Case: United States v. Page

8:25-cv-01370 | U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Filed Date: June 25, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This case challenged Orange County, California's partial redaction of voter registration records in response to an inquiry by the U.S. government. On June 25, 2025, the United States Department of Justice filed this lawsuit against the Registrar of Voters for Orange County, California in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The DOJ alleged that defendant undermined Orange County's elections by "(1) refusing transparency of its voter information, in violation of federa…

This case challenged Orange County, California's partial redaction of voter registration records in response to an inquiry by the U.S. government. On June 25, 2025, the United States Department of Justice filed this lawsuit against the Registrar of Voters for Orange County, California in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The DOJ alleged that defendant undermined Orange County's elections by "(1) refusing transparency of its voter information, in violation of federal voting laws, and (2) concealing the unlawful registration of ineligible, non-citizen voters." DOJ alleged that defendant's actions violated the Help America Vote Act and the National Voter Registration Act, and sought declaratory and injunctive relief.

Prior to the filing of this complaint, on June 2, 2025, DOJ had requested defendant's records regarding voter registrations cancelled because the registrant was a noncitizen. On June 16, defendant responded to this request, supplying aggregate data but redacting any personally identifying information as required by California law.

Defendant filed his answer on July 23, 2025. Defendant argued that he had produced the requested information to the extent legally allowable. Defendant also asserted several affirmative defenses, including but not limited to failure to state a claim, exhaustion, and lack of standing.

The case was assigned to Judge David O. Carter. It is ongoing.

 

Summary Authors

Matt Petrillo (7/28/2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70631141/parties/united-states-v-robert-page/


Judge(s)

Carter, David O. (California)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Hikida, Katherine M (California)

Attorney for Defendant

Leeds, Rebecca Sorgen (California)

Shoai, Suzanne Esther (California)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

8:25-cv-01370

Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

June 25, 2025

June 25, 2025

Complaint
9

8:25-cv-01370

Answer of Defendant, Robert Page, Registrar of Voters for the County of Orange, To Complaint

July 23, 2025

July 23, 2025

Pleading / Motion / Brief

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70631141/united-states-v-robert-page/

Last updated Aug. 21, 2025, 1:25 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT No Fee Required - US Government, filed by Plaintiff United States of America. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1) (Attorney Katherine M Hikida added to party United States of America(pty:pla))(Hikida, Katherine) (Entered: 06/25/2025)

1 Exhibit 1

View on RECAP

June 25, 2025

June 25, 2025

Clearinghouse
2

CIVIL COVER SHEET filed by Plaintiff United States of America. (Hikida, Katherine) (Entered: 06/25/2025)

June 25, 2025

June 25, 2025

PACER
3

NOTICE OF ASSIGNMENT to District Judge David O. Carter and Magistrate Judge Autumn D. Spaeth. (et) (Entered: 06/28/2025)

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

PACER
4

NOTICE TO PARTIES OF COURT-DIRECTED ADR PROGRAM filed. (et) (Entered: 06/28/2025)

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

PACER
5

Notice to Counsel Re Consent to Proceed Before a United States Magistrate Judge. (et) (Entered: 06/28/2025)

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

PACER
6

INITIAL STANDING ORDER FOLLOWING ASSIGNMENT OF CIVIL CASE TO JUDGE CARTER. (kdu) (Entered: 06/30/2025)

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

RECAP
7

WAIVER OF SERVICE Returned Executed filed by Plaintiff United States of America. upon Robert Page waiver sent by Plaintiff on 6/30/2025, answer due 8/29/2025. Waiver of Service signed by Suzanne E. Shoai. (Hikida, Katherine) (Entered: 07/10/2025)

July 10, 2025

July 10, 2025

RECAP
8

Notice of Appearance or Withdrawal of Counsel: for attorney Rebecca Sorgen Leeds counsel for Defendant Robert Page. Adding Rebecca S. Leeds as counsel of record for Robert Page for the reason indicated in the G-123 Notice. Filed by defendant Robert Page. (Attorney Rebecca Sorgen Leeds added to party Robert Page(pty:dft))(Leeds, Rebecca) (Entered: 07/14/2025)

July 14, 2025

July 14, 2025

RECAP
9

ANSWER to Complaint (Attorney Civil Case Opening) 1 filed by Defendant Robert Page. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D)(Leeds, Rebecca) (Entered: 07/23/2025)

1 Exhibit A

View on RECAP

2 Exhibit B

View on PACER

3 Exhibit C

View on PACER

4 Exhibit D

View on PACER

July 23, 2025

July 23, 2025

Clearinghouse
10

NOTICE TO FILER OF DEFICIENCIES in Electronic Filed Document RE: Answer to Complaint (Attorney Civil Case Opening) 9 . The following error(s) was/were found: Local Rule 7.1-1 no notice of interested parties. In response to this notice, the Court may: (1) order an amended or correct document to be filed; (2) order the document stricken; or (3) take other action as the Court deems appropriate. You need not take any action in response to this notice unless and until the Court directs you to do so. (twdb) (Entered: 07/24/2025)

July 24, 2025

July 24, 2025

PACER
11

NOTICE of Change of Lead Counsel changing lead counsel from Suzanne Esther Shoai to Rebecca Sorgen Leeds. filed by Defendant Robert Page, (Leeds, Rebecca) (Entered: 08/06/2025)

Aug. 6, 2025

Aug. 6, 2025

RECAP
12

Amicus Brief (Leave to File)

Aug. 20, 2025

Aug. 20, 2025

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: California

Case Type(s):

Election/Voting Rights

Immigration and/or the Border

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Litigation and Investigations Involving the Government

Trump Administration 2.0: Litigation and Investigations Involving the Government (Voting/Election Law)

Key Dates

Filing Date: June 25, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

The U.S. Department of Justice.

Plaintiff Type(s):

U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Registrar of Voters (Santa Ana, Orange), County

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

National Voter Registration Act ("Motor Voter law"), 52 U.S.C. § 20501 (previously 42 U.S.C. § 1973gg)

Help America Vote Act (HAVA), 52 U.S.C. § 20901 et seq (previously 42 U.S.C. § 15301 et seq)

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Nature of Relief:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority:

Access to information systems

Voting:

Election administration

Voter registration rules