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Case TitleTahirih Justice Center v. United States Department of Justice et al
DistrictEastern District of Virginia
CityAlexandria
Case Number1:2023cv00751
Date Filed2023-06-09
Date Closed2024-02-07
JudgeDistrict Judge Claude M. Hilton
PlaintiffTahirih Justice Center
Case DescriptionTahirih Justice Center submitted two FOIA requests to the Executive Office of Immigration Review for records concerning its hiring of recent administrative judges. The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests. The agency disclosed records in response to both requests, but the records were heavily redacted under Exemption 5 (privileges) and Exemption 6 (invasion of privacy). Tahirih Justice Center filed administrative appeals of both requests but after being dissatisfied with DOJ's responses, Tahirih Justice Center filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Public Interest Fee Waiver, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantUS Department of Justice, Executive Office of Immigration Review, a subagency of the United States Department of Justice
DefendantUnited States Department Of Justice
DefendantExecutive Office of Immigration Review a sub-agency of the United States Department of Justice
Documents
Docket
Complaint
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User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2023-06-091Complaint ( Filing fee $ 402, receipt number AVAEDC-8975238.), filed by Tahirih Justice Center. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Exhibit, # 4 Exhibit, # 5 Exhibit, # 6 Exhibit, # 7 Exhibit, # 8 Exhibit, # 9 Exhibit, # 10 Exhibit, # 11 Exhibit, # 12 Exhibit, # 13 Exhibit, # 14 Exhibit, # 15 Exhibit, # 16 Exhibit, # 17 Exhibit, # 18 Exhibit, # 19 Exhibit, # 20 Exhibit, # 21 Exhibit, # 22 Exhibit, # 23 Exhibit, # 24 Exhibit, # 25 Exhibit, # 26 Exhibit, # 27 Exhibit, # 28 Exhibit, # 29 Exhibit, # 30 Exhibit, # 31 Exhibit, # 32 Exhibit, # 33 Exhibit, # 34 Exhibit, # 35 Exhibit, # 36 Exhibit, # 37 Exhibit, # 38 Exhibit, # 39 Exhibit, # 40 Exhibit, # 41 Exhibit, # 42 Exhibit, # 43 Exhibit, # 44 Exhibit, # 45 Exhibit, # 46 Exhibit, # 47 Civil Cover Sheet)(Curran, Patrick) (Entered: 06/09/2023)
2023-06-092Corporate Disclosure Statement by Tahirih Justice Center. (Curran, Patrick) (Entered: 06/09/2023)
2023-06-093Proposed Summons re 1 Complaint,,, as to US Department of Justice Office of the Attorney General by Tahirih Justice Center. (Curran, Patrick) (Main Document 3 replaced to correct summons on 6/13/2023) (Sbro). (Entered: 06/09/2023)
2023-06-094Proposed Summons re 1 Complaint,,, as to Jessica D. Aber, US Attorney by Tahirih Justice Center. (Curran, Patrick) (Main Document 4 replaced to correct summons on 6/13/2023) (Sbro). (Entered: 06/09/2023)
2023-06-095Proposed Summons re 1 Complaint,,, as to Executive Office for Immigration Review by Tahirih Justice Center. (Curran, Patrick) (Main Document 5 replaced to correct summons on 6/13/2023) (Sbro). (Entered: 06/09/2023)
2023-06-096Proposed Summons re 1 Complaint,,, as to US Department of Justice by Tahirih Justice Center. (Curran, Patrick) (Main Document 6 replaced to correct summons on 6/13/2023) (Sbro). (Entered: 06/09/2023)
2023-06-09Initial Case Assignment to District Judge Claude M. Hilton and Magistrate Judge Ivan D. Davis. (Sbro) (Entered: 06/12/2023)
2023-06-12Notice of Correction re 6 Proposed Summons, 5 Proposed Summons. Attorney notified that there are two proposed summons filed for one defendant. Please notify the court as to which summons is correct. (sbro) (Entered: 06/12/2023)
2023-06-137Summons Issued as to Executive Office of Immigration Review, United States Department Of Justice, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General NOTICE TO ATTORNEY: Please remove the headers and print two duplexed copies of the electronically issued summons for each Defendant. Please serve one copy of the summons and a copy of the Complaint upon each Defendant. Please ensure that your process server returns the service copy (executed or unexecuted) to your attention and electronically file it using the filing events, Summons Returned Executed as to USA or Summons Returned Unexecuted as to USA. (Attachments: # 1 Notice to Attorney)(Sbro) (Entered: 06/13/2023)
