Case: Samuels v. Trump

1:25-cv-01069 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: April 9, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This case challenged President Trump’s firing of Commissioner Jocelyn Samuels before the expiration of her term on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Alongside the simultaneous firing of Commissioner/Chair Charlotte Burrows, this marked the first time in American history that a President attempted to remove a sitting EEOC Commissioner prior to the close of their statutorily defined term. Plaintiff Samuels alleged that her dismissal violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of …

This case challenged President Trump’s firing of Commissioner Jocelyn Samuels before the expiration of her term on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Alongside the simultaneous firing of Commissioner/Chair Charlotte Burrows, this marked the first time in American history that a President attempted to remove a sitting EEOC Commissioner prior to the close of their statutorily defined term. Plaintiff Samuels alleged that her dismissal violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

President Trump, a Republican, initially appointed Samuels, a Democrat, to the EEOC in March 2020. She was subsequently confirmed by the Senate in September 2020 and again in July 2021, after her renomination by President Biden. Title VII establishes a five-year term for EEOC Commissioners; Samuels’ term thus does not expire until July 2026. Title VII also mandates that at least two of the EEOC’s five commissioners belong to a political party different than that of the President and requires a quorum of at least three members for the EEOC to issue guidance and greenlight litigation strategies and appeals. President Trump’s removal of two Democratic commissioners left the EEOC short of the required two Democratic members and without the quorum necessary for it to effectuate its mission.

Represented by Democracy Forward, Katz Banks Kumin LLP, and Justice Legal Strategies, Samuels filed this lawsuit on April 9, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The suit named President Trump, the EEOC, and Acting Chair of the EEOC Andrea Lucas. Plaintiff sought a declaration that her dismissal was illegal, an injunction forbidding Acting Chair Lucas and the EEOC from continuing to exclude her from her rights and responsibilities as Commissioner, and a writ of mandamus ordering that her access to the EEOC's facilities be restored. The case was assigned to Judge Tanya Sue Chutkan.

On June 30, 2025, defendants moved to dismiss the case; the court has not yet ruled on that motion. Plaintiff's response is due July 28, 2025, and defendants' reply is due August 11, 2025.

This case remains ongoing.

Summary Authors

Matt Petrillo (7/8/2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69864155/parties/samuels-v-trump/


Judge(s)

Chutkan, Tanya Sue (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Banks, Lisa J. (District of Columbia)

Goldstein, Elena (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant
Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Blake, Julie Marie (District of Columbia)

Bowman, Matthew S. (District of Columbia)

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
3

1:25-cv-01069

Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

April 10, 2025

April 10, 2025

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69864155/samuels-v-trump/

Last updated July 10, 2025, 9:57 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
2

NOTICE of Appearance by Jon M. Greenbaum on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Greenbaum, Jon) (Entered: 04/09/2025)

April 9, 2025

April 9, 2025

PACER

NOTICE of Provisional/Government Not Certified Status re 1 COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-11601185) filed by JOCELYN SAMUELS. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons, # 5 Summons, # 6 Summons)(Robb, Marilyn).Your attorney renewal/government certification has not been received. As a result, your membership with the U.S. District & Bankruptcy Courts for the District of Columbia is not in good standing, and you are not permitted to file. Pursuant to Local Civil Rule 83.9, you must immediately correct your membership status by following the appropriate instructions on this page of our website: https://www.dcd.uscourts.gov/attorney-renewal. Please be advised that the presiding judge in this case has been notified that you are currently not in good standing to file in this court. Renewal Due by 4/17/2025. (zapb)

April 10, 2025

April 10, 2025

PACER

Notice of Error- New Case

April 10, 2025

April 10, 2025

PACER

Notice of Provisional/Government Not Certified Status

April 10, 2025

April 10, 2025

PACER

Case Assigned/Reassigned

April 10, 2025

April 10, 2025

PACER

RESOLVED.....NOTICE of Provisional/Government Not Certified Status re 1 COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-11601185) filed by JOCELYN SAMUELS. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons, # 5 Summons, # 6 Summons)(Robb, Marilyn).Your attorney renewal/government certification has not been received. As a result, your membership with the U.S. District & Bankruptcy Courts for the District of Columbia is not in good standing, and you are not permitted to file. Pursuant to Local Civil Rule 83.9, you must immediately correct your membership status by following the appropriate instructions on this page of our website: https://www.dcd.uscourts.gov/attorney-renewal. Please be advised that the presiding judge in this case has been notified that you are currently not in good standing to file in this court. Renewal Due by 4/17/2025. (zapb) Modified on 4/14/2025 (zhcn).

