Filed Date: April 4, 2025
Case Ongoing
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This case directly challenged the President's authority to dictate how states conduct their elections. On April 4, 2025, the State of Washington and the State of Oregon jointly filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington at Seattle against Donald Trump, in his official capacity as President of the United States, along with numerous other federal entities and officials, including the Executive Office of the President, the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Defense, the Department of Government Efficiency Service (DOGE), the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The State of Washington is represented by attorneys from the Office of the Washington State Attorney General, and the State of Oregon is represented by attorneys from the Oregon Department of Justice. The case was assigned to Judge John H. Chun.
The plaintiff states are seeking a declaratory judgment and preliminary and permanent injunctive relief. They assert that an Executive Order issued by President Trump on March 25, 2025 (the "Election Interference Order") oversteps his constitutional authority and violates multiple federal statutes. The order, as the states claim, dictates various aspects of how states conduct elections including ballot counting, voting equipment, voter registration, and data sharing. The states assert that the order infringes upon their primary authority to regulate federal elections under the Elections Clause (Article I, Section 4, Clause 1) and the provisions for appointing presidential electors (Article II, Section 1 and the Twelfth Amendment) in the U.S. Constitution. They also argue that the order violates the Tenth Amendment by attempting to exercise powers not delegated to the federal government and by commandeering state governments. Furthermore, the states contend that the order interferes with the constitutional right to vote, constitutes an ultra vires action by exceeding the President's constitutional and statutory authority, violates the separation of powers doctrine, and breaches the President's duty to faithfully execute the laws under Article II, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution. Specific violations of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) are also alleged due to the order's requirements regarding documentary proof of citizenship on the Federal Form. Finally, the states seek a declaratory judgment that their laws regarding the counting of ballots received after election day are not preempted by specific federal statutes.
This case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Aanvi Jhaveri (4/22/2025)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69845185/parties/state-of-washington-v-trump/
Halle, Freeman (Washington)
McGinty, William (Washington)
Paradis, Kelly A. (Washington)
Purcell, Noah Guzzo (Washington)
Saperstein, Michelle (Washington)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69845185/state-of-washington-v-trump/
Last updated April 23, 2025, 3:22 p.m.
State / Territory: Washington
Case Type(s):
Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government
Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government (Voting/Election Law)
Key Dates
Filing Date: April 4, 2025
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
The State of Washington and the State of Oregon.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
President Donald Trump (- United States (national) -), Federal
Executive Office of the President (- United States (national) -), Federal
U.S. Department of Justice (- United States (national) -), Federal
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (- United States (national) -), Federal
U.S. Department of Defense (- United States (national) -), Federal
Department of Government Efficiency Service (DOGE) (- United States (national) -), Federal
U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) (- United States (national) -), Federal
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) (- United States (national) -), Federal
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Constitutional Clause(s):
Federalism (including 10th Amendment)
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General/Misc.:
Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)
Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority:
DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency)
Impoundment (mandatory spending)
Voting: