Case: Wachter v. James

1:25-cv-01718 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York

Filed Date: Dec. 9, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

(This summary is temporary while we research the case further). On December 9, 2025, two parents, the Massapequa Board of Education President, and a Rotterdam-Mohonasen Board of Education member filed a lawsuit challenging the New York Attorney General's guidance to school boards regarding transgender students. The plaintiffs alleged that the guidance, which, among other items, prohibits misgendering students, constitutes a violation of their First Amendment rights. The case is ongoing. 

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72022377/parties/wachter-v-james/


Judge(s)

Suddaby, Glenn T. (New York)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Dickey, James V. (New York)

Miller, Jordan (New York)

Attorney for Defendant

Cowan, Aimee (New York)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:25-cv-01718

Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

Dec. 9, 2025

Dec. 9, 2025

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72022377/wachter-v-james/

Last updated March 26, 2026, 6:29 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against Roger Catania, Christine Cea, Judith Chin, Adrian Hale, Letitia James, Brian Krist, Patrick Mannion, Susan Mittler, Wade Norwood, Hasoni Pratts, Seema Rivera, Betty Rosa, Shino Tanikawa, Felicia Thomas-Williams, Roger Tilles, Aramina Vega Ferrer, Keith Wiley, Frances Wills and Lester W. Young, Jr (Filing fee $405 receipt number ANYNDC-7395129) filed by Issac Kuo, Kerry Wachter, Danielle Ciampino and Sarah Rouse. (Attachments: # 1 Exhbit A (Letter from Letitia James and Betty Rosa to Boards of Education), # 2 Exhibit B (E-mail from Board of Education Presidents on behalf of NYSED P20), # 3 Civil Cover Sheet) (dpk) (Entered: 12/11/2025)

1 Exhbit A (Letter from Letitia James and Betty Rosa to Boards of Education)

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2 Exhibit B (E-mail from Board of Education Presidents on behalf of NYSED P20)

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3 Civil Cover Sheet

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Dec. 9, 2025

Dec. 9, 2025

Clearinghouse
2

G.O. 25 FILING ORDER ISSUED: Initial Conference set for 3/9/2026 at 10:00 AM by telephone before Magistrate Judge Therese Wiley Dancks. Civil Case Management Plan must be filed and Mandatory Disclosures are to be exchanged by the parties on or before 3/2/2026. (Pursuant to Local Rule 26.2, mandatory disclosures are to be exchanged among the parties but are NOT to be filed with the Court.) (dpk) (Entered: 12/11/2025)

Dec. 9, 2025

Dec. 9, 2025

3

Summons Issued as to Roger Catania, Christine Cea, Judith Chin, Adrian Hale, Letitia James, Brian Krist, Patrick Mannion, Susan Mittler, Wade Norwood, Hasoni Pratts, Seema Rivera, Betty Rosa, Shino Tanikawa, Felicia Thomas-Williams, Aramina Vega Ferrer, Keith Wiley, Frances Wills and Lester W. Young, Jr. (Attachments: # 1 Summons Issued as to Susan Mittler, # 2 Summons Issued as to Shino Tanikawa, # 3 Summons Issued as to Seema Rivera, # 4 Summons Issued as to Roger Catania, # 5 Summons Issued as to Patrick Mannion, # 6 Summons Issued as to Letitia James, # 7 Summons Issued as to Lester Young, Jr., # 8 Summons Issued as to Keith Wiley, # 9 Summons Issued as to Judith Chin, # 10 Summons Issued as to Hasoni Pratts, # 11 Summons Issued as to Frances Wills, # 12 Summons Issued as to Felicia Thomas-Williams, # 13 Summons Issued as to Christine Cea, # 14 Summons Issued as to Brian Krist, # 15 Summons Issued as to Betty Rosa, # 16 Summons Issued as to Aramina Vega Ferrer, # 17 Summons Issued as to Adrian Hale) (dpk) Modified on 12/11/2025 (ham, ). (Entered: 12/11/2025)

Dec. 9, 2025

Dec. 9, 2025

4

NOTICE OF ADMISSION REQUIREMENT as to Party Kerry Wachter, Danielle Ciampino, Sarah Rouse and Issac Kuo. Attorney Jordan R. Miller admissions due by 12/23/2025. (dpk) (Entered: 12/11/2025)

Dec. 9, 2025

Dec. 9, 2025

5

Summons Issued as to Roger Tilles. (ham) (Entered: 12/11/2025)

Dec. 11, 2025

Dec. 11, 2025

TEXT NOTICE OF FILING DEFICIENCY. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN of the following Filing Deficiency: Proposed Summons were not included with the Complaint as to defendant ROGER TILLES. Counsel is directed to file proposed summons(es) on the docket using the REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE OF SUMMONS(ES) event within 3 days of this notice. Notice of Filing Deficiency Deadline 12/16/2025 (dpk)