April 10, 2025

April 10, 2025

PACER

NOTICE OF NEW CASE ERROR regarding 1 Complaint,. The following error(s) need correction: Invalid signature on complaint and cover sheet. PACER account must match signature on documents. PACER/Filing attorney is not an Active member of the Court's bar. Please refile the correctly signed document using the event Errata. Please refer to the court website for Bar Status Lookup, Attorney Admissions, and Renewal Information at www.dcd.uscourts.gov/attorneys. COMPLIANCE DEADLINE is by close of business today. This case will not proceed any further until all errors are satisfied. (znmw)

April 10, 2025

April 10, 2025

PACER
3

ERRATA Complaint by JOCELYN SAMUELS. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons, # 5 Summons, # 6 Summons)(Banks, Lisa) (Attachment 1 replaced on 4/10/2025) (znmw). (Entered: 04/10/2025)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

2 Summons

View on PACER

3 Summons

View on PACER

4 Summons

View on PACER

5 Summons

View on PACER

6 Summons

View on PACER

April 10, 2025

April 10, 2025

Clearinghouse

Case Assigned to Judge Tanya S. Chutkan. (znmw)

April 10, 2025

April 10, 2025

PACER
4

SUMMONS (5) Issued Electronically as to All Defendants, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(znmw) (Entered: 04/10/2025)

April 10, 2025

April 10, 2025

PACER
5

NOTICE of Appearance by Victoria S. Nugent on behalf of JOCELYN SAMUELS (Nugent, Victoria) (Entered: 04/11/2025)

April 11, 2025

April 11, 2025

PACER
6

MOTION to Intervene as Intervenor-Defendants by CHOICES PREGNANCY CENTERS OF GREATER PHOENIX, INC., CHRISTIAN EMPLOYERS ALLIANCE. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - Declaration of Margaret Iuculano, # 2 Exhibit B - Declaration of Marc Burmich, # 3 Exhibit C - Declaration of Jeff Booher, # 4 Exhibit D - Declaration of Kimberly Fletcher, # 5 Exhibit E - Proposed Answer, # 6 Text of Proposed Order Granting Motion to Intervene as Intervenor-Defendants)(Bowman, Matthew) (Entered: 04/24/2025)

1 Exhibit A - Declaration of Margaret Iuculano

View on RECAP

2 Exhibit B - Declaration of Marc Burmich

View on RECAP

3 Exhibit C - Declaration of Jeff Booher

View on RECAP

4 Exhibit D - Declaration of Kimberly Fletcher

View on RECAP

5 Exhibit E - Proposed Answer

View on RECAP

6 Text of Proposed Order Granting Motion to Intervene as Intervenor-Defendants

View on RECAP

April 24, 2025

April 24, 2025

RECAP
7

LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by CHOICES PREGNANCY CENTERS OF GREATER PHOENIX, INC., CHRISTIAN EMPLOYERS ALLIANCE (Bowman, Matthew) (Entered: 04/24/2025)

April 24, 2025

April 24, 2025

RECAP
8

Joint MOTION for Extension of Time to Complete Intervention Briefing by CHOICES PREGNANCY CENTERS OF GREATER PHOENIX, INC., CHRISTIAN EMPLOYERS ALLIANCE, JOCELYN SAMUELS. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Banks, Lisa) (Entered: 05/02/2025)

May 2, 2025

May 2, 2025

PACER

Order on Motion for Extension of Time to AND Set/Reset Deadlines

May 2, 2025

May 2, 2025

PACER

MINUTE ORDER: GRANTING Plaintiffs' 8 Joint Motion for Extension of Time. Plaintiffs' response to Proposed Intervenor-Defendants' 6 Motion to Intervene is due by May 15, 2025. Proposed Intervenor-Defendants' reply is due by May 29, 2025. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 5/2/2025. (lccc)

May 2, 2025

May 2, 2025

PACER
9

NOTICE of Appearance by Jeremy Samuel Bloch Newman on behalf of All Defendants (Newman, Jeremy) (Entered: 05/06/2025)

May 6, 2025

May 6, 2025

PACER
10

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General May 1, 2025. (Henry, Bonnie) (Entered: 05/06/2025)

May 6, 2025

May 6, 2025

PACER
11

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. ANDREA R. LUCAS served on 4/30/2025 (Henry, Bonnie) (Entered: 05/06/2025)

May 6, 2025

May 6, 2025

PACER
12

NOTICE of Appearance by Bonnie Lynn Henry on behalf of JOCELYN SAMUELS (Henry, Bonnie) (Entered: 05/06/2025)

May 6, 2025

May 6, 2025

PACER
13

NOTICE of Appearance by Carolyn L. Wheeler on behalf of JOCELYN SAMUELS (Wheeler, Carolyn) (Entered: 05/06/2025)

