Case: State of New Jersey v. United States Department of Justice

President Donald Trump

COMPLAINT ( filing fee paid $ 405.00, receipt number ARIDC-2173180 ), filed by State of Rhode Island. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Exhibit, # 4 Civil Cover Sheet, # 5 Summons Request, # 6 Summons Request, # 7 Summons Request, # 8 Summons Request, # 9 Summons Request, # 10 Summons Request)(Giarrano, Leonard) (Entered: 08/18/2025)

1 Exhibit

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2 Exhibit

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3 Exhibit

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4 Civil Cover Sheet

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5 Summons Request

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6 Summons Request

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7 Summons Request

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8 Summons Request

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9 Summons Request

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10 Summons Request

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CASE OPENING NOTICE ISSUED (Hill, Cherelle) (Entered: 08/18/2025)

Summons Issued as to Pamela J. Bondi, Maureen Henneberg, Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, Katherine Darke Schmitt, United States Department of Justice (Attachments: # 1 Maureen Henneberg Summons, # 2 Office for Victims of Crime Summons, # 3 Office of Justice Programs Summons, # 4 Pamela J. Bondi Summons, # 5 United States Department of Justice Suumons)(Hill, Cherelle) (Entered: 08/18/2025)

1 Maureen Henneberg Summons

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2 Office for Victims of Crime Summons

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3 Office of Justice Programs Summons

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4 Pamela J. Bondi Summons

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5 United States Department of Justice Suumons

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Case assigned to Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. and Magistrate Judge Amy E. Moses. (Hill, Cherelle)

Case assigned to Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. and Magistrate Judge Amy E. Moses. (Hill, Cherelle)

SUMMONS Returned Executed by State of Rhode Island. All Defendants. (Attachments: # 1 Signed Proof of Service (Pamela J. Bondi), # 2 Signed Proof of Service (OJP), # 3 Signed Proof of Service (Maureen Henneberg), # 4 Signed Proof of Service (OVC), # 5 Signed Proof of Service (Katherine Darke Schmitt))(Giarrano, Leonard) (Entered: 08/19/2025)

1 Signed Proof of Service (Pamela J. Bondi)

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2 Signed Proof of Service (OJP)

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3 Signed Proof of Service (Maureen Henneberg)

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4 Signed Proof of Service (OVC)

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5 Signed Proof of Service (Katherine Darke Schmitt)

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TEXT ORDER: Pursuant to LR Gen 101(c), the Court suspends LR Gen 201(a) and any attorney employed by a State or the District of Columbia and who is a member in good standing of the bar of another federal district court and each jurisdiction in which that attorney has been admitted may appear and practice in this matter without being admitted pro hac vice. Attorneys appearing on behalf of the States and the District of Columbia are directed to obtain filing privileges via PACER and to enter their appearances. So Ordered by Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. on 8/20/2025. (Jackson, Ryan)

TEXT ORDER: Pursuant to LR Gen 101(c), the Court suspends LR Gen 201(a) and any attorney employed by a State or the District of Columbia and who is a member in good standing of the bar of another federal district court and each jurisdiction in which that attorney has been admitted may appear and practice in this matter without being admitted pro hac vice. Attorneys appearing on behalf of the States and the District of Columbia are directed to obtain filing privileges via PACER and to enter their appearances. So Ordered by Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. on 8/20/2025. (Jackson, Ryan)

NOTICE of Appearance by Ian Liston on behalf of State of Delaware (Liston, Ian) (Entered: 08/21/2025)

NOTICE of Appearance by Vanessa L. Kassab on behalf of State of Delaware (Kassab, Vanessa) (Entered: 08/21/2025)

NOTICE of Appearance by Rosanna E. Gibson on behalf of State of Delaware (Gibson, Rosanna) (Entered: 08/21/2025)

NOTICE of Appearance by Lee Sherman on behalf of State of California (Sherman, Lee) (Entered: 08/21/2025)

NOTICE of Appearance by Deylin O Thrift-Viveros on behalf of State of California (Thrift-Viveros, Deylin) (Entered: 08/21/2025)

NOTICE of Appearance by Delbert Tran on behalf of State of California (Tran, Delbert) (Entered: 08/21/2025)

NOTICE of Appearance by Luke Freedman on behalf of State of California (Freedman, Luke) (Entered: 08/21/2025)

