Case: City and County of San Francisco v. United States Department of Justice

3:25-cv-09277 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

Filed Date: Oct. 28, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

Since the mid-1990s, Congress has authorized and appropriated more than $21 billion in grants to local law enforcement agencies to improve cooperative efforts between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve under the Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Act ( the “COPS” Act). The COPS grants are administered through the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”).  The City and County of San Francisco, the County of Santa Clara, and the City of Tucson, are among the recipient…

Since the mid-1990s, Congress has authorized and appropriated more than $21 billion in grants to local law enforcement agencies to improve cooperative efforts between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve under the Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Act ( the “COPS” Act). The COPS grants are administered through the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”). 

The City and County of San Francisco, the County of Santa Clara, and the City of Tucson, are among the recipients of COPS grants, however, in this year’s issuance of grants, DOJ inserted several conditions that they must accept to receive their grants. These conditions included requiring the grantees to “agree to and certify compliance with an interpretation of antidiscrimination law that is legally unsupported and ambiguous; agree in advance to comply with all Executive Orders and memoranda that the President has issued and might in the future issue to advance and impose his domestic political agenda; and agree to use funding in a manner that advances Defendants’ policy goals but is at odds with the purpose of the grants.”

On October 28, 2025, the municipalities sued the DOJ and Attorney General Pamela Bondi, challenging the Trump Administration’s new conditions on 2025 COPS grants in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Plaintiffs argued that these conditions unlawfully forced cities to abandon diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, obey all current and future executive orders, and comply with vague funding bans—violating the separation of powers, the Spending Clause, and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). Plaintiffs sought to enjoin the DOJ and COPS from enforcing these or similar terms, vacate the challenged conditions under the APA, and order that statutory compliance be interpreted as defined by Congress and the courts. The case was assigned to Judge James Donato.

On November 14, the municipalities filed a motion for preliminary injunction seeking bar Defendants from imposing and enforcing the unlawful COPS grant conditions. A hearing was set for the motion on December 18, 2025. 

The case is ongoing.

 

Summary Authors

Madena Mustafa (11/22/2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71788745/parties/city-and-county-of-san-francisco-v-united-states-department-of-justice/


Judge(s)

Donato, James (California)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Chiu, David S. (California)

Clara, County of (California)

Tucson, City of (California)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

3:25-cv-09277

Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

Oct. 28, 2025

Oct. 28, 2025

Complaint
17

3:25-cv-09277

First Amended Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

Nov. 4, 2025

Nov. 4, 2025

Complaint
20

3:25-cv-09277

Plaintiffs' Notice of Motion and Motion for Preliminary Injunction; Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support

Nov. 14, 2025

Nov. 14, 2025

Pleading / Motion / Brief

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71788745/city-and-county-of-san-francisco-v-united-states-department-of-justice/

Last updated Dec. 26, 2025, 12:43 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF against PAMELA J. BONDI, CORY D. RANDOLPH, The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, United States Department of Justice ( Filing fee $ 405, receipt number ACANDC-21288878.). Injunction against the US government/official or APA vacatur requested. Filed by CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO. (Chiu, David) (Filed on 10/28/2025) (Entered: 10/28/2025)

Oct. 28, 2025

Oct. 28, 2025

Clearinghouse
2

Proposed Summons. (Chiu, David) (Filed on 10/28/2025) (Entered: 10/28/2025)

Oct. 28, 2025

Oct. 28, 2025

3

Case assigned to Judge James Donato. Counsel for plaintiff or the removing party is responsible for serving the Complaint or Notice of Removal, Summons and the assigned judge's standing orders and all other new case documents upon the opposing parties. For information, visit E-Filing A New Civil Case at http://cand.uscourts.gov/ecf/caseopening.Standing orders can be downloaded from the court's web page at www.cand.uscourts.gov/judges. Upon receipt, the summons will be issued and returned electronically. A scheduling order will be sent by Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) within two business days. (pjf, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 10/29/2025) (Entered: 10/29/2025)

Oct. 29, 2025

Oct. 29, 2025

4

NOTICE of Appearance filed by Sara Jennifer Eisenberg on behalf of CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO (Eisenberg, Sara) (Filed on 10/29/2025)

Oct. 29, 2025

Oct. 29, 2025

5

NOTICE of Appearance filed by Yvonne Rosil Mere on behalf of CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO (Mere, Yvonne) (Filed on 10/29/2025)

