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Case TitleJUDICIAL WATCH, INC. v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2016cv02369
Date Filed2016-12-05
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Amy Berman Jackson
PlaintiffJUDICIAL WATCH, INC.
Case DescriptionJudicial Watch submitted a FOIA request to the FBI for records discovered, recovered, or retrieved from any equipment connected to or used to backup former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's email system. 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

2016-12-051COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE with Jury Demand ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-4764781) filed by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons US DOJ, # 3 Summons US Attorney for DC, # 4 Summons US Attorney General)(Rothstein, David) (Entered: 12/05/2016)
2016-12-052LCvR 7.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. (Rothstein, David) (Entered: 12/05/2016)
2016-12-06Case Assigned to Judge Randolph D. Moss. (sb) (Entered: 12/06/2016)
2016-12-063SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Consent Form)(sb) (Entered: 12/06/2016)
2016-12-064STANDING ORDER: See attached document. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 12/6/2016. (lcrdm3, ) (Entered: 12/06/2016)
2016-12-125RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 12/12/2016. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 1/11/2017.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 12/12/2016., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 12/12/2016 (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of C. Rotaru)(Rothstein, David) (Entered: 12/12/2016)
2017-01-116ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.(Lopez-Morales, Cesar) (Entered: 01/11/2017)
2017-01-11MINUTE ORDER: The parties are hereby ORDERED to appear for a status conference on January 24, 2017, at 2:30 p.m., to discuss the next stage of the litigation. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 1/11/2017. (lcrdm3, ) (Entered: 01/11/2017)
2017-01-12Set/Reset Hearings: A Status Conference is set for 1/24/2017, at 2:30 PM, in Courtroom 21, before Judge Randolph D. Moss. (kt) (Entered: 01/12/2017)
2017-01-177NOTICE of Appearance by Michael Bekesha on behalf of JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. (Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 01/17/2017)
2017-01-24Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Randolph D. Moss: Status Conference held on 1/24/2017. Order forthcoming setting a further status conference. (Court Reporter: Cathryn Jones). (kt) (Entered: 01/24/2017)
2017-01-25MINUTE ORDER: The parties are hereby ORDERED to appear for a further status conference on February 7, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 1/25/2017. (lcrdm3, ) (Entered: 01/25/2017)
2017-01-26Set/Reset Hearings: A Status Conference is set for 2/7/2017, at 10:00 AM, in Courtroom 21, before Judge Randolph D. Moss. (kt) (Entered: 01/26/2017)
2017-02-07Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Randolph D. Moss: Status Conference held on 2/7/2017. Issues addressed. (Court Reporter: Jeff Hook). (kt) (Entered: 02/07/2017)
2017-02-078TRANSCRIPT OF PROCEEDINGS before Judge Randolph D. Moss held on January 24, 2017; Page Numbers: 1 - 45. Court Reporter/Transcriber Cathryn Jones, Telephone number 202 354-3246, Transcripts may be ordered by submitting the <a href="http://www.dcd.uscourts.gov/node/110">Transcript Order Form</a><P></P><P></P>For the first 90 days after this filing date, the transcript may be viewed at the courthouse at a public terminal or purchased from the court reporter referenced above. After 90 days, the transcript may be accessed via PACER. Other transcript formats, (multi-page, condensed, CD or ASCII) may be purchased from the court reporter.<P> NOTICE RE REDACTION OF TRANSCRIPTS: The parties have twenty-one days to file with the court and the court reporter any request to redact personal identifiers from this transcript. If no such requests are filed, the transcript will be made available to the public via PACER without redaction after 90 days. The policy, which includes the five personal identifiers specifically covered, is located on our website at www.dcd.uscourts.gov.<P></P> Redaction Request due 2/28/2017. Redacted Transcript Deadline set for 3/10/2017. Release of Transcript Restriction set for 5/8/2017.(Jones, Cathryn) (Entered: 02/07/2017)