NOTICE of Appearance by Newton Knowles, III on behalf of State of California (Knowles, Newton) (Entered: 08/21/2025)

NOTICE of Appearance by Joel Marrero on behalf of State of California (Marrero, Joel) (Entered: 08/21/2025)

NOTICE of Appearance by Jonathan T. Rose on behalf of State of Vermont (Rose, Jonathan) (Entered: 08/22/2025)

NOTICE of Appearance by Shankar Duraiswamy on behalf of State of New Jersey (Duraiswamy, Shankar) (Entered: 08/22/2025)

NOTICE of Appearance by Heidi Joya on behalf of State of California (Joya, Heidi) (Entered: 08/22/2025)

NOTICE of Appearance by Mayur Prasad Saxena on behalf of State of New Jersey (Saxena, Mayur) (Entered: 08/22/2025)

NOTICE of Appearance by Zoe Levine on behalf of State of New York (Levine, Zoe) (Entered: 08/23/2025)

NOTICE of Appearance by Natalie Moreland Villalon on behalf of All Defendants (Moreland Villalon, Natalie) (Entered: 08/25/2025)

NOTICE of Appearance by Hannah Vail on behalf of Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Vail, Hannah) (Entered: 08/25/2025)

NOTICE of Appearance by Natasha Korgaonkar on behalf of State of New York (Korgaonkar, Natasha) (Entered: 08/25/2025)

NOTICE of Appearance by David Moskowitz on behalf of State of Colorado (Moskowitz, David) (Entered: 08/26/2025)

NOTICE of Appearance by John S. Pallas on behalf of State of Michigan (Pallas, John) (Entered: 08/27/2025)

NOTICE of Appearance by Stanley William Abraham, III on behalf of State of Maine (Abraham, Stanley) (Entered: 08/27/2025)

NOTICE of Appearance by Neil Giovanatti on behalf of State of Michigan (Giovanatti, Neil) (Entered: 08/27/2025)

NOTICE of Appearance by Thomas H. Castelli on behalf of State of Oregon (Castelli, Thomas) (Entered: 08/29/2025)

NOTICE of Appearance by Heidi Parry Stern on behalf of State of Nevada (Stern, Heidi) (Entered: 09/03/2025)

NOTICE of Appearance by Kalikoonalani Diara Fernandes on behalf of State of Hawai'i (Fernandes, Kalikoonalani) (Entered: 09/03/2025)

NOTICE of Appearance by David Dana Day on behalf of State of Hawai'i (Day, David) (Entered: 09/03/2025)

NOTICE of Appearance by Michael M. Tresnowski on behalf of State of Illinois (Tresnowski, Michael) (Entered: 09/04/2025)

NOTICE of Appearance by Robert Henry Weaver on behalf of State of Illinois (Weaver, Robert) (Entered: 09/05/2025)

NOTICE of Appearance by Marsha Chien on behalf of State of Washington (Chien, Marsha) (Entered: 09/09/2025)

NOTICE of Appearance by Tyler S. Roberts on behalf of State of Washington (Roberts, Tyler) (Entered: 09/09/2025)

NOTICE of Appearance by Benjamin M. Seel on behalf of State of Washington (Seel, Benjamin) (Entered: 09/09/2025)

NOTICE of Appearance by Cristina Sepe on behalf of State of Washington (Sepe, Cristina) (Entered: 09/09/2025)

NOTICE of Appearance by Benjamin Daniel Liebowitz on behalf of State of New York (Liebowitz, Benjamin) (Entered: 09/12/2025)

NOTICE of Appearance by Colin T. Roth on behalf of State of Wisconsin (Roth, Colin) (Entered: 09/26/2025)

NOTICE of Appearance by Ashley H. Meskill on behalf of State of Connecticut (Meskill, Ashley) (Entered: 09/30/2025)

Consent MOTION to Stay Defendant's Motion to Dismiss Deadline filed by All Defendants. Responses due by 10/29/2025. (Moreland Villalon, Natalie) (Entered: 10/15/2025)

Consent MOTION to Stay Defendant's Motion to Dismiss Deadline filed by All Defendants. Responses due by 10/29/2025. (Moreland Villalon, Natalie) (Entered: 10/15/2025)

