RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. (WGNS News) - Nearly six months after being fired amid a highly publicized dispute over the placement of certain children’s books, former Rutherford County Library System Executive Director Luanne James has taken the battle to federal court. Ms. James filed a lawsuit Wednesday, September 23, against the library system and members of its board, alleging her March termination violated her civil rights, employment protections and First Amendment rights. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Nashville.

James was terminated March 30 after serving approximately 120 days as executive director. Her dismissal followed an 8-3 board vote and her refusal to carry out an earlier board directive to relocate 132 books from the children’s section to the adult section. James has said a majority of the titles involved LGBTQ+ subjects and maintained that relocating the books based on their content or viewpoint raised constitutional concerns. The board members supporting the relocation had maintained that the materials were inappropriate for children. 

During the March 30, 2026, library board meeting, Cody York, then-chair of the Rutherford County Library System (RCLS) Board of Directors, gave Ms. James an opportunity to make final remarks before the board voted on her termination... Ms. James paused, took time to look each board member in the face - - and then stated, “I really didn't have anything prepared.” Following a second brief period of silence, she decided to offer a final, resolute statement... The room erupted into a 46-second applause from supporters that were at the March board meeting. That applause ended with the sound of York’s gavel. Immediately following the statement, Board Member Beth Duffield introduced the motion for termination. The motion was later amended to allow Board Member Lynn Reynolds to participate in the search process as the executive committee begins the hunt for James’s successor.

Now, James is asking a federal court to weigh in on the dispute. Her lawsuit alleges discrimination and wrongful termination and seeks unspecified economic damages, including back pay, front pay and lost employment benefits. The complaint also seeks compensatory damages for alleged emotional pain, suffering, inconvenience and mental anguish, along with attorney fees and costs. 

In December 2025, James publicly alleged that then-Board Chair Cody York had previously asked her to remove certain books without a board vote and requested detailed information about library patrons. York denied any wrongdoing. James subsequently refused the board's March directive concerning the 132 books, telling board members in a March 18, 2026 email that carrying it out would violate First Amendment rights.

Following James' termination, longtime RCLS Human Resources and Finance Manager David Coutcher was appointed interim director. Coutcher had worked for the library system for nearly 16 years and was tasked with maintaining daily operations while the board searched for permanent leadership. 

• Interim library director in place, see that news article HERE.

There has also been a new development in that search. The Rutherford County Library System Board unanimously agreed on September 21 to offer the executive director position to Heath Lee, according to Board Chairman Sam Huddleston. Lee accepted the position at a starting annual salary of $129,000 and is expected to begin by early November. Lee has served since 2020 as director of the Mountain Regional Library System in northeast Georgia.

WGNS will continue to follow this news story. 

• Previous news article from March HERE.