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Case TitleJUDICIAL WATCH, INC. v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2020cv00550
Date Filed2020-02-25
Date Closed2023-04-06
JudgeJudge Ana C. Reyes
PlaintiffJUDICIAL WATCH, INC.
Case DescriptionJudicial Watch submitted a FOIA request to the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice for records concerning a January 2017 meeting at the White House involving OPDAT Regional Director Catherine Newcombe, Department of State Legal Advisor Jeff Cole, and representatives of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine. The request also asked for any communications between Newcombe and National Security Council staffer Eric Ciaramella. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Judicial Watch filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2020-02-251COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number ADCDC-6861454) filed by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, # 3 Summons U.S. Attorney General, # 4 Summons U.S. Department of Justice)(Aldrich, Jason) (Entered: 02/25/2020)
2020-02-252LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. (Aldrich, Jason) (Entered: 02/25/2020)
2020-02-26Case Assigned to Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. (adh, ) (Entered: 02/26/2020)
2020-02-263SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(adh, ) (Entered: 02/26/2020)
2020-03-194GENERAL ORDER AND GUIDELINES APPLICABLE TO FOIA CASES ASSIGNED TO JUDGE KETANJI BROWN JACKSON. The Court will hold the parties and counsel responsible for following these directives, and parties and counsel should pay particular attention to the Court's instructions for processing and production of records, batching motions, and filing exhibits. Failure to adhere to this Order may, when appropriate, result the imposition of sanctions and/or sua sponte denial of non-conforming motions. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 3/19/2020. (jag) (Entered: 03/19/2020)
2020-03-245RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 3/23/2020. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 4/22/2020.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 3/4/2020., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 3/4/2020 (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Cristina Rotaru)(Aldrich, Jason) (Entered: 03/24/2020)
2020-04-226NOTICE of Appearance by Carol Federighi on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Federighi, Carol) (Entered: 04/22/2020)
2020-04-227ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.(Federighi, Carol) (Entered: 04/22/2020)
2020-04-27MINUTE ORDER. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chief Judge Beryl Howell has now issued two Standing Orders presumptively postponing all proceedings in the District Court until after June 1, 2020. See In re: Extension of Postponed Court Proceedings in Standing Order 20-9 and Limiting Court Operations in Exigent Circumstances Created by the COVID-19 Pandemic, Standing Order 20-19 (D.D.C.); In re: Court Operations in Exigent Circumstances created by the Covid-19 Pandemic, Standing Order No. 20-9 (D.D.C). In light of the ongoing pandemic, and the associated difficulties that it is causing in workplaces, this Court is extending the standard period of time that it affords parties to submit proposed schedules for briefing or disclosure in FOIA cases following submission of an answer. Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before 5/27/2020, the parties shall confer and submit a proposed schedule for briefing or disclosure. This Court will freely grant extensions of this deadline should the need arise. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 4/27/2020. (jag) (Entered: 04/27/2020)
2020-05-278Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Federighi, Carol) (Entered: 05/27/2020)
2020-05-27MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 8 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before 6/29/2020, the parties shall file a further joint status report, which shall include a proposed schedule for further proceedings if litigation is going to be necessary. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 5/27/2020. (jag) (Entered: 05/27/2020)
2020-06-299Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Federighi, Carol) (Entered: 06/29/2020)
2020-06-30MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 9 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before 11/10/2020, the parties shall file a further joint status report, which shall include a proposed schedule for further proceedings if litigation is going to be necessary. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 6/30/2020. (jag) (Entered: 06/30/2020)
2020-11-1010Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Federighi, Carol) (Entered: 11/10/2020)
2020-11-11MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 10 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before 2/10/2021, the parties shall file a further joint status report, which shall include a proposed schedule for further proceedings if litigation is going to be necessary. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 11/11/2020. (jag) (Entered: 11/11/2020)
2021-02-1011Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Federighi, Carol) (Entered: 02/10/2021)
2021-02-12MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 11 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before 5/10/2021, the parties shall file a further joint status report, which shall include a proposed schedule for further proceedings if litigation is going to be necessary. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 2/12/2021. (jag) (Entered: 02/12/2021)
2021-05-1012Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Federighi, Carol) (Entered: 05/10/2021)
2021-06-02MINUTE ORDER. In light of the representations in the parties' 12 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that, on or before 8/10/2021, the parties shall file further joint status report, which shall contain a proposed schedule for further proceedings if litigation is going to be necessary. Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 6/2/2021. (jag) (Entered: 06/02/2021)