Joint STIPULATION to Extend Time to Respond to Complaint filed by All Defendants. (Moreland Villalon, Natalie) (Entered: 10/20/2025)

TEXT ORDER denying 39 Motion to Stay. The Court is required to continue its constitutional functions, and therefore the Motion to Stay is DENIED. Department of Justice contingency plan states: "If a court denies such a request [to stay or continue] and orders a case to continue, the Government will comply with the courts order, which would constitute express legal authorization for the activity to continue." If the Defendants want to stipulate to a new due date for their responsive pleading, they should file such a stipulation, and the Court will enter it. So Ordered by Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. on 10/20/2025. (Urizandi, Nissheneyra)

TEXT ORDER denying 39 Motion to Stay. The Court is required to continue its constitutional functions, and therefore the Motion to Stay is DENIED. Department of Justice contingency plan states: "If a court denies such a request [to stay or continue] and orders a case to continue, the Government will comply with the courts order, which would constitute express legal authorization for the activity to continue." If the Defendants want to stipulate to a new due date for their responsive pleading, they should file such a stipulation, and the Court will enter it. So Ordered by Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. on 10/20/2025. (Urizandi, Nissheneyra)

TEXT ORDER entering 40 Joint STIPULATION to Extend Time to Respond to Complaint. Answers due 12/19/2025. So Ordered by Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. on 10/21/2025. (Simoncelli, Michael)

Order Entering Stipulation AND ~Util - Set Deadlines

NOTICE of Appearance by Mark Noferi on behalf of State of New Mexico (Noferi, Mark) (Entered: 11/12/2025)

NOTICE of Appearance by Paul Timothy James Meosky on behalf of State of Rhode Island (Meosky, Paul) (Entered: 12/18/2025)

Joint STIPULATION to Extend Time to Respond to Complaint filed by All Defendants. (Moreland Villalon, Natalie) (Entered: 12/19/2025)

TEXT ORDER Entering 43 Stipulation for Extension of Time to Respond to Complaint filed by Katherine Darke Schmitt, United States Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Pamela J. Bondi, Office for Victims of Crime, Maureen Henneberg; Pamela J. Bondi answer due 1/20/2026; Maureen Henneberg answer due 1/20/2026; Office for Victims of Crime answer due 1/20/2026; Office of Justice Programs answer due 1/20/2026; Katherine Darke Schmitt answer due 1/20/2026; United States Department of Justice answer due 1/20/2026. So Ordered by Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. on 12/22/2025. (Jackson, Ryan)

Order AND ~Util - Set Deadlines

Joint STIPULATION to Extend Time to Respond to Complaint filed by All Defendants. (Moreland Villalon, Natalie) (Entered: 01/20/2026)

TEXT ORDER Entering 44 Stipulation Extending Time for Response to Complaint filed by Katherine Darke Schmitt, United States Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Pamela J. Bondi, Office for Victims of Crime, Maureen Henneberg; Pamela J. Bondi answer due 2/19/2026; Maureen Henneberg answer due 2/19/2026; Office for Victims of Crime answer due 2/19/2026; Office of Justice Programs answer due 2/19/2026; Katherine Darke Schmitt answer due 2/19/2026; United States Department of Justice answer due 2/19/2026. So Ordered by Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. on 1/21/2026. (Jackson, Ryan)

Order AND ~Util - Set Deadlines

Joint STIPULATION and Motion to Hold Case in Abeyance filed by State of New Jersey. (Saxena, Mayur) (Entered: 02/12/2026)

TEXT ORDER Entering 45 Stipulation and Motion to Hold Case in Abeyance filed by State of New Jersey: the Court hereby stays all pending deadlines and holds this case in abeyance up to and including the earlier of (i) one hundred and twenty (120) days from the date the Court rules on this motion or (ii) upon the request of any party that the abeyance be lifted. So Ordered by Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. on 2/13/2026. (Jackson, Ryan)

TEXT ORDER Entering 45 Stipulation and Motion to Hold Case in Abeyance filed by State of New Jersey: the Court hereby stays all pending deadlines and holds this case in abeyance up to and including the earlier of (i) one hundred and twenty (120) days from the date the Court rules on this motion or (ii) upon the request of any party that the abeyance be lifted. So Ordered by Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. on 2/13/2026. (Jackson, Ryan)

