Skip to content

Case Detail

[Subscribe to updates]
Case TitleJUDICIAL WATCH, INC. v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE et al
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2023cv01161
Date Filed2023-04-26
Date Closed2024-05-06
JudgeJudge Randolph D. Moss
PlaintiffJUDICIAL WATCH, INC.
Case DescriptionJudicial Watch submitted FOIA requests to the FBI for records concerning the use of Facebook's Content Request Government Reporting System by anyone working for the FBI. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request and issued a Glomar response neither confirming nor denying the existence of records based on Exemption 7(E) (investigative methods or techniques). Judicial Watch filed an administrative appeal of the denial. Judicial Watch also submitted a FOIA request to the Cybersecurity and Information Security Agency, a component of the Department of Homeland Security also seeking records on whether anyone at that agency worked with the Facebook Content Request Government Reporting System. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. CISA asked Judicial Watch for a time frame for its request. Judicial Watch also submitted a FOIA request to the National Security Division at DOJ for the same kinds of records about the Facebook system. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. After hearing nothing further from the agencies concerning any of its requests, 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
DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Complaint attachment 5
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2023-04-261COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-10027956) filed by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons U.S. Department of Justice, # 3 Summons U.S. Department of Homeland Security, # 4 Summons U.S. Attorney General, # 5 Summons U.S. Attorney)(Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 04/26/2023)
2023-04-262LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. (Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 04/26/2023)
2023-04-27Case Assigned to Judge Randolph D. Moss. (zcb) (Entered: 04/27/2023)
2023-04-273SUMMONS (4) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zcb) (Entered: 04/27/2023)
2023-04-274STANDING ORDER: The parties are hereby ORDERED to comply with the directives set forth in the attached Standing Order. See document for details. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 4/27/2023. (lcrdm1) (Entered: 04/27/2023)
2023-05-105RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 5/4/2023. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 6/3/2023.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 5/10/2023., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY served on 5/9/2023; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 5/10/2023 (Attachments: # 1 Declaration Brooke Paz)(Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 05/10/2023)
2023-06-026MOTION for Extension of Time to File by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Peterson, Benton) (Entered: 06/02/2023)
2023-06-04MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of Defendant's motion for extension of time to respond to the complaint, Dkt. 6 , it is hereby ORDERED that Plaintiff shall respond on or before June 7, 2023. It is further ORDERED that the deadline for Defendant to respond to the complaint is STAYED pending further order of the Court. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 6/4/2023. (lcrdm1) (Entered: 06/04/2023)
2023-06-057RESPONSE re 6 MOTION for Extension of Time to File filed by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 06/05/2023)
2023-06-06MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of Defendant's motion for extension of time to respond to the complaint, Dkt. 6 , and Plaintiff's opposition, Dkt. 7 , it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. Defendant shall respond to the complaint on or before June 26, 2023. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 6/6/2023. (lcrdm1) (Entered: 06/06/2023)
2023-06-268ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.(Peterson, Benton) (Entered: 06/26/2023)
2023-06-26MINUTE ORDER: It is ORDERED that, on or before July 18, 2023, the parties shall confer and file a joint status report addressing (1) any documents still to be produced pursuant to FOIA; (2) an anticipated schedule for processing and producing any such documents; and (3) any substantive areas of disagreement between the parties. It is FURTHER ORDERED that the parties shall appear by video for an Initial Scheduling Conference on July 25, 2023, at 10:30 a.m., via Zoom. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 6/26/2023.(lcrdm3) (Entered: 06/26/2023)
2023-07-189Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Peterson, Benton) (Entered: 07/18/2023)
2023-07-19MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' joint status report, Dkt. 9 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before September 7, 2023, and the first Friday of every odd numbered month thereafter. It is further ORDERED that the Initial Scheduling Conference previously scheduled for July 25, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. via Zoom is hereby VACATED. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 7/19/2023. (lcrdm1) (Entered: 07/19/2023)
2023-09-0710Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Peterson, Benton) (Entered: 09/07/2023)
2023-11-0311Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Peterson, Benton) (Entered: 11/03/2023)
2024-01-0512Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Peterson, Benton) (Entered: 01/05/2024)
2024-03-04MINUTE ORDER: On July 19, 2023, the Court ordered the parties to submit a joint status report on "the first Friday of every odd numbered month." The first Friday in March was on March 1, 2024. But the parties have yet to file a joint status report. Accordingly, the parties are hereby ORDERED to file a joint status report on or before March 6, 2024. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 3/4/2024. (lcrdm1) (Entered: 03/04/2024)
2024-03-0613Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Peterson, Benton) (Entered: 03/06/2024)
2024-03-08MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' joint status report, Dkt. 13 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties file a further joint status report on or before April 5, 2024. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 3/8/2024. (lcrdm1) (Entered: 03/08/2024)
2024-04-0514Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Peterson, Benton) (Entered: 04/05/2024)
2024-04-05MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' joint status report, Dkt. 14 , it is hereby ORDERED that the parties file a further joint status report on or before May 5, 2024. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 4/5/2024. (lcrdm1) (Entered: 04/05/2024)
2024-05-0615STIPULATION of Dismissal by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Peterson, Benton) (Entered: 05/06/2024)
2024-05-06MINUTE ORDER: Pursuant to the parties' Stipulation of Dismissal, Dkt. 15 , it is hereby ORDERED that the case is DISMISSED with prejudice, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1)(A)(ii). The Clerk of Court is directed to terminate this case. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 5/6/2024. (lcrdm1) (Entered: 05/06/2024)
Hide Docket Events
by FOIA Project Staff
Skip to toolbar