2023-07-148Joint MOTION for Extension of Time for Defendants To File Response to Plaintiff's Complaint by Executive Office of Immigration Review, United States Department Of Justice. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Wesnousky, Carolyn) (Entered: 07/14/2023)
2023-07-179ORDERED that the motion is granted; and it is further ORDERED that Defendants shall file their response to Plaintiff's Complaint on or before July 31, 2023 in re 8 Motion for Extension of Time to File. Signed by District Judge Claude M. Hilton on 7/17/2023. (show) (Entered: 07/18/2023)
2023-07-17Set Deadlines: Executive Office of Immigration Review answer due 7/31/2023; United States Department Of Justice answer due 7/31/2023 in re 1 Complaint. (show) (Entered: 07/18/2023)
2023-07-2010SUMMONS Returned Executed by Tahirih Justice Center. All Defendants. (Curran, Patrick) (Entered: 07/20/2023)
2023-07-2711Joint MOTION for Extension of Time for Defendants to File Response to Plaintiff's Complaint by Executive Office of Immigration Review, United States Department Of Justice. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Wesnousky, Carolyn) (Entered: 07/27/2023)
2023-07-3112ORDERED that the Motion is GRANTED. Defendants shall file their response to Plaintiff's Complaint on or before August 14, 2023. It is further ORDERED that no further extensions will be granted absent extraordinary circumstances in re 11 Joint MOTION for Extension of Time for Defendants to File Response to Plaintiff's Complaint. Signed by Magistrate Judge Ivan D. Davis on 7/31/2023. (swil) (Entered: 07/31/2023)
2023-08-1413ANSWER to Complaint by Executive Office of Immigration Review, United States Department Of Justice.(Wesnousky, Carolyn) (Entered: 08/14/2023)
2023-08-1514SCHEDULING ORDER: Initial Pretrial Conference set for 8/30/2023 at 11:00 AM in Alexandria Courtroom 301 before Magistrate Judge Ivan D. Davis. Discovery due by 1/12/2024. Final Pretrial Conference set for 1/18/2024 at 10:00 AM in Alexandria Courtroom 800 before District Judge Claude M. Hilton. Signed by District Judge Claude M. Hilton on 8/15/2023. (Attachments: # 1 Magistrate Consent Form, # 2 Pretrial Notice) (tran) (Entered: 08/17/2023)
2023-08-2115Joint MOTION to Vacate Initial Scheduling Order by Executive Office of Immigration Review, United States Department Of Justice. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Wesnousky, Carolyn) (Entered: 08/21/2023)
2023-08-2516ORDERED that the parties' Joint Motion to Vacate Initial Scheduling Order is GRANTED and the Court's Scheduling Order is VACATED. It is FURTHER ORDERED that the parties shall file cross-motions for summary judgment. Signed by District Judge Claude M. Hilton on 8/25/2023. (nneb) (Entered: 08/28/2023)
2023-12-1517ORDERED that the Plaintiff within twenty (20) days shoe cause why this case should not be dismissed for failure to prosecute pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b). Signed by District Judge Claude M. Hilton on 12/15/2023. (wgar, ) (Entered: 12/15/2023)
2024-01-0418Response to 17 Order to Show Cause filed by Tahirih Justice Center. (Curran, Patrick) (Entered: 01/04/2024)
2024-01-0919ORDERED that this case is STAYED until February 8, 2024. If a stipulation of dismissal has not been filed before the stay expires, the parties shall file a status report concerning the case and settlement negotiations. Signed by District Judge Claude M. Hilton on 1/9/2024. (Sbro) (Entered: 01/09/2024)
2024-02-0720STIPULATION of Dismissal With Prejudice by Executive Office of Immigration Review, United States Department Of Justice. (Wesnousky, Carolyn) (Entered: 02/07/2024)
2024-02-0721ORDER granting 20 Stipulation of Dismissal filed by Executive Office of Immigration Review, United States Department Of Justice. Signed by District Judge Claude M. Hilton on 2/7/2024. (Sbro) (Entered: 02/07/2024)
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by FOIA Project Staff
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