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Case TitleJUDICIAL WATCH, INC. v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2018cv00668
Date Filed2018-03-23
Date Closed2021-03-29
JudgeJudge John D. Bates
PlaintiffJUDICIAL WATCH, INC.
Case DescriptionJudicial Watch submitted a FOIA request to the Department of State for records concerning funding for the Open Society Foundation's operations in Colombia or other South American organizations that might receive funding through the Open Society Foundation for their work in Colombia. 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 STATE The Executive Office, Office of the Legal Adviser
DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
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

2018-03-231COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-5386366) filed by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons for U.S. Attorney for DC, # 3 Summons for Attorney General, # 4 Summons for U.S. Department of State)(Aldrich, Jason) (Entered: 03/23/2018)
2018-03-232LCvR 7.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. (Aldrich, Jason) (Entered: 03/23/2018)
2018-03-23Case Assigned to Judge John D. Bates. (zmd) (Entered: 03/26/2018)
2018-03-293SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General. (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent) (tth) (Entered: 03/29/2018)
2018-04-034RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 4/2/2018. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 5/2/2018.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 04/02/18., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE served on 4/3/2018 (Attachments: # 1 Summons for U.S. Attorney for DC, # 2 Summons for U.S. Attorney General, # 3 Summons for U.S. Department of State)(Aldrich, Jason) (Entered: 04/03/2018)
2018-04-275NOTICE of Appearance by Patricia K. McBride on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 04/27/2018)
2018-05-026ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE.(McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 05/02/2018)
2018-05-037SCHEDULING ORDER requiring the parties to submit joint or separate proposed schedules for filing dispositive motions by not later than June 1, 2018. See text of order for details. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 5/3/2018. (lcjdb2) (Entered: 05/03/2018)
2018-05-03Set/Reset Deadlines: Proposed Briefing Schedule due by 6/1/2018. (tb) (Entered: 05/03/2018)
2018-06-018STATUS REPORT Status Report by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Aldrich, Jason) (Entered: 06/01/2018)
2018-06-049Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order, # 2 Exhibit Joint Status Report)(McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 06/04/2018)
2018-06-05MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 9 defendant's unopposed motion for extension of time to file a status report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED; it is further ORDERED that [9-2] defendant's status report is deemed FILED. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 6/5/2018. (lcjdb2) (Entered: 06/05/2018)
2018-06-05MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 8 and [9-2] the parties' status reports, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint status report by not later than July 6, 2018 containing either a proposed document production schedule or a proposed briefing schedule. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 6/5/2018. (lcjdb2) (Entered: 06/05/2018)
2018-06-0510Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (ztd) (Entered: 06/05/2018)
2018-06-05Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 7/6/2018. (tb) (Entered: 06/05/2018)
2018-07-0511Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 07/05/2018)
2018-10-0912MINUTE ORDER: It is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint status report on defendant's document production by not later than November 12, 2018. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 10/9/2018. (lcjdb2) (Entered: 10/09/2018)
2018-10-12Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/12/2018. (tb) (Entered: 10/12/2018)
2018-11-0913Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 11/09/2018)
2018-11-24MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 13 the parties' joint status report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint status report on defendant's document production by not later than January 15, 2019. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 11/24/2018. (lcjdb2) (Entered: 11/24/2018)
2018-11-26Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 1/15/2019. (tb) (Entered: 11/26/2018)
2019-01-1114Unopposed MOTION to Stay , MOTION for Extension of Time to in Light of Lapse of Appropriations by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Hudak, Brian) (Entered: 01/11/2019)
2019-01-14MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 14 defendant's unopposed motion for a stay and for extension of time in light of the lapse in appropriations, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED; it is further ORDERED that all pending deadlines in this action are stayed for the duration of the lapse; and it is further ORDERED that defendant shall file a joint status report both notifying the Court that funding has been restored and, in accordance with the Court's November 24, 2018, Minute Order, updating the Court on defendant's document production, by not later than seven days after the lapse has ceased. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 1/14/2019. (lcjdb2) (Entered: 01/14/2019)
2019-02-0115NOTICE of Restored Government Funding by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 02/01/2019)
2019-02-14MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 15 defendant's notice of restored funding and request to file a joint status report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED; it is further ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint status report updating the Court on defendant's document production by not later than March 12, 2019. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 2/14/2019. (lcjdb2) (Entered: 02/14/2019)
2019-02-14Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 3/12/2019. (tb) (Entered: 02/14/2019)