2017-02-169TRANSCRIPT OF PROCEEDINGS before Judge Randolph D. Moss held on February 7, 2017; Page Numbers: 1 - 31. Date of Issuance: February 16, 2017. Court Reporter: Jeff Hook. Telephone number: 202-354-3373. Transcripts may be ordered by submitting the Transcript Order Form For the first 90 days after this filing date, the transcript may be viewed at the courthouse at a public terminal or purchased from the court reporter referen ced above. After 90 days, the transcript may be accessed via PACER. Other transcript formats, (multi-page, condensed, CD or ASCII) may be purchased from the court reporter. NOTICE RE REDACTION OF TRANSCRIPTS: The parties have twenty-one days to file with the court and the court reporter any request to redact personal identifiers from this transcript. If no such requests are filed, the transcript will be made available to the public via PACER without redaction after 90 days. The policy, which includes the five personal identifiers specifically covered, is located on our website at www.dcd.uscourts.gov. Redaction Request due 3/9/2017. Redacted Transcript Deadline set for 3/19/2017. Release of Transcript Restriction set for 5/17/2017.(Hook, Jeff) (Entered: 02/16/2017)
2017-09-15Case directly reassigned to Judge Timothy J. Kelly. Judge Randolph D. Moss is no longer assigned to the case. (ztnr) (Entered: 09/15/2017)
2017-11-0210Case randomly reassigned to Judge Amy Berman Jackson. Judge Timothy J. Kelly is no longer assigned to the case. (ztnr) (Entered: 11/03/2017)
2018-04-0611Order. Before the Court in this FOIA case are a complaint and an answer. The requirements of Local Civil Rule 16.3 and Rule 26(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure appear to be inapplicable. Defendant shall file a dispositive motion or, in the alternative, a report setting forth the schedule for the completion of its production of documents to plaintiff, on or before May 4, 2018. See Order for details. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 4/6/2018. (lcabj2) (Entered: 04/06/2018)
2018-05-0412STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Lopez-Morales, Cesar) (Entered: 05/04/2018)
2018-05-14MINUTE ORDER. Defendant must file another status report by September 28, 2018. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 5/14/2018. (lcabj2) (Entered: 05/14/2018)
2018-09-2813STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Lopez-Morales, Cesar) (Entered: 09/28/2018)
2018-09-3014NOTICE of Change of Address by Cesar A. Lopez-Morales (Lopez-Morales, Cesar) (Entered: 09/30/2018)
2018-10-01MINUTE ORDER. The government must file another status report by January 18, 2019. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 10/01/2018. (lcabj2) (Entered: 10/01/2018)
2018-12-2715Consent MOTION to Stay FOIA Production and Status Report Deadlines In Light of Lapse of Appropriations by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Lopez-Morales, Cesar) (Entered: 12/27/2018)
2018-12-28MINUTE ORDER granting 15 Motion to Stay. Defendant must notify the Court within two business days of the resumption of government operations and propose a revised schedule for the production of documents and filing of a status report, if necessary, at that time. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 12/28/2018. (lcabj2) (Entered: 12/28/2018)
2019-01-2916Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to file Status Report and Notice of Restoration of Appropriations by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Lopez-Morales, Cesar) (Entered: 01/29/2019)
2019-01-30MINUTE ORDER granting 16 Motion for Extension of Time to. The Court's December 28, 2018 minute order granting a stay of this case is hereby lifted. Defendant must file a status report on February 7, 2019. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 1/30/2019. (lcabj2) (Entered: 01/30/2019)
2019-02-0717STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Lopez-Morales, Cesar) (Entered: 02/07/2019)
2019-02-19MINUTE ORDER. Defendant must file another status report by May 8, 2019. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 2/19/2019. (lcabj2) (Entered: 02/19/2019)
2019-05-0818STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Lopez-Morales, Cesar) (Entered: 05/08/2019)
2019-05-09MINUTE ORDER. Defendant must file another status report by August 26, 2019. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 5/9/2019. (lcabj2) (Entered: 05/09/2019)
2019-08-0919NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Carol Federighi on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Substituting for attorney Cesar A. Lopez-Morales (Federighi, Carol) (Entered: 08/09/2019)
2019-08-2620STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Federighi, Carol) (Entered: 08/26/2019)
