Case: United States v. Matthews

3:25-cv-03398 | U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois

Filed Date: Dec. 18, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

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

On December 18, 2025, the Attorney General of the United States filed suit against the Executive Director of the State Board of Elections for the State of Illinois in U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois. In the complaint, Plaintiff claims this suit arose from investigation into the state’s compliance with federal election law, particularly the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act, which require States to maintain and preserve certain records and papers that fall within the scope of Section 301 of Title III of the Civil Rights Act. 

This case is ongoing. Here are all of the DOJ Voter Data lawsuits in the Clearinghouse collection.

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72054244/parties/united-states-v-matthews/


Attorney for Plaintiff

Bennett, Brittany (Illinois)

Gardner, Christopher J (Illinois)

Attorney for Defendant

Chamblee-Ryan, Katherine (Illinois)

Frost, Elisabeth C. (Illinois)

Grady, Sarah C (Illinois)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

3:25-cv-03398

Complaint

The United States of America v. Matthews

Dec. 18, 2025

Dec. 18, 2025

Complaint
4

3:25-cv-03398

Complaint

The United States of America v. Matthews

Dec. 19, 2025

Dec. 19, 2025

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72054244/united-states-v-matthews/

Last updated Jan. 29, 2026, 12:10 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

STRICKEN COMPLAINT against Bernadette Matthews, filed by United States of America. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Supplement Civil Cover Sheet Attachment)(Gardner, Christopher) Modified on 12/19/2025 to strike pursuant to 12/19/2025 Text Order (DW). (Entered: 12/18/2025)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

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2 Supplement Civil Cover Sheet Attachment

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Dec. 18, 2025

Dec. 18, 2025

Clearinghouse
2

STRICKEN MOTION to Compel by Plaintiff United States of America. Responses due by 1/2/2026 (Attachments: # 1 Supplement Memorandum of Law, # 2 Exhibit Exhibits 1-3, # 3 Affidavit Declaration of Eric Neff, # 4 Exhibit Exhibit 4)(Gardner, Christopher) Modified on 12/19/2025 to Strike pursuant to 12/19/2025 Text Order (DW). (Entered: 12/18/2025)

1 Supplement Memorandum of Law

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2 Exhibit Exhibits 1-3

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3 Affidavit Declaration of Eric Neff

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4 Exhibit Exhibit 4

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Dec. 18, 2025

Dec. 18, 2025

RECAP
3

NOTICE Proposed Order re 2 MOTION to Compel (Gardner, Christopher) (Entered: 12/18/2025)

Dec. 18, 2025

Dec. 18, 2025

4

COMPLAINT against Bernadette Matthews, filed by United States of America. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Supplement Attachment to Civil Cover Sheet)(Gardner, Christopher) (Entered: 12/19/2025)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

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2 Supplement Attachment to Civil Cover Sheet

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Dec. 19, 2025

Dec. 19, 2025

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5

MOTION to Compel by Plaintiff United States of America. Responses due by 1/2/2026 (Attachments: # 1 Supplement Memorandum of Law, # 2 Exhibit Exhibit 1-3, # 3 Affidavit Declaration of Eric Neff, # 4 Exhibit Exhibit 4)(Gardner, Christopher) (Entered: 12/19/2025)

1 Supplement Memorandum of Law

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2 Exhibit Exhibit 1-3

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3 Affidavit Declaration of Eric Neff

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4 Exhibit Exhibit 4

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Dec. 19, 2025

Dec. 19, 2025

TEXT ORDER entered by Magistrate Judge Douglas J. Quivey on 12/19/2025: Before the Court are Plaintiff's Complaint (Doc. 1 ) and Motion to Compel (Doc. 2 ). Pursuant to Local Rule 11.4(A)(2), "[d]ocuments signed by an attorney must be filed using that attorney's log-in and password; they may not be filed using a log-in and password of another attorney." The Complaint and Motion to Compel were filed using Christopher Gardner's log-in and password but are signed by Brittany Bennett. Therefore, the Clerk is directed to STRIKE the Complaint, (Doc. 1 ), and the Motion to Compel (Doc. 2 ). The Complaint and Motion to Compel, if refiled, must be done so using a signatory's log-in and password. (DW)

