Case: State of Arizona v. Biden

2:22-cv-01661 | U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona

Filed Date: Sept. 30, 2022

Case Ongoing

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Case Summary

Led by Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of Arizona challenges President Biden's student loan forgiveness plan. In their September 30, 2022, complaint, Plaintiff alleged that the state would lose tax revenue because student loan debt forgiveness can't be taxed until 2025; that the program would increase inflation, which would hurt the state's economy; and that recruiting for government jobs would be hurt by the devaluation of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Arizona alleged that the loan forgiveness plan was not a constitutional use of the spending power, that it violated the non-delegation and separation of powers doctrines, and that it violated the Administrative Procedure Act because the Secretary of Education exceeded his statutory authority and the plan is arbitrary and capricious. Arizona sought declaratory judgment as well as temporary, preliminary, and permanent injunction against the debt nullification, in addition to attorney's fees.

The case is in its early phases and there has been no significant post-complaint action yet. The case is ongoing.

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Summary Authors

Sophia Bucci (11/30/2022)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/65390898/parties/arizona-state-of-v-biden/

Judge(s)

Logan, Steven Paul (Arizona)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Ensign, Drew Curtis (Arizona)

Francis, Jillian Brittany (Arizona)

Kanefield, Joseph Andrew (Arizona)

Attorney for Defendant

Knapp, Cody Taylor (Arizona)

Judge(s)

Logan, Steven Paul (Arizona)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Ensign, Drew Curtis (Arizona)

Francis, Jillian Brittany (Arizona)

Kanefield, Joseph Andrew (Arizona)

O'Malley, Kevin E (Arizona)

Porter, Hannah Hatch (Arizona)

Roysden, Brunn Wall (Arizona)

Attorney for Defendant

Knapp, Cody Taylor (Arizona)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

	Document
1 2:22-cv-01661	Complaint	Sept. 30, 2022	Sept. 30, 2022 Complaint

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/65390898/arizona-state-of-v-biden/

Last updated March 8, 2026, 6:23 a.m.

