shows like certain drag performances advertised as family-friendly. LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and venues such as Friends of George's challenged the law as overbroad, violating First Amendment rights by vaguely defining performances and selectively restricting drag while permitting similar acts like cheerleading, and sought injunctions claiming it stifles expressive speech. Skrmetti appealed a federal district court's initial nationwide block, arguing the law regulates conduct with incidental speech impact, protects children from adult-oriented sexual content akin to obscenity standards, and does not target protected expression. The Sixth Circuit upheld the statute in 2024, finding it constitutional on its face, and the Supreme Court denied certiorari in February 2025, allowing enforcement; opponents criticized the outcome as anti-LGBTQ censorship, while Skrmetti hailed it as safeguarding minors from age-inappropriate material. On abortion, Skrmetti joined 21 other Republican attorneys general in a 2023 lawsuit against the FDA seeking to revoke approval of mifepristone or reinstate restrictions, contending the agency ignored safety data on risks like hemorrhage and incomplete abortions, even in states permitting the procedure. He led a coalition suing the EEOC in 2024 over a rule requiring employers to provide accommodations for abortion under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, asserting it overrides state bans like Tennessee's near-total prohibition post-Dobbs v. Jackson (2022) except for life-threatening cases. Additionally, his office issued subpoenas in 2025 to medical providers for records of post-viability abortions to investigate compliance, prompting pro-choice groups to accuse him of intimidating doctors and patients through invasive probes. Critics, including Democratic legislators, have broadly faulted Skrmetti for advancing a social conservative agenda via litigation, prioritizing ideological goals over neutral enforcement. Skrmetti maintained these actions uphold Tennessee's duly enacted laws protecting fetal life and public health, consistent with state sovereignty affirmed in Dobbs.

Personal life

Family and background

Jonathan Skrmetti was born and raised in , where his father worked as a nuclear engineer for the U.S. Navy at the local submarine base before retiring to employment at . His mother served as a public school teacher for 40 years in the Groton public schools system, including at Mystic Academy, Noank, and Eastern Point elementary schools. As a child, Skrmetti developed an early interest in reading, exemplified by winning an essay contest in fifth grade centered on his library card. Skrmetti pursued higher education, earning honors degrees from and Hertford College at the , followed by a J.D. from , where he served as editor-in-chief of the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy. He is married to Alisha Skrmetti, originally from , and the couple has four children—Sam, Sadie, Luke, and Evelyn—whom Alisha homeschools. The family resides in , and attends Harpeth Hills Church of Christ in Brentwood.

Religious involvement

Skrmetti is a member of the Harpeth Hills , a congregation in , affiliated with the Restoration Movement's denomination, which emphasizes practices and worship. He joined the later in life, having grown up in a non-irreligious but distinct household environment. Skrmetti prioritizes regular family attendance at church services, including midweek gatherings on Wednesdays, integrating faith practices into his household routine amid professional demands. He has described his conversion to this tradition as a deliberate choice that shapes his personal conduct and family life. In public reflections, Skrmetti has attributed aspects of his career path to , viewing his role in legal defenses aligned with biblical principles—such as —as extensions of , though he maintains these inform rather than dictate official duties. His involvement extends to supporting religious freedoms in civic contexts, such as critiquing municipal restrictions on events as discriminatory against expressions.