Dec. 11, 2025

Dec. 11, 2025

CLERK'S CORRECTION OF DOCKET ENTRY: Clerk retrieved the Proposed Summons for Roger Tille from the shell case, and erroneously issued it for 12/9/2025 and added the document to 3 . Clerk has since deleted it from 3, re-issued it for 12/11/2025, and docketed it on it's own for 12/11/2025. (ham)

Dec. 11, 2025

Dec. 11, 2025

7

Letter Motion from Jordan Miller for Danielle Ciampino, Issac Kuo, Sarah Rouse, Kerry Wachter requesting an extension of time to file a motion for limited admission pro hac vice submitted to Magistrate Judge Therese Wiley-Dancks submitted via MFT. (dpk) (Entered: 12/29/2025)

Dec. 23, 2025

Dec. 23, 2025

6

SUMMONS Returned Executed by Issac Kuo, Kerry Wachter, Danielle Ciampino, Sarah Rouse. All Defendants. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit(s) Exhibits 1-19 Certified Mail Proofs, # 2 Exhibit(s) Exhibit 20 Personal Service Proofs)(Dickey, James) (Entered: 12/24/2025)

Dec. 24, 2025

Dec. 24, 2025

8

Letter Motion from Aimee Cowan for Roger Catania, Christine Cea, Judith Chin, Adrian Hale, Letitia James, Brian Krist, Patrick Mannion, Susan Mittler, Wade Norwood, Hasoni Pratts, Seema Rivera, Betty Rosa, Shino Tanikawa, Felicia Thomas-Williams, Roger Tilles, Aramina Vega Ferrer, Keith Wiley, Frances Wills, Lester W. Young, Jr requesting 30-day extension to file responsive pleadings until February 6, 2026 submitted to Judge Therese Wiley Dancks . (Cowan, Aimee) (Entered: 12/29/2025)

Dec. 29, 2025

Dec. 29, 2025

9

TEXT ORDER:Court reviewed letter request, Dkt. No. 7, for an extension of time for attorney Jordan Miller to submit a pro hac vice application which is granted for the reasons stated. Said request shall be submitted by 1/13/2026. Court also reviewed letter request, Dkt. No. 8, from counsel for defendants seeking an extension of time to respond to the complaint which is granted for the reasons stated. Defendants shall respond to the complaint by 2/6/2026. The Rule 16 conference and related deadlines as set in Dkt. No. 2 remain as scheduled at this time. SO ORDERED by U.S. Magistrate Judge Therese Wiley Dancks on 12/30/2025. (pcj) (Entered: 12/30/2025)

Dec. 30, 2025

Dec. 30, 2025

10

MOTION for Limited Admission Pro Hac Vice of Jordan Miller. Filing fee $100, receipt number 27UB75DL filed by Danielle Ciampino, Issac Kuo, Sarah Rouse and Kerry Wachter [THIS DOCUMENT IS RESTRICTED AND VIEWABLE BY COURT USERS ONLY] Motions referred to Judge Therese Wiley Dancks. (dpk) (Entered: 12/31/2025)

Dec. 30, 2025

Dec. 30, 2025

Order on Letter Request AND Order on Letter Request

Dec. 30, 2025

Dec. 30, 2025

11

TEXT ORDER granting 10 Motion for Limited Admission Pro Hac Vice. Counsel is hereby advised that as of January 16, 2018, the NYND has converted to NextGen. Due to this conversion, you must now register for Pro Hac Vice access through your PACER account. This is the only notice you will receive concerning this requirement. You will not have access to electronically file in this case until your Pro Hac Vice request has been processed through the PACER system. Step-by-step instructions on how to complete this process are available at http://www.nynd.uscourts.gov/attorney-admissions. Counsel is reminded that, once the above is accomplished, a NOTICE OF APPEARANCE MUST BE FILED IN THIS ACTION or you will not receive electronic notifications in the case.. SO ORDERED by U.S. Magistrate Judge Therese Wiley Dancks on 1/6/2026. (pcj) (Entered: 01/06/2026)

Jan. 6, 2026

Jan. 6, 2026

Order on Motion for Limited Admission Pro Hac Vice

Jan. 6, 2026

Jan. 6, 2026

12

MOTION for Preliminary Injunction filed by Danielle Ciampino, Issac Kuo, Sarah Rouse, Kerry Wachter. Motion returnable before Judge Glenn T. Suddaby Response to Motion due by 1/30/2026. Reply to Response to Motion due by 2/6/2026 (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum of Law Plaintiffs' Memorandum of Law in Support of Their Motion for a Preliminary Injunction, # 2 Declaration Declaration of Kerry Wachter with Exhibits A-B, # 3 Declaration Declaration of Danielle Ciampino, # 4 Declaration Declaration of Sarah Rouse, # 5 Declaration Declaration of Issac Kuo, # 6 Proposed Order/Judgment Proposed Order Granting Plaintiffs' Motion for a Preliminary Injunction) (Dickey, James) (Entered: 01/09/2026)

