Case: Bland v. Bondi

1:25-cv-03499 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: Sept. 30, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

[This summary is temporary while we research the case.]

On September 30, 2025, plaintiffs, individuals sentenced to death in Tennessee, sued the U.S. Department of Justice for transferring decision-making authority from Article III courts to the Attorney General and authorized the Attorney General to “certify” that a State satisfies Chapter 154 of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996. Plaintiffs asserted that once Congress grants the federal courts jurisdiction—as it has in the federal habeas context—it cannot encroach on the judiciary’s power to interpret the law and decide the cases and controversies that arise under it. They brought this suit in U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia.

This case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Claire Pollard (10/1/2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71499804/parties/bland-v-bondi/


Attorney for Plaintiff

Morris, Maria (District of Columbia)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:25-cv-03499

Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

Sept. 30, 2025

Sept. 30, 2025

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71499804/bland-v-bondi/

Last updated Sept. 30, 2025, 5:18 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-11993911) filed by FEDERAL DEFENDER SERVICES OF EASTERN TENNESSEE, ANDRE BLAND, HOWARD HAWK WILLIS, URSHAWN MILLER, FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons US DOJ, # 3 Summons Pamela Bondi, # 4 Summons US Attorney's Office)(Morris, Maria) (Entered: 09/30/2025)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

2 Summons US DOJ

View on PACER

3 Summons Pamela Bondi

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4 Summons US Attorney's Office

View on PACER

Sept. 30, 2025

Sept. 30, 2025

Clearinghouse
2

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Claudia Van Wyk, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-11994233. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by ANDRE BLAND, FEDERAL DEFENDER SERVICES OF EASTERN TENNESSEE, FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE, URSHAWN MILLER, HOWARD HAWK WILLIS. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Claudia Van Wyk, # 2 Certificate of Good Standing, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Morris, Maria) (Entered: 09/30/2025)

Sept. 30, 2025

Sept. 30, 2025

PACER
3

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Gitanjali S. Gutierrez, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-11994423. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by ANDRE BLAND, FEDERAL DEFENDER SERVICES OF EASTERN TENNESSEE, FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE, URSHAWN MILLER, HOWARD HAWK WILLIS. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Gitanjali S. Gutierrez, # 2 Certificate of Good Standing, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Morris, Maria) (Entered: 09/30/2025)

Sept. 30, 2025

Sept. 30, 2025

PACER
4

Temporary Restraining Order

Sept. 30, 2025

Sept. 30, 2025

PACER
5

Notice (Other)

Sept. 30, 2025

Sept. 30, 2025

PACER
6

Notice (Other)

Sept. 30, 2025

Sept. 30, 2025

PACER

Notice of Error- New Case

Sept. 30, 2025

Sept. 30, 2025

PACER

Case Assigned/Reassigned

Sept. 30, 2025

Sept. 30, 2025

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 30, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Case Details

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)