Oct. 29, 2025

Oct. 29, 2025

~Util - Case Assigned by Intake

Oct. 29, 2025

Oct. 29, 2025

Notice of Appearance/Substitution/Change/Withdrawal of Attorney

Oct. 29, 2025

Oct. 29, 2025

6

MOTION for leave to appear in Pro Hac Vice ( Filing fee $ 328, receipt number ACANDC-21294397.) filed by City of Tucson. (Attachments: (1) Certificate of Good Standing)(Nassen, Regina) (Filed on 10/30/2025)

1 Certificate of Good Standing

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Oct. 30, 2025

Oct. 30, 2025

RECAP
7

NOTICE of Appearance filed by Meredith Anne Johnson on behalf of County of Santa Clara (Johnson, Meredith) (Filed on 10/30/2025)

Oct. 30, 2025

Oct. 30, 2025

8

NOTICE of Appearance filed by Anthony J LoPresti on behalf of County of Santa Clara (LoPresti, Anthony) (Filed on 10/30/2025)

Oct. 30, 2025

Oct. 30, 2025

9

NOTICE of Appearance filed by Kavita Kandala Narayan on behalf of County of Santa Clara (Narayan, Kavita) (Filed on 10/30/2025)

Oct. 30, 2025

Oct. 30, 2025

10

NOTICE of Appearance filed by Bill Nguyen on behalf of County of Santa Clara (Nguyen, Bill) (Filed on 10/30/2025)

Oct. 30, 2025

Oct. 30, 2025

11

NOTICE of Appearance filed by Jessica Elaine Lanier on behalf of CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO (Lanier, Jessica) (Filed on 10/30/2025)

Oct. 30, 2025

Oct. 30, 2025

12

NOTICE of Appearance filed by Karun Tilak on behalf of CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO (Tilak, Karun) (Filed on 10/30/2025)

Oct. 30, 2025

Oct. 30, 2025

Notice of Appearance/Substitution/Change/Withdrawal of Attorney

Oct. 30, 2025

Oct. 30, 2025

13

ORDER by Judge James Donato granting [6] Motion for Pro Hac Vice. (lrc, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 10/31/2025)

Oct. 31, 2025

Oct. 31, 2025

RECAP
14

Summons Issued as to Pamela J. Bondi, Cory D. Randolph, The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, United States Department of Justice. (kmg, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 10/31/2025)

Oct. 31, 2025

Oct. 31, 2025

RECAP
15

Initial Case Management Scheduling Order with ADR Deadlines: Case Management Statement due by 1/22/2026. Initial Case Management Conference set for 1/29/2026 10:00 AM in San Francisco, Courtroom 11, 19th Floor. (kmg, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 10/31/2025)

Oct. 31, 2025

Oct. 31, 2025

RECAP
16

NOTICE of Appearance filed by Mollie M Lee on behalf of City and County of San Francisco (Lee, Mollie) (Filed on 10/31/2025)

Oct. 31, 2025

Oct. 31, 2025

Notice of Appearance/Substitution/Change/Withdrawal of Attorney

Oct. 31, 2025

Oct. 31, 2025

17

AMENDED COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF against Pamela J. Bondi, Cory D. Randolph, The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, United States Department of Justice. Filed by City and County of San Francisco. (Chiu, David) (Filed on 11/4/2025)

Nov. 4, 2025

Nov. 4, 2025

Clearinghouse
18

Notice of Additional Parties: the following parties are listed on [1] Complaint, and have been added to this case: City of San Diego and City of San Diego. (This is a text-only entry.) (Chiu, David) (Filed on 11/4/2025)

Nov. 4, 2025

Nov. 4, 2025

Notice of Additional Parties

Nov. 4, 2025

Nov. 4, 2025

19

NOTICE of Appearance filed by Julie Rau on behalf of City of San Diego (Rau, Julie) (Filed on 11/6/2025)