TEXT ORDER: Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 25(d), Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has been substituted for Pamela J. Bondi in this matter. So Ordered by Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. on 4/9/2026. (Simoncelli, Michael)

Order AND ~Util - Add and Terminate Parties

Order

TEXT ORDER: The parties are hereby ordered to submit a joint status report to the Court on or before 6/25/26. This joint status report should include a status of the current posture of the case as well as suggestions for a plan on how best to proceed. So Ordered by Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. on 6/18/2026. (Jackson, Ryan)

MOTION to Withdraw as Attorney filed by State of Delaware. Responses due by 7/8/2026. (Gibson, Rosanna) (Entered: 06/24/2026)

STATUS REPORT Joint Status Report by State of New Jersey. (Saxena, Mayur) (Entered: 06/25/2026)

TEXT ORDER granting 46 Motion to Withdraw as Attorney. Attorney Rosanna E. Gibson terminated. So Ordered by Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. on 6/25/2026. (Jackson, Ryan)

Order on Motion to Withdraw as Attorney

TEXT ORDER: The Court continues to hold this case in abeyance until the earlier of (a) Plaintiff notifying the Court of the issuance of an award for a FY 2025 OJP grant for which any Plaintiff State has applied that contains the Challenged Provision; or (b) Plaintiffs notifying the Court that OJP has issued all FY 2025 grants without including the Challenged Provision in any award to any Plaintiff State. If (a) occurs, then Plaintiffs shall file an Amended Complaint within 30 days for the occurrence in (a). So Ordered by Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. on 6/29/2026. (Jackson, Ryan)

Order

STATUS REPORT Joint Status Report by State of New Jersey. (Saxena, Mayur) (Entered: 08/10/2026)

Order

TEXT ORDER: (a) Plaintiffs will file an amended and supplemental complaint by August 21, 2026; (b) Defendants will produce the administrative record by August 28, 2026; (c) Plaintiffs will file a motion for summary judgment by September 4, 2026; (d) Defendants will file a cross-motion for summary judgment by September 18, 2026; (e) Plaintiffs will file an opposition to Defendants' cross-motion for summary judgment and reply in support of Plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment by September 28, 2026; (f) Defendants will file an opposition to Plaintiffs' cross-motion for summary judgment and reply in support of Defendants' motion for summary judgment by October 8, 2026. So Ordered by Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. on 8/11/2026. (Simoncelli, Michael)

MOTION to Withdraw as Attorney David Dana Day for Plaintiff State of Hawaii filed by State of Hawai'i. Responses due by 9/3/2026. (Day, David) (Entered: 08/20/2026)

NOTICE of Appearance by Andrew M. Ammirati on behalf of State of Connecticut (Ammirati, Andrew) (Entered: 08/21/2026)

NOTICE of Appearance by Katherine Hudson-MacRae on behalf of State of Maine (Hudson-MacRae, Katherine) (Entered: 08/21/2026)

AMENDED COMPLAINT First Amended and Supplemental Complaint against Todd Blanche, Maureen Henneberg, Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, Katherine Darke Schmitt, United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Tammie Gregg, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Eileen M Garry, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Kevin M Scott, National Institute of Justice, Jennifer Scherer, filed by State of Maryland, State of Wisconsin, State of Connecticut, State of Rhode Island, State of New York, State of New Jersey, State of Oregon, State of New Mexico, State of Michigan, State of Colorado, State of California, State of Hawai'i, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, State of Washington, State of Minnesota, State of Nevada, District of Columbia, State of Delaware, State of Vermont, State of Maine, State of Illinois, Commonwealth of Virginia, Josh Shapiro. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit 2, # 3 Exhibit 3, # 4 Exhibit 4, # 5 Exhibit 5, # 6 Exhibit 6, # 7 Exhibit 7, # 8 Exhibit 8)(Saxena, Mayur) (Entered: 08/21/2026)

1 Exhibit 1

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2 Exhibit 2

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3 Exhibit 3

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4 Exhibit 4

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5 Exhibit 5

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6 Exhibit 6

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7 Exhibit 7

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8 Exhibit 8

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Order on Motion to Withdraw as Attorney

TEXT ORDER granting 49 Motion to Withdraw as Attorney. Attorney David Dana Day terminated. So Ordered by Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. on 8/21/2026. (Jackson, Ryan)

Summons Issued