2021-06-29Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has been elevated to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. She is therefore no longer assigned to this case, and this matter has been reassigned to the Calendar Committee, which will oversee it until it is assigned to another district judge. Any questions should be directed to Judge Jackson's former deputy clerk, Gwendolyn Franklin, at 202-354-3145 or gwen_franklin@dcd.uscourts.gov. (rj) (Entered: 06/29/2021)
2021-08-1013Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Federighi, Carol) (Entered: 08/10/2021)
2021-08-11MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 13 the parties' Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file another joint status report on or before November 10, 2021. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 8/11/2021. (lcrc3) (Entered: 08/11/2021)
2021-08-25Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/10/2021. (zgdf) (Entered: 08/25/2021)
2021-10-01Case directly reassigned to Judge Florence Y. Pan. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has been appointed to the D.C. Circuit and is no longer assigned to the case. (rj) (Entered: 10/01/2021)
2021-11-1214Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Federighi, Carol) (Entered: 11/12/2021)
2021-11-16MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 14 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before February 11, 2022. Signed by Judge Florence Y. Pan on 11/16/2021. (lcsw) (Entered: 11/16/2021)
2021-11-16Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 2/11/2022. (zacr) (Entered: 11/17/2021)
2022-02-1115Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Federighi, Carol) (Entered: 02/11/2022)
2022-02-14MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 15 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before May 11, 2022. Signed by Judge Florence Y. Pan on 2/14/2022. (lcsw) (Entered: 02/14/2022)
2022-02-14Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 5/11/2022. (zacr) (Entered: 02/15/2022)
2022-05-1116Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Federighi, Carol) (Entered: 05/11/2022)
2022-05-12MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 16 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before August 4, 2022. Signed by Judge Florence Y. Pan on 5/12/2022. (lcrl) (Entered: 05/12/2022)
2022-05-12Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/4/2022. (zacr) (Entered: 05/12/2022)
2022-08-0217Joint STATUS REPORT Joint Status Report by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Aldrich, Jason) (Entered: 08/02/2022)
2022-08-03MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 17 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before September 30, 2022. Signed by Judge Florence Y. Pan on 8/3/22. (znl) (Entered: 08/03/2022)
2022-08-03Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 9/30/2022. (smc) (Entered: 08/03/2022)
2022-09-23Judge Florence Y. Pan has been elevated to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. She is therefore no longer assigned to this case, and this matter has been reassigned to the Calendar Committee, which will oversee it until it is assigned to another district judge. Any questions should be directed to Judge Pan's former deputy clerk, Samantha Calloway, at 202-354-3163 or samantha_calloway@dcd.uscourts.gov. (ztnr) (Entered: 09/23/2022)
2022-09-3018Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Federighi, Carol) (Entered: 09/30/2022)
2022-10-03MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 18 the parties' Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report before or on November 18, 2022. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 10-3-2022. (lcrc3) (Entered: 10/03/2022)
2022-10-03Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/18/2022. (smc) (Entered: 10/03/2022)
2022-11-1819Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Federighi, Carol) (Entered: 11/18/2022)
2022-11-21MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 19 the parties' Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report before or on December 19, 2022. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 11-21-2022. (lcrc3) (Entered: 11/21/2022)
2022-11-21Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/19/2022. (zsmc) (Entered: 11/21/2022)
2022-12-1920Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Federighi, Carol) (Entered: 12/19/2022)
2022-12-20MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 20 the parties' Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before January 19, 2023. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 12-20-2022. (lcrc3) (Entered: 12/20/2022)
2022-12-20Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 1/19/2023. (zsmc) (Entered: 12/20/2022)
2023-01-1921Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Federighi, Carol) (Entered: 01/19/2023)
2023-01-20MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 21 the parties' Joint Status Report, it is hereby ordered that the parties shall submit another joint status report on or before March 6, 2023. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 1-20-2023. (lcrc3) (Entered: 01/20/2023)
2023-01-20Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 3/6/2023. (zsmc) (Entered: 01/20/2023)
2023-02-24Case directly reassigned to District Judge Ana C. Reyes. Circuit Judge Florence Y Pan is no longer assigned to the case. (ztnr) (Entered: 02/24/2023)
2023-03-0622Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Federighi, Carol) (Entered: 03/06/2023)
2023-03-06MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' 22 Joint Status Report, the parties are directed to file another joint status report on or before April 5, 2023. Signed by Judge Ana C. Reyes on 3/6/2023. (lcjo) (Entered: 03/06/2023)
2023-03-06Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Joint Status Report due by 4/5/2023. (zcdw) (Entered: 03/06/2023)
2023-04-0523STIPULATION of Dismissal Stipulation of Dismissal by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Aldrich, Jason) (Entered: 04/05/2023)
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