Nov. 6, 2025

Nov. 6, 2025

Notice of Appearance/Substitution/Change/Withdrawal of Attorney

Nov. 6, 2025

Nov. 6, 2025

20

MOTION for Preliminary Injunction ;MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND AUTHORITIES IN SUPPORT filed by City and County of San Francisco. Motion Hearing set for 12/18/2025 10:00 AM in San Francisco, Courtroom 11, 19th Floor before Judge James Donato. Responses due by 11/28/2025. Replies due by 12/5/2025. (Attachments: (1) Declaration C. Kasmar, (2) Declaration K. Meaux, (3) Declaration R. Jonsen, (4) Declaration S. Frost, (5) Proposed Order PI Mtn)(Lanier, Jessica) (Filed on 11/14/2025)

1 Declaration C. Kasmar

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2 Declaration K. Meaux

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3 Declaration R. Jonsen

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4 Declaration S. Frost

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5 Proposed Order PI Mtn

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Nov. 14, 2025

Nov. 14, 2025

Clearinghouse
21

Request for Judicial Notice re [20] MOTION for Preliminary Injunction ;MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND AUTHORITIES IN SUPPORT filed byCity and County of San Francisco. (Attachments: (1) Exhibit A, (2) Exhibit B, (3) Exhibit C, (4) Exhibit D, (5) Exhibit E, (6) Exhibit F, (7) Exhibit G, (8) Exhibit H, (9) Exhibit I, (10) Exhibit J, (11) Exhibit K, (12) Proposed Order RJN)(Related document(s)[20]) (Lanier, Jessica) (Filed on 11/14/2025)

1 Exhibit A

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2 Exhibit B

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3 Exhibit C

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4 Exhibit D

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5 Exhibit E

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6 Exhibit F

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7 Exhibit G

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8 Exhibit H

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9 Exhibit I

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10 Exhibit J

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11 Exhibit K

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12 Proposed Order RJN

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Nov. 14, 2025

Nov. 14, 2025

RECAP
22

MOTION to Shorten Time filed by City and County of San Francisco. (Attachments: (1) Declaration J. Lanier, (2) Proposed Order MST)(Lanier, Jessica) (Filed on 11/14/2025)

1 Declaration J. Lanier

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2 Proposed Order MST

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Nov. 14, 2025

Nov. 14, 2025

RECAP
23

STIPULATION WITH PROPOSED ORDER re [20] MOTION for Preliminary Injunction ;MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND AUTHORITIES IN SUPPORT filed by City and County of San Francisco. (Lanier, Jessica) (Filed on 11/18/2025)

Nov. 18, 2025

Nov. 18, 2025

RECAP
24

ORDER. A status conference is set for November 24, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. in Courtroom 11. Signed by Judge James Donato on 11/19/2025. (This is a text-only entry generated by the court. There is no document associated with this entry.) (jdlc1, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 11/19/2025)

Nov. 19, 2025

Nov. 19, 2025

Order AND ~Util - Set Deadlines/Hearings

Nov. 19, 2025

Nov. 19, 2025

25

MOTION to Appear by Telephone filed by City of Tucson. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Nassen, Regina) (Filed on 11/20/2025) (Entered: 11/20/2025)

1 Proposed Order

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Nov. 20, 2025

Nov. 20, 2025

RECAP
26

MOTION to Appear by Telephone filed by City of San Diego. (Attachments: (1) Proposed Order)(Rau, Julie) (Filed on 11/20/2025)

1 Proposed Order

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Nov. 20, 2025

Nov. 20, 2025

RECAP
27

ORDER. The requests to appear remotely, Dkt. Nos. 25, 26, are denied. Signed by Judge James Donato on 11/21/2025. (This is a text-only entry generated by the court. There is no document associated with this entry.) (jdlc1, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 11/21/2025)

Nov. 21, 2025

Nov. 21, 2025

28

ORDER. The City of Tucson and City of San Diego are excused from appearing at the status conference on November 24, 2025. Signed by Judge James Donato on 11/21/2025. (This is a text-only entry generated by the court. There is no document associated with this entry.) (jdlc1, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 11/21/2025)

Nov. 21, 2025

Nov. 21, 2025

Order AND ~Util - Terminate Motions

Nov. 21, 2025

Nov. 21, 2025

Order

Nov. 21, 2025

Nov. 21, 2025

29

Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge James Donato: Status Conference held on 11/24/2025. Total Time in Court: 25 minutes. Court Reporter: April Brott. (jdlc1, COURT STAFF) (Date Filed: 11/24/2025)

Nov. 24, 2025

Nov. 24, 2025

RECAP
30

NOTICE by Pamela J. Bondi, Cory D. Randolph, The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, United States Department of Justice of Related Cases (Bernardoni, Jevechius) (Filed on 11/26/2025)

