Case: American Civil Liberties Union v. Department of Justice

1:24-cv-05722 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Filed Date: July 29, 2024

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

Concerned with the targeting of protesters and communities of color by Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTFs) and fusion centers, the ACLU submitted identical FOIA requests to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the FBI, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on May 21, 2024, seeking records relating to the use of JTTFs and/or fusion centers by those agencies. Due to the respective agencies' lack of timely response to the FOIA requests, the national ACLU and the ACLU of New York file…

Concerned with the targeting of protesters and communities of color by Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTFs) and fusion centers, the ACLU submitted identical FOIA requests to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the FBI, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on May 21, 2024, seeking records relating to the use of JTTFs and/or fusion centers by those agencies. Due to the respective agencies' lack of timely response to the FOIA requests, the national ACLU and the ACLU of New York filed suit against the DOJ, FBI, and DHS in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on July 29, 2024. The plaintiffs asserted in their complaint that the defendants violated the FOIA statute and corresponding agency regulations by failing to do the following:

  • make a reasonable effort to search for responsive records;
  • promptly make responsive records available to the plaintiffs; 
  • process the records request expeditiously and as soon as practicable;
  • grant the plaintiffs’ request for a waiver of search, review, and duplication fees; and 
  • grant the plaintiffs’ request for a limitation of fees.

The plaintiffs sought relief in the form of an order for the defendants to conduct a thorough search for all responsive records and to immediately process and release the records. The plaintiffs also requested that the court enjoin the defendants from charging the plaintiffs search, review, or duplication fees and to award them their costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees.

The case initially was assigned to District Judge Jessica G. L. Clarke, with Magistrate Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein designated to handle any matters that may be referred. Shortly thereafter, the case was reassigned to District Judge Jed S. Rakoff. The case is ongoing as of November 2024.

Summary Authors

Logan Moore (11/21/2024)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68989957/parties/american-civil-liberties-union-v-department-of-justice/


Judge(s)

Rakoff, Jed Saul (New York)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:24-cv-05722

Complaint for Injunctive Relief

July 29, 2024

July 29, 2024

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68989957/american-civil-liberties-union-v-department-of-justice/

Last updated Jan. 29, 2025, 11:34 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