2019-03-1216Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 03/12/2019)
2019-03-13MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 16 the parties' joint status report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint status report on defendant's document production by not later than May 15, 2019. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 2/13/2019. (lcjdb2) (Entered: 03/13/2019)
2019-03-14Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 5/15/2019. (tb) (Entered: 03/14/2019)
2019-05-1517Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 05/15/2019)
2019-05-15MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 17 the parties' joint status report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint status report on defendant's document production by not later than July 15, 2019. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 5/15/2019. (lcjdb2) (Entered: 05/15/2019)
2019-05-16Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 7/15/2019. (tb) (Entered: 05/16/2019)
2019-07-1218ENTERED IN ERROR. . . . .Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (McBride, Patricia) Modified on 7/12/2019 (ztd). (Entered: 07/12/2019)
2019-07-12NOTICE OF ERROR re 18 Status Report; emailed to patricia.mcbride@usdoj.gov, cc'd 5 associated attorneys -- The PDF file you docketed contained errors: 1. Incorrect header/caption/case number, 2. Please refile document (ztd, ) (Entered: 07/12/2019)
2019-07-1219Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 07/12/2019)
2019-07-12MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 19 the parties' joint status report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint status report on defendant's document production by not later than September 13, 2019. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 7/12/2019. (lcjdb2) (Entered: 07/12/2019)
2019-07-15Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 9/13/2019. (tb) (Entered: 07/15/2019)
2019-09-1320Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 09/13/2019)
2019-09-13MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 20 the parties' joint status report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint status report on defendant's document production by not later than November 13, 2019. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 9/13/19. (lcjdb2) (Entered: 09/13/2019)
2019-09-13Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/13/2019. (mac) (Entered: 09/13/2019)
2019-11-1221Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 11/12/2019)
2019-11-12MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 21 the parties' joint status report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint status report on defendant's document production by not later than January 13, 2020. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 11/12/2019. (lcjdb2) (Entered: 11/12/2019)
2019-11-14Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 1/13/2020. (tb) (Entered: 11/14/2019)
2020-01-1322Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 01/13/2020)
2020-01-13MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 22 the parties' joint status report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint status report on defendant's document production by not later than April 15, 2020. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 1/13/2020. (lcjdb2) (Entered: 01/13/2020)
2020-01-15Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 4/15/2020. (tb) (Entered: 01/15/2020)
2020-04-0123Consent MOTION to Stay by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (Attachments: # 1 Declaration)(McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 04/01/2020)
2020-04-02MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 23 defendant's consent motion for a stay, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED; it is further ORDERED that defendant's document productions in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act are hereby STAYED until June 1, 2020; and it is further ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint status report by not later than June 1, 2020. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 04/02/2020. (lcjdb2) (Entered: 04/02/2020)
2020-04-02Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 6/1/2020. (tb) (Entered: 04/02/2020)
2020-06-0124Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 06/01/2020)
2020-06-0125MOTION for Extension of Time by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (ztd); (See docket entry no. 24 to view.) (Entered: 06/02/2020)
2020-06-02MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 24 the parties' joint status report and motion to extend stay, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED; it is further ORDERED that defendant's document productions in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act are hereby STAYED until July 1, 2020; and it is further ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint status report by not later than July 1, 2020. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 06/02/2020. (lcjdb2) (Entered: 06/02/2020)
2020-06-02Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 7/1/2020. (tb) (Entered: 06/02/2020)
2020-07-0126Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration)(McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 07/01/2020)
2020-07-0127MOTION for Extension of Stay by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (View Docket Entry 26 to view document). (eg) (Entered: 07/02/2020)
2020-07-07MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 26 defendant's status report and motion to extend stay, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED nunc pro tunc; it is further ORDERED that defendant's document productions in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act are hereby STAYED until August 7, 2020; and it is further ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint status report by not later than August 3, 2020. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 07/07/2020. (lcjdb2) (Entered: 07/07/2020)
2020-07-09Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/3/2020. (tb) (Entered: 07/09/2020)