2019-08-30MINUTE ORDER. Defendant must file another status report by November 22, 2019. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 8/30/2019. (lcabj2) (Entered: 08/30/2019)
2019-08-30Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendant's Status Report due by 11/22/2019 (hs) (Entered: 08/30/2019)
2019-11-2221STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Federighi, Carol) (Entered: 11/22/2019)
2019-11-27MINUTE ORDER. Defendant must file another status report by February 20, 2020. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 11/27/2019. (lcabj2) (Entered: 11/27/2019)
2020-02-2722STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Federighi, Carol) (Entered: 02/27/2020)
2020-03-02MINUTE ORDER. Defendant must file another status report by May 20, 2020. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 3/2/2020. (lcabj2) (Entered: 03/02/2020)
2020-05-1923STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Federighi, Carol) (Entered: 05/19/2020)
2020-05-21MINUTE ORDER. Defendant must file another status report by August 20, 2020. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 5/21/2020. (lcabj2) (Entered: 05/21/2020)
2020-08-2024STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Federighi, Carol) (Entered: 08/20/2020)
2020-08-21MINUTE ORDER. Defendant must file another status report by November 18, 2020. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 8/21/2020. (lcabj2) (Entered: 08/21/2020)
2020-11-1825STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Federighi, Carol) (Entered: 11/18/2020)
2020-11-19MINUTE ORDER. Defendant must submit a status report by February 18, 2021. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 11/19/2020. (lcabj1) (Entered: 11/19/2020)
2021-02-1826STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Federighi, Carol) (Entered: 02/18/2021)
2021-02-19MINUTE ORDER. Defendant must submit a status report by May 18, 2021. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 2/19/2021. (lcabj1) (Entered: 02/19/2021)
2021-05-1727STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Federighi, Carol) (Entered: 05/17/2021)
2021-05-18MINUTE ORDER. Defendant must submit a status report by August 18, 2021. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 5/18/2021. (lcabj1) Modified on 5/18/2021 to reflect that the correct date for the next status report is August "18", 2021 (jth). (Entered: 05/18/2021)
2021-08-2528NOTICE of Appearance by Laurel H. Lum on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Lum, Laurel) (Entered: 08/25/2021)
2021-08-2529Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to File Status Report by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Lum, Laurel) (Entered: 08/25/2021)
2021-08-25MINUTE ORDER granting 29 Motion for Extension of Time. Defendant must submit a status report by August 30, 2021. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 8/25/2021. (lcabj1) (Entered: 08/25/2021)
2021-08-2630STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Lum, Laurel) (Entered: 08/26/2021)
2021-08-30MINUTE ORDER. Pursuant to the latest status report 30 , it is ORDERED that the parties must submit another status report by November 16, 2021. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 8/30/2021. (lcabj1) (Entered: 08/30/2021)
2021-11-1531STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Federighi, Carol) (Main Document 31 replaced on 11/16/2021 with the correct Status Report) (jth). (Entered: 11/15/2021)
2021-11-17MINUTE ORDER. Pursuant to the latest status report 31 , it is ORDERED that the parties submit another joint status report by February 18, 2022. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 11/17/2021. (lcabj1) (Entered: 11/17/2021)
2022-02-1732STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Federighi, Carol) (Entered: 02/17/2022)
2022-02-17MINUTE ORDER. The government is ORDERED to contact again each of the agencies that have not completely responded yet and to file another status report by April 8, 2022. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 2/17/2022. (lcabj1) (Entered: 02/17/2022)
2022-04-0833STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Federighi, Carol) (Entered: 04/08/2022)
2022-04-10MINUTE ORDER. In light of the status report 33 , it is ORDERED that defendant submit another status report by July 8, 2022. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 4/10/2022. (lcabj1) (Entered: 04/10/2022)
2022-06-0134NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. Attorney David Francis Rothstein terminated. (Bekesha, Michael) (Entered: 06/01/2022)
2022-06-0635NOTICE of Appearance by Kathryn Brooke Blankenberg on behalf of JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. (Blankenberg, Kathryn) (Entered: 06/06/2022)