Complaint

July 29, 2024

July 29, 2024

PACER
1

Complaint

July 29, 2024

July 29, 2024

PACER
2

Civil Cover Sheet

July 29, 2024

July 29, 2024

PACER
2

Civil Cover Sheet

July 29, 2024

July 29, 2024

PACER
3

Request for Issuance of Summons

July 29, 2024

July 29, 2024

PACER
3

Request for Issuance of Summons

July 29, 2024

July 29, 2024

PACER
4

Request for Issuance of Summons

July 29, 2024

July 29, 2024

PACER
4

Request for Issuance of Summons

July 29, 2024

July 29, 2024

PACER
5

Request for Issuance of Summons

July 29, 2024

July 29, 2024

PACER
5

Request for Issuance of Summons

July 29, 2024

July 29, 2024

PACER
6

Rule 7.1 Corporate Disclosure Statement

July 29, 2024

July 29, 2024

PACER
6

Rule 7.1 Corporate Disclosure Statement

July 29, 2024

July 29, 2024

PACER
7

Notice of Appearance

July 29, 2024

July 29, 2024

PACER
7

Notice of Appearance

July 29, 2024

July 29, 2024

PACER
8

Notice of Appearance

July 29, 2024

July 29, 2024

PACER
8

Notice of Appearance

July 29, 2024

July 29, 2024

PACER
9

Request for Issuance of Summons

July 30, 2024

July 30, 2024

PACER
9

Request for Issuance of Summons

July 30, 2024

July 30, 2024

PACER
10

Request for Issuance of Summons

July 30, 2024

July 30, 2024

PACER
10

Request for Issuance of Summons

July 30, 2024

July 30, 2024

PACER
11

Request for Issuance of Summons

July 30, 2024

July 30, 2024

PACER
11

Request for Issuance of Summons

July 30, 2024

July 30, 2024

PACER

Case Opening Initial Assignment Notice

July 30, 2024

July 30, 2024

PACER

Case Opening Initial Assignment Notice

July 30, 2024

July 30, 2024

PACER

Notice to Attorney Regarding Deficient Request for Issuance of Summons

July 30, 2024

July 30, 2024

PACER

Notice to Attorney Regarding Deficient Request for Issuance of Summons

July 30, 2024

July 30, 2024

PACER
12

Summons Issued

July 31, 2024

July 31, 2024

PACER
12

Summons Issued

July 31, 2024

July 31, 2024

PACER
13

Summons Issued

July 31, 2024

July 31, 2024

PACER
13

Summons Issued

July 31, 2024

July 31, 2024

PACER
14

Summons Issued

July 31, 2024

July 31, 2024

PACER
14

Summons Issued

July 31, 2024

July 31, 2024

PACER

Notice of Case Assignment/Reassignment

July 31, 2024

July 31, 2024

PACER

Notice of Case Assignment/Reassignment

July 31, 2024

July 31, 2024

PACER
15

Appear Pro Hac Vice

Aug. 2, 2024

Aug. 2, 2024

PACER
15

Appear Pro Hac Vice

Aug. 2, 2024

Aug. 2, 2024

PACER

Notice Regarding Pro Hac Vice Motion

Aug. 5, 2024

Aug. 5, 2024

PACER

Notice Regarding Pro Hac Vice Motion

Aug. 5, 2024

Aug. 5, 2024

PACER
16

Order on Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice

Aug. 8, 2024

Aug. 8, 2024

PACER
16

Order on Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice

Aug. 8, 2024

Aug. 8, 2024

PACER
17

Order for Initial Pretrial Conference

Aug. 16, 2024

Aug. 16, 2024

PACER
17

Order for Initial Pretrial Conference

Aug. 16, 2024

Aug. 16, 2024

PACER
18

Summons Returned Executed

Aug. 27, 2024

Aug. 27, 2024

PACER
18

Summons Returned Executed

Aug. 27, 2024

Aug. 27, 2024

PACER
19

Summons Returned Executed

Aug. 27, 2024

Aug. 27, 2024

PACER
19

Summons Returned Executed

Aug. 27, 2024

Aug. 27, 2024

PACER
20

Summons Returned Executed

Aug. 27, 2024

Aug. 27, 2024

PACER
20

Summons Returned Executed

Aug. 27, 2024

Aug. 27, 2024

PACER
21

Affidavit of Service Other

Aug. 28, 2024

Aug. 28, 2024

PACER
21

Affidavit of Service Other

Aug. 28, 2024

Aug. 28, 2024

PACER
22

Affidavit of Service Other

Aug. 28, 2024

Aug. 28, 2024

PACER
22

Affidavit of Service Other

Aug. 28, 2024

Aug. 28, 2024

PACER
23

Notice of Appearance

Aug. 29, 2024

Aug. 29, 2024

PACER
23

Notice of Appearance

Aug. 29, 2024

Aug. 29, 2024

PACER
24

Notice of Appearance

Aug. 30, 2024

Aug. 30, 2024

PACER
24

Notice of Appearance

Aug. 30, 2024

Aug. 30, 2024

PACER

1 - Terminate Hearings AND ~Util - Set Hearings

Aug. 30, 2024

Aug. 30, 2024

PACER

1 - Terminate Hearings AND ~Util - Set Hearings

Aug. 30, 2024

Aug. 30, 2024

PACER

Telephone Conference AND ~Util - Set Hearings

Sept. 17, 2024

Sept. 17, 2024

PACER

Telephone Conference AND ~Util - Set Hearings

Sept. 17, 2024

Sept. 17, 2024

PACER
25

Answer to Complaint

Oct. 21, 2024

Oct. 21, 2024

PACER
25

Answer to Complaint

Oct. 21, 2024

Oct. 21, 2024

PACER
26

Status Report

Oct. 31, 2024

Oct. 31, 2024

PACER
26

Status Report

Oct. 31, 2024

Oct. 31, 2024

PACER

Telephone Conference

Nov. 1, 2024

Nov. 1, 2024

PACER

Telephone Conference

Nov. 1, 2024

Nov. 1, 2024

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: New York

Case Type(s):

Policing

Key Dates

Filing Date: July 29, 2024

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

ACLU

Plaintiff Type(s):

Non-profit NON-religious organization

Attorney Organizations:

ACLU National (all projects)

ACLU Affiliates (any)

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

United States (- United States (national) -), Federal

Defendant Type(s):

Law-enforcement

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

FOIA (Freedom of Information Act), 5 U.S.C. § 552

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Nature of Relief:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

General/Misc.:

Racial profiling

Terrorism/Post 9-11 issues

Discrimination Basis:

National origin discrimination

Race discrimination

Religion discrimination