2020-08-0328Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 08/03/2020)
2020-08-03MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 28 defendant's status report and unopposed motion to extend stay, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED; it is further ORDERED that defendant's document productions in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act are hereby STAYED until September 7, 2020; and it is further ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint status report by not later than September 3, 2020. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 08/03/2020. (lcjdb2) (Entered: 08/03/2020)
2020-08-0329MOTION for Extension of Time by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (See Docket Entry 28 to view document). (znmw) Modified on 8/5/2020 (znmw). (Entered: 08/05/2020)
2020-08-04Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 9/3/2020. (tb) (Entered: 08/04/2020)
2020-09-0330Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 09/03/2020)
2020-09-03MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 30 defendant's status report and consent motion to extend stay, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED; it is further ORDERED that defendant's document productions in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act are hereby STAYED until October 7, 2020; and it is further ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint status report by not later than October 5, 2020. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 09/03/2020. (lcjdb2) (Entered: 09/03/2020)
2020-09-0331MOTION to Stay by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (ztd); (See docket entry no. 30 to view.) (Entered: 09/04/2020)
2020-09-03Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/5/2020. (zjd) (Entered: 09/08/2020)
2020-09-04NOTICE OF ERROR re 30 Status Report; emailed to patricia.mcbride@usdoj.gov, cc'd 4 associated attorneys -- The PDF file you docketed contained errors: 1. Two-part docket entry, 2. DO NOT REFILE. If documents have multiple docketing parts, you must enter all docketing event. (ztd, ) (Entered: 09/04/2020)
2020-10-0532Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 10/05/2020)
2020-10-05MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 32 defendant's status report and consent motion to extend stay, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED; it is further ORDERED that defendant's document productions in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act are hereby STAYED until November 9, 2020; and it is further ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint status report by not later than November 4, 2020. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 10/05/2020. (lcjdb2) Modified on 10/6/2020 (tb). (Entered: 10/05/2020)
2020-10-0533MOTION for Extension of Time by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (ztd); (See docket entry no. 32 to view.) (Entered: 10/06/2020)
2020-10-06Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/4/2020. (tb) (Entered: 10/06/2020)
2020-10-06NOTICE OF ERROR re 32 Status Report; emailed to patricia.mcbride@usdoj.gov, cc'd 4 associated attorneys -- The PDF file you docketed contained errors: 1. Two-part docket entry, 2. Counsel is reminded that in the future, all parts of your document must be filed. (ztd, ) (Entered: 10/06/2020)
2020-11-0234Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 11/02/2020)
2020-11-0235Consent MOTION to Extend Stay by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (zjf) (See Docket Entry 34 to view document) (Entered: 11/03/2020)
2020-11-03MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 34 defendant's status report and consent motion to extend stay, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED; it is further ORDERED that defendant's document productions in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act are hereby STAYED until January 7, 2021; and it is further ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint status report by not later than January 4, 2021. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 11/03/2020. (lcjdb2) (Entered: 11/03/2020)
2020-11-03Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 1/4/2021. (tb) (Entered: 11/03/2020)
2020-11-03NOTICE OF ERROR re 34 Status Report; emailed to patricia.mcbride@usdoj.gov, cc'd 4 associated attorneys -- The PDF file you docketed contained errors: 1. Two-part docket entry, 2. FOR FUTURE FILINGS THAT HAVE TWO EVENTS MUST BE FILED TWICE (zjf, ) (Entered: 11/03/2020)
2021-01-0436Unopposed MOTION to Stay Continue Stay by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 01/04/2021)
2021-01-0437STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (ztd); (See docket entry no. 36 to view.) (Entered: 01/05/2021)
2021-01-05MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 36 defendant's status report and consent motion to extend stay, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED; it is further ORDERED that defendant's document productions in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act are hereby STAYED until March 8, 2021; and it is further ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint status report by not later than February 11, 2021. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 01/05/2021. (lcjdb2) (Entered: 01/05/2021)
2021-01-06Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 2/11/2021. (tb) (Entered: 01/06/2021)
2021-02-1138Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 02/11/2021)
2021-02-11MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 38 the parties' Joint Status Report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the stay in this action is LIFTED; and it is further ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint status report by not later than March 26, 2021, updating the Court on any remaining issues in the case. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 02/11/2021. (lcjdb2) (Entered: 02/11/2021)
2021-02-11Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 3/26/2021. Stay flag removed. (tb) (Entered: 02/11/2021)
2021-03-2639STIPULATION of Dismissal by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (McBride, Patricia) (Entered: 03/26/2021)
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