2022-07-0736STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Federighi, Carol) (Entered: 07/07/2022)
2022-07-18MINUTE ORDER. The parties must submit another joint status report by September 8, 2022. Counsel for the agency must endeavor to expedite the pending consultations. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 7/18/2022. (lcabj1) (Entered: 07/18/2022)
2022-09-0837STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Federighi, Carol) (Entered: 09/08/2022)
2022-10-03MINUTE ORDER. In a status report submitted on August 26, 2019 20 , defendant stated that processing of records responsive to the second part of plaintiff's FOIA request was continuing consistent with a schedule established in Judicial Watch v. DOJ, 16-cv-2046-TSC. It added: "As reported in prior status reports, although FBI has completed its initial processing of records subject to FOIA for production/withholding or for consultation to other agencies that would be responsive to the second part of this FOIA request, FBI had referred for consultation records originating from or containing the equities of more than a dozen government agencies. Since January 6, 2017, the FBI has sent approximately 92 consultation requests to over a dozen agencies and one direct referral to State, totaling approximately 5,541 pages from the pending Clinton investigative file. Of those approximately 92 consultation requests, approximately 45 of them, which may contain information responsive to the request at issue, are outstanding." It is now 2022 and months and years have gone by with little input from the agencies that have supposedly been consulted. Therefore, defendant must file a more specific, clarifying status report by October 28, 2022. The status report must inform the Court of the status of the proceedings in 16-cv-2046, and whether there is an order in that case establishing a schedule for the completion of the long-overdue consultations. If there is no such schedule in place, the status report must include specific information about the status of the consultation requests at each agency and a proposed schedule for the completion of that task at each agency. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 10/3/2022. (lcabj1) (Entered: 10/03/2022)
2022-10-2838STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Federighi, Carol) (Entered: 10/28/2022)
2022-11-01MINUTE ORDER. The parties must submit another joint status report by February 10, 2023. The status report must include an update on communications with the Department of State concerning the outstanding requests if they are not yet complete. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 11/1/2022. (lcabj1) (Entered: 11/01/2022)
2023-02-1039STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Federighi, Carol) (Entered: 02/10/2023)
2023-02-13MINUTE ORDER. In light of the status report 39 , it is ORDERED that defendant submit another status report by May 10, 2023. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 2/13/2023. (lcabj1) (Entered: 02/13/2023)
2023-05-1040STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Federighi, Carol) (Entered: 05/10/2023)
2023-05-11MINUTE ORDER. In light of the status report 40 , it is ORDERED that defendant submit another status report by August 10, 2023. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 5/11/2023. (lcabj1) (Entered: 05/11/2023)
2023-08-0941STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Federighi, Carol) (Entered: 08/09/2023)
2023-08-11MINUTE ORDER. In light of the status report 41 , it is ORDERED that defendant submit another status report by November 9, 2023. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 8/11/2023. (lcabj1) (Entered: 08/11/2023)
2023-11-0942STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Federighi, Carol) (Entered: 11/09/2023)
2023-11-09MINUTE ORDER. In light of the status report 42 , it is ORDERED that defendant submit another status report by February 9, 2024. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 11/9/2023. (lcabj1) (Entered: 11/09/2023)
2023-12-0643STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Federighi, Carol) (Entered: 12/06/2023)
2023-12-06MINUTE ORDER. In light of the status report 43 , it is ORDERED that defendant submit another status report by February 9, 2024. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 12/6/2023. (lcabj1) (Entered: 12/06/2023)
2023-12-0744STIPULATION of Dismissal by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Federighi, Carol) (Entered: 12/07/2023)
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