May 6, 2025

May 6, 2025

PACER
14

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Erin M. Hawley, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-11679512. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by CHOICES PREGNANCY CENTERS OF GREATER PHOENIX, INC., CHRISTIAN EMPLOYERS ALLIANCE. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration for Admission Pro Hac Vice of Erin M. Hawley, # 2 Exhibit 1 - Certificate of Good Standing, # 3 Text of Proposed Order Granting Motion for Pro Hac Vice Admission of Erin M. Hawley)(Bowman, Matthew) (Entered: 05/09/2025)

May 9, 2025

May 9, 2025

PACER
15

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION served on 4/30/2025 (Henry, Bonnie) (Entered: 05/09/2025)

May 9, 2025

May 9, 2025

PACER

Order on Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice

May 12, 2025

May 12, 2025

PACER

MINUTE ORDER: GRANTING 14 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice as to Erin M. Hawley. Erin M. Hawley is hereby admitted pro hac vice to represent Proposed Intervenor-Defendants Choices Pregnancy Centers of Greater Phoenix, Inc. and Christian Employers Alliance in this matter. Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to LCvR 83.6(a) Click for instructions. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 5/12/2025. (lccc)

May 12, 2025

May 12, 2025

PACER
16

NOTICE of Appearance by Erin Morrow Hawley on behalf of CHOICES PREGNANCY CENTERS OF GREATER PHOENIX, INC., CHRISTIAN EMPLOYERS ALLIANCE (Hawley, Erin) (Entered: 05/13/2025)

May 13, 2025

May 13, 2025

PACER
17

NOTICE of Appearance by Julie Marie Blake on behalf of CHOICES PREGNANCY CENTERS OF GREATER PHOENIX, INC., CHRISTIAN EMPLOYERS ALLIANCE (Blake, Julie) (Entered: 05/13/2025)

May 13, 2025

May 13, 2025

PACER
18

NOTICE of Appearance by Natalie Thompson on behalf of CHOICES PREGNANCY CENTERS OF GREATER PHOENIX, INC., CHRISTIAN EMPLOYERS ALLIANCE (Thompson, Natalie) (Entered: 05/13/2025)

May 13, 2025

May 13, 2025

PACER
19

Memorandum in opposition to re 6 MOTION to Intervene as Intervenor-Defendants filed by JOCELYN SAMUELS. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Banks, Lisa) (Entered: 05/15/2025)

1 Text of Proposed Order

View on RECAP

May 15, 2025

May 15, 2025

RECAP
20

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. DONALD J. TRUMP served on 5/6/2025 (Henry, Bonnie) (Entered: 05/20/2025)

May 20, 2025

May 20, 2025

PACER
21

REPLY to opposition to motion re 6 Motion to Intervene, filed by CHOICES PREGNANCY CENTERS OF GREATER PHOENIX, INC., CHRISTIAN EMPLOYERS ALLIANCE. (Bowman, Matthew) (Entered: 05/29/2025)

May 29, 2025

May 29, 2025

PACER
22

Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 3 Errata by ANDREA R. LUCAS, DONALD J. TRUMP, U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION. (Newman, Jeremy) (Entered: 06/09/2025)

June 9, 2025

June 9, 2025

PACER

Order on Motion for Extension of Time to Answer AND Set/Reset Deadlines

June 10, 2025

June 10, 2025

PACER

MINUTE ORDER: GRANTING Defendants' 22 Unopposed Motion to Extend Time. Defendants' response to Plaintiff's 3 Complaint is due by June 30, 2025. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 6/10/2025. (lccc)

June 10, 2025

June 10, 2025

PACER
23

NOTICE of Appearance by Elena Goldstein on behalf of JOCELYN SAMUELS (Goldstein, Elena) (Entered: 06/20/2025)

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

PACER
24

MOTION to Dismiss Complaint by ANDREA R. LUCAS, DONALD J. TRUMP, U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support)(Newman, Jeremy) (Entered: 06/30/2025)

1 Memorandum in Support

View on PACER

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

PACER
25

Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply as to 24 MOTION to Dismiss Complaint by JOCELYN SAMUELS. (Greenbaum, Jon) (Entered: 07/03/2025)

July 3, 2025

July 3, 2025

PACER

Order on Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply AND Set/Reset Deadlines

July 3, 2025

July 3, 2025

PACER

MINUTE ORDER: GRANTING Plaintiff's 25 Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time. Plaintiff's response to Defendants' 24 Motion to Dismiss is due July 28, 2025. Defendants' reply is due August 11, 2025. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 7/3/2025. (lccc)

July 3, 2025

July 3, 2025

PACER

Case Details