Nov. 26, 2025

Nov. 26, 2025

RECAP
31

CLERK'S NOTICE Continuing Motion Hearing. (This is a text-only entry generated by the court. There is no document associated with this entry.), Set/Reset Deadlines as to [20] MOTION for Preliminary Injunction <. Motion Hearing set for 12/18/2025 11:00 AM in San Francisco, Courtroom 11, 19th Floor before Judge James Donato. (Related documents(s) [20])(lrc, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 12/2/2025)

Dec. 2, 2025

Dec. 2, 2025

32

OPPOSITION/RESPONSE (re [20] MOTION for Preliminary Injunction < ) filed byPamela J. Bondi, Cory D. Randolph, The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, United States Department of Justice. (Bernardoni, Jevechius) (Filed on 12/2/2025)

Dec. 2, 2025

Dec. 2, 2025

RECAP
33

Declaration of Cory Randolph in Support of [32] Opposition/Response to Motion, filed byPamela J. Bondi, Cory D. Randolph, The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, United States Department of Justice. (Attachments: (1) Exhibit A, (2) Exhibit B, (3) Exhibit C, (4) Exhibit D, (5) Exhibit E, (6) Exhibit F, (7) Exhibit G, (8) Exhibit H, (9) Exhibit I, (10) Exhibit J, (11) Exhibit K)(Related document(s)[32]) (Bernardoni, Jevechius) (Filed on 12/2/2025)

1 Exhibit A

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2 Exhibit B

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3 Exhibit C

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4 Exhibit D

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5 Exhibit E

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6 Exhibit F

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7 Exhibit G

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8 Exhibit H

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9 Exhibit I

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10 Exhibit J

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11 Exhibit K

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Dec. 2, 2025

Dec. 2, 2025

RECAP

Clerk's Notice Continuing Motion Hearing AND ~Util - Set Motion and Deadlines/Hearings

Dec. 2, 2025

Dec. 2, 2025

34

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by City and County of San Francisco re [17] Amended Complaint, (Lanier, Jessica) (Filed on 12/3/2025)

Dec. 3, 2025

Dec. 3, 2025

RECAP
35

REPLY (re [20] MOTION for Preliminary Injunction < ) filed byCity and County of San Francisco. (Lanier, Jessica) (Filed on 12/12/2025)

Dec. 12, 2025

Dec. 12, 2025

RECAP
36

NOTICE of Appearance filed by Jennifer Marie Martin on behalf of City of San Diego (Martin, Jennifer) (Filed on 12/16/2025)

Dec. 16, 2025

Dec. 16, 2025

Notice of Appearance/Substitution/Change/Withdrawal of Attorney

Dec. 16, 2025

Dec. 16, 2025

37

CLERK'S NOTICE. (This is a text-only entry generated by the court. There is no document associated with this entry.) Initial Case Management Conference set for 1/29/2026 11:00 AM in San Francisco, Courtroom 11, 19th Floor. (lrc, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 12/18/2025)

Dec. 18, 2025

Dec. 18, 2025

Clerk's Notice

Dec. 18, 2025

Dec. 18, 2025

38

TRANSCRIPT ORDER for proceedings held on 12/18/2025 before Judge James Donato by City and County of San Francisco, for Court Reporter Kendra Steppler. (Lanier, Jessica) (Filed on 12/23/2025)

Dec. 23, 2025

Dec. 23, 2025

RECAP
39

STIPULATION filed by Pamela J. Bondi, Cory D. Randolph, The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, United States Department of Justice. (Bernardoni, Jevechius) (Filed on 12/23/2025)

Dec. 23, 2025

Dec. 23, 2025

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory:

California

Case Type(s):

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Oct. 28, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

The City and County of San Francisco, the City of San Diego, the County of Santa Clara, and the City of Tucson

Plaintiff Type(s):

City/County Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

U.S. Department of Justice (District of Columbia), Federal

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq.

Ex Parte Young (Federal) or Bivens

Constitutional Clause(s):

Separation of Powers

Spending/Appropriations Clauses

Other Dockets:

Northern District of California 3:25-cv-09277

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Declaratory judgment

Injunction

Relief Granted:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

General/Misc.:

Funding

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority:

Commandeering