1 Memorandum of Law Plaintiffs' Memorandum of Law in Support of Their Motion

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2 Declaration Declaration of Kerry Wachter with Exhibits A-B

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3 Declaration Declaration of Danielle Ciampino

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4 Declaration Declaration of Sarah Rouse

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5 Declaration Declaration of Issac Kuo

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6 Proposed Order/Judgment Proposed Order Granting Plaintiffs' Motion for a Pr

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Jan. 9, 2026

Jan. 9, 2026

13

NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Jordan Miller on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Miller, Jordan) (Entered: 01/09/2026)

Jan. 9, 2026

Jan. 9, 2026

14

Letter Motion from Aimee Cowan for Roger Catania, Christine Cea, Judith Chin, Adrian Hale, Letitia James, Brian Krist, Patrick Mannion, Susan Mittler, Wade Norwood, Hasoni Pratts, Seema Rivera, Betty Rosa, Shino Tanikawa, Felicia Thomas-Williams, Roger Tilles, Aramina Vega Ferrer, Keith Wiley, Frances Wills, Lester W. Young, Jr requesting extension until February 6, 2026 for defendants to respond to plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction, to coincide with the responsive pleadings deadline submitted to Judge Glenn T. Suddaby . (Cowan, Aimee) (Entered: 01/14/2026)

Jan. 14, 2026

Jan. 14, 2026

15

TEXT ORDER granting Defendants' 14 letter-motion for an extension of time to file a response to Plaintiffs' 12 Motion for Preliminary Injunction on or before 2/6/2026. Any reply is due to be filed on or before 2/13/2026. SO ORDERED by U.S. District Judge Glenn T Suddaby on 1/16/2026. (sal ) (Entered: 01/16/2026)

Jan. 16, 2026

Jan. 16, 2026

Order on Letter Request

Jan. 16, 2026

Jan. 16, 2026

16

Letter Motion from Aimee Cowan for Adrian Hale, Letitia James, Brian Krist, Patrick Mannion, Susan Mittler, Wade Norwood, Hasoni Pratts, Seema Rivera, Betty Rosa, Shino Tanikawa, Felicia Thomas-Williams, Roger Tilles, Aramina Vega Ferrer, Keith Wiley, Frances Wills, Lester W. Young, Jr requesting 2-week extension for responsive pleadings deadline and deadline for defendants' opposition to plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction submitted to Judge Glenn T. Suddaby . (Cowan, Aimee) (Entered: 02/01/2026)

Feb. 1, 2026

Feb. 1, 2026

17

TEXT ORDER granting Defendants' 16 letter-motion for an extension of time to file an opposition to Plaintiff's 12 Motion for Preliminary Injunction and responsive pleadings on or before 2/20/2026 (Defendants intend to file a motion to dismiss in lieu of answering the complaint). Any reply to this motion is due on or before 3/27/2026. The request for an adjournment of the deadline for Rule 26 disclosures and Civil Case Management Plan, and Rule 16 Conference set for March 9, 2026 will be addressed by Magistrate Judge Dancks. SO ORDERED by U.S. District Judge Glenn T Suddaby on 2/4/2026. (sal ) (Entered: 02/04/2026)

Feb. 4, 2026

Feb. 4, 2026

18

TEXT ORDER: Court reviewed Dkt. Nos. 16 and 17. The request to adjourn the Rule 16 conference and related deadlines is granted for the reasons stated. The Rule 16 conference and related deadlines will be reset as necessary after the pending motion for preliminary injunction and the anticipated motion to dismiss are resolved. SO ORDERED by U.S. Magistrate Judge Therese Wiley Dancks on 2/4/2026. (pcj) (Entered: 02/04/2026)

Feb. 4, 2026

Feb. 4, 2026

Order on Letter Request

Feb. 4, 2026

Feb. 4, 2026

Order

Feb. 4, 2026

Feb. 4, 2026

Order Reassigning Case

Feb. 13, 2026

Feb. 13, 2026

20

Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim

1 Memorandum of Law in Opposition to Plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary inj

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2 Declaration

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3 Declaration

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4 Declaration

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Feb. 20, 2026

Feb. 20, 2026

21

Letter Request/Motion

Feb. 23, 2026

Feb. 23, 2026

Order on Letter Request

Feb. 25, 2026

Feb. 25, 2026

23

Letter Request/Motion

March 26, 2026

March 26, 2026

Case Details

State / Territory:

New York

Case Type(s):

Speech and Religious Freedom

Education

Key Dates

Filing Date: Dec. 9, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Case Details

Other Dockets:

Northern District of New York 1:25-cv-01718

Issues

LGBTQ+:

Transgender

Recommended Citation