ECF Number	Description	Date	Link Date / Link
1	COMPLAINT. Filing fee received: $ 402.00, receipt number AAZDC-21155624 filed by Arizona, State of, Mark Brnovich. (Roysden, Brunn) (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet)(JAM) (Entered: 09/30/2022) 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on RECAP	Sept. 30, 2022	Sept. 30, 2022 RECAP
2	SUMMONS Submitted by Arizona, State of, Mark Brnovich. (Roysden, Brunn) (Attachments: # 1 Summons, # 2 Summons)(JAM) (Entered: 09/30/2022)	Sept. 30, 2022	Sept. 30, 2022
3	Filing fee paid, receipt number AAZDC-21155624. This case has been assigned to the Honorable Steven P Logan. All future pleadings or documents should bear the correct case number: CV-22-1661-PHX-SPL. Notice of Availability of Magistrate Judge to Exercise Jurisdiction form attached. (JAM) (Entered: 09/30/2022)	Sept. 30, 2022	Sept. 30, 2022
4	Summons Issued as to Joseph R Biden, Jr, Miguel Cardona, United States Department of Education. (Attachments: # 1 Summons, # 2 Summons)(JAM). *** IMPORTANT: When printing the summons, select "Document and stamps" or "Document and comments" for the seal to appear on the document. (Entered: 09/30/2022)	Sept. 30, 2022	Sept. 30, 2022
5	NOTICE TO FILER OF DEFICIENCY re: 1 Complaint filed by Mark Brnovich, Arizona, State of. Document not in compliance with LRCiv 7.1(a)(3) - Party names must be capitalized using proper upper and lower case type. No further action is required. This is a TEXT ENTRY ONLY. There is no PDF document associated with this entry. (JAM) (Entered: 09/30/2022)	Sept. 30, 2022	Sept. 30, 2022
6	PRELIMINARY ORDER That Plaintiff(s) must file proof of service of the summons and complaint or of waiver of service with the Clerk of Court no later than December 29, 2022; That Plaintiff(s) must promptly serve a copy of this Order on Defendant(s) and file notice of service with the Clerk of Court; and That unless the Court orders otherwise, on December 29, 2022, the Clerk of Court shall terminate without further notice any Defendant in this action that has not been served pursuant to Rule 4(m) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. See attached Order for complete details. Signed by Judge Steven P. Logan on 9/30/2022. (ESG) (Entered: 09/30/2022)	Sept. 30, 2022	Sept. 30, 2022 RECAP
	Notice of Deficiency (Text Only)	Sept. 30, 2022	Sept. 30, 2022
7	SERVICE EXECUTED filed by Arizona, State of, Mark Brnovich: Affidavit of Service re: Summons, Civil Cover Sheet, Complaint, Preliminaray Order upon United States Department of Education on 10/4/2022, Miguel Cardona on 10/4/2022, Civil Process Clerk for the Attorney General on 10/5/2022, US Attorney for the District of Arizona on 10/3/2022, President Joseph R Biden on 10/11/2022. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A)(Ensign, Drew) Modified to add services dates on 10/20/2022. (Entered: 10/19/2022) 1 Exhibit A View on RECAP	Oct. 19, 2022	Oct. 19, 2022 RECAP
8	NOTICE of Appearance by Cody Taylor Knapp on behalf of Joseph R Biden, Jr, Miguel Cardona, United States Department of Education. (Knapp, Cody) (Entered: 11/23/2022)	Nov. 23, 2022	Nov. 23, 2022
9	Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re: 1 Complaint by Joseph R Biden, Jr, Miguel Cardona, United States Department of Education. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Knapp, Cody) (Entered: 11/23/2022) 1 Proposed Order View on PACER	Nov. 23, 2022	Nov. 23, 2022 RECAP
10	ORDER granting 9 Motion for Extension of Time to Answer 1 Complaint. All Defendants shall have until 1/9/2023 to file an answer to the Complaint. Signed by Judge Steven P Logan on 11/29/22. (MJW) (Entered: 11/30/2022)	Nov. 30, 2022	Nov. 30, 2022 RECAP
11	NOTICE of Appearance by Hannah Hatch Porter on behalf of Arizona, State of, Mark Brnovich. (Porter, Hannah) (Entered: 12/30/2022)	Dec. 30, 2022	Dec. 30, 2022 RECAP
12	NOTICE of Attorney Withdrawal Joseph A. Kanefield, Drew C. Ensign, Brunn (Beau) W. Roysden III, and Jillian Francis filed by Drew Curtis Ensign. (Ensign, Drew) (Entered: 12/30/2022)	Dec. 30, 2022	Dec. 30, 2022 RECAP
13	Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re: 1 Complaint by Joseph R Biden, Jr, Miguel Cardona, United States Department of Education. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Knapp, Cody) (Entered: 01/05/2023) 1 Proposed Order View on PACER	Jan. 5, 2023	Jan. 5, 2023
14	ORDER granting 13 Motion for Extension of Time to Answer. Defendants shall have until February 8, 2023, to file an answer to the Complaint and otherwise respond as provided by Rule 12 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Signed by Judge Steven P Logan on 1/9/23. (MJW) (Entered: 01/10/2023)	Jan. 10, 2023	Jan. 10, 2023 RECAP
15	NOTICE of Voluntary Dismissal by Arizona, State of, Mark Brnovich. (Porter, Hannah) (Entered: 01/20/2023)	Jan. 20, 2023	Jan. 20, 2023 RECAP
16	ORDER that this matter is dismissed and the Clerk of Court shall terminate this action accordingly. Signed by Judge Steven P Logan on 1/23/23. (MJW) (Entered: 01/24/2023)	Jan. 24, 2023	Jan. 24, 2023 RECAP