References

  1. https://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/about-the-office/general-skrmetti.html
  2. https://fedsoc.org/bio/jonathan-skrmetti
  3. https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/605/23-477/
  4. https://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/news/2025/4/21/pr25-24.html
  5. https://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/news/2025/5/28/pr25-32.html
  6. https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/01/24/tennessees-legal-warrior-jonathan-skrmettis-biggest-case-awaits-supreme-court-verdict/
  7. https://www.knoxnews.com/story/opinion/2024/02/26/suing-the-ncaa-keeps-tennessee-attorney-general-jonathan-skrmetti-in-the-public-eye/72660480007/
  8. https://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/news/2025/10/23/pr25-51.html
  9. https://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/news/2025/8/25/pr25-43.html
  10. https://theday.com/news/761583/mystic-native-making-his-mark-as-tennessees-attorney-general/
  11. https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2024/02/15/jonathan-skrmetti-tennessee-attorney-general-vols-investigation-ncaa-lawsuit/72570047007/
  12. https://christianchronicle.org/christian-at-center-of-big-case-has-this-sweet-spirit/
  13. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-skrmetti-50a2782b
  14. https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/469466/Jonathan_Thomas_Skrmetti.html
  15. https://www.tncourts.gov/press/2022/08/10/tennessee-supreme-court-selects-jonathan-skrmetti-attorney-general
  16. https://www.lawdragon.com/press-releases/2014-01-29-jonathan-skrmetti-joins-butler-snow
  17. https://www.butlersnow.com/news-and-events/jim-letten-joining-senior-counsel-continuing-strength-white-collar-crime-group
  18. https://www.scotusblog.com/2020/06/symposium-the-triumph-of-textualism-only-the-written-word-is-the-law/
  19. https://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral.html
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  22. https://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/working-for-tennessee/consumer-affairs.html
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  26. https://ncdoj.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/86-Second-Amended-Complaint.pdf
  27. https://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/news/2025/9/18/pr25-48.html
  28. https://www.wvlt.tv/2025/03/21/tn-attorney-general-warns-against-home-improvement-fraud/
  29. https://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/news/2023/6/29/pr23-22.html
  30. https://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/news/2023/4/14/ma23-21.html
  31. https://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/news/2024/4/17/pr24-36.html
  32. https://tennesseelookout.com/2024/05/15/tennessee-ag-joins-gop-states-challenge-to-new-epa-rules-requiring-power-plant-pollution-controls/
  33. https://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/news/2024/10/8/pr24-72.html
  34. https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/23-477_2cp3.pdf
  35. https://www.uu.edu/news/release.cfm?ID=3006
  36. https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/religion/2025/06/10/tn-ag-jonathan-skrmetti-cites-gods-will-scotus-ruling-trans-care-case-sbc/84134823007/
  37. https://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/news/2023/1/18/pr23-01.html
  38. https://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/news/2024/4/25/pr24-38.html
  39. https://tennesseelookout.com/2023/01/19/tennessee-attorney-general-opposes-federal-abortion-services-for-veterans/
  40. https://tennesseelookout.com/2023/07/18/tennessee-ag-asserts-right-to-out-of-state-abortion-transgender-care-medical-records/
  41. https://www.newschannel5.com/news/newschannel-5-investigates/revealed/revealed-tennessee-ag-skrmetti-insists-hes-not-targeting-women-who-leave-state-for-abortions
  42. https://sph.cuny.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/A-Tenn.-Court-Gets-Specific-On-Abortion-Ban-Exceptions-Law360-Healthcare-Authority.pdf
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  46. https://www.paubox.com/blog/lessons-learned-from-clash-between-states-and-hss-over-hipaa-rule-update
  47. https://tennesseelookout.com/briefs/tennessee-attorney-general-joins-legal-fight-against-automatic-birthright-citizenship/
  48. https://www.actionnews5.com/2025/10/24/miss-courts-rule-against-gender-policies-introduced-by-biden-admin/
  49. https://www.thecentersquare.com/tennessee/article_7933f6c3-272d-4bc1-b27c-e180cd9d6d3d.html
  50. https://tennesseestar.com/news/tennessee-faith-and-freedom-coalition-presents-attorney-general-jonathan-skrmetti-with-defender-of-freedom-award/khousler/2023/05/05/
  51. https://www.kentuckytoday.com/baptist_life/erlc-trustees-hear-policy-updates-select-award-recipients/article_97748ba5-7151-4992-ba38-278dcec025ff.html
  52. https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/case-files/united-states-v-skrmetti/
  53. https://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/news/2025/10/24/pr25-52.html
  54. https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/images/press/State%2520AGs%2520Comment%2520on%2520Proposed%2520HHS%2520Sec%25201557%2520Regulation.pdf
  55. https://www.crowell.com/en/insights/client-alerts/tennessee-ag-sues-blackrock-using-unprecedented-consumer-protection-claims-focused-on-esg-considerations
  56. https://www.chainalysis.com/blog/tennessee-ag-jonathan-skrmetti-ep-84/
  57. https://tennesseelookout.com/2025/10/01/tennessee-lawmaker-says-ag-omitted-altered-guard-deployment-opinions/
  58. https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2025/09/30/national-guard-memphis-deleted-tennessee-ag-opinion-unconstitutional/86436921007/
  59. https://www.tba.org/?pg=LawBlog&blAction=showEntry&blogEntry=132144
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  61. https://www.memphisflyer.com/elected-officials-claim-missing-legal-opinions-challenge-constitutionality-of-national-guard-presence
  62. https://tennesseelookout.com/2025/10/03/tennessee-governor-takes-ags-altered-advice-on-guard-deployment/
  63. https://www.aclu.org/cases/l-w-v-skrmetti
  64. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/scotus-tosses-challenge-tn-law-banning-drag-shows-kids-present-state-ag-hails-decision
  65. https://tennesseelookout.com/briefs/u-s-appeals-court-upholds-tennessee-drag-show-ban/
  66. https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/tennessee-attorney-general-to-appeal-decision-striking-down-state-s-drag-show-law/article_2608ed54-0400-11ee-a236-dfb7001ea12c.html
  67. https://tennesseelookout.com/2023/02/13/attorneys-general-from-23-gop-led-states-back-suit-seeking-to-block-abortion-pill/
  68. https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/tennessee-advocates-planned-parenthood/blog/tennessee-ag-demands-subpoenas-four-medical-groups-for-records-of-abortions
  69. https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/2023/04/19/tennessee-attorney-general-jonathan-skrmetti-winning-fans-drawing-scrutiny/70046942007/
  70. https://www.stateagreport.com/spotlight-archive/spotlight-tn-ag-jonathan-skrmetti/
  71. https://christianchronicle.org/episode/episode-111-tennessee-attorney-general-jonathan-skrmetti-is-in-the-supreme-courts-biggest-transgender-case-ever/
  72. https://firstliberty.org/news/tennessee-attorney-general-joins-legal-battle-for-local-resident-who-wants-to-host-charlie-kirk-prayer-vigil/
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