Dec. 19, 2025

Dec. 19, 2025

Order on Motion to Compel

Dec. 19, 2025

Dec. 19, 2025

6

NOTICE of Appearance of Attorney by Sarah C Grady on behalf of Illinois AFL-CIO, Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans, Illinois Federation of Teachers (Grady, Sarah) (Entered: 12/22/2025)

Dec. 22, 2025

Dec. 22, 2025

7

MOTION to Intervene as Defendants by Defendants Illinois AFL-CIO, Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans, Illinois Federation of Teachers. Responses due by 1/5/2026 (Grady, Sarah) (Entered: 12/22/2025)

Dec. 22, 2025

Dec. 22, 2025

RECAP
8

MEMORANDUM in Support re 7 MOTION to Intervene as Defendants filed by Defendants Illinois AFL-CIO, Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans, Illinois Federation of Teachers. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D)(Grady, Sarah) (Entered: 12/22/2025)

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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Dec. 22, 2025

Dec. 22, 2025

RECAP
9

NOTICE of No Position re 7 MOTION to Intervene as Defendants (Gardner, Christopher) (Entered: 12/22/2025)

Dec. 22, 2025

Dec. 22, 2025

10

NOTICE of Appearance of Attorney by Adam Joseph Smith on behalf of Illinois AFL-CIO, Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans, Illinois Federation of Teachers (Smith, Adam) (Entered: 12/22/2025)

Dec. 22, 2025

Dec. 22, 2025

11

NOTICE of Appearance of Attorney by John Hazinski on behalf of Illinois AFL-CIO, Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans, Illinois Federation of Teachers (Hazinski, John) (Entered: 12/22/2025)

Dec. 22, 2025

Dec. 22, 2025

12

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 7.1 Disclosure Statement by Illinois AFL-CIO, Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans, Illinois Federation of Teachers. (Grady, Sarah) (Entered: 12/22/2025)

Dec. 22, 2025

Dec. 22, 2025

13

NOTICE of Appearance of Attorney by Elisabeth C. Frost on behalf of Illinois AFL-CIO, Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans, Illinois Federation of Teachers (Frost, Elisabeth) (Entered: 12/24/2025)

Dec. 24, 2025

Dec. 24, 2025

14

NOTICE of Appearance of Attorney by Katherine Chamblee-Ryan on behalf of Illinois AFL-CIO, Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans, Illinois Federation of Teachers (Chamblee-Ryan, Katherine) (Entered: 12/24/2025)

Dec. 24, 2025

Dec. 24, 2025

15

NOTICE of Appearance of Attorney by Tina Meng Morrison on behalf of Illinois AFL-CIO, Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans, Illinois Federation of Teachers (Meng Morrison, Tina) (Entered: 12/24/2025)

Dec. 24, 2025

Dec. 24, 2025

16

Summons Issued as to Bernadette Matthews. Summons returned to attorney of record to effectuate service. (DW) (Entered: 01/05/2026)

Jan. 5, 2026

Jan. 5, 2026

17

NOTICE of Supplemental Authorities re 7 MOTION to Intervene as Defendants, 8 Memorandum in Support of Motion, (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit 2)(Grady, Sarah) (Entered: 01/06/2026)

1 Exhibit 1

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2 Exhibit 2

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Jan. 6, 2026

Jan. 6, 2026

18

SUMMONS Returned Executed by United States of America. Bernadette Matthews served on 1/5/2026, answer due 1/26/2026. (Gardner, Christopher) (Entered: 01/07/2026)

Jan. 7, 2026

Jan. 7, 2026

19

NOTICE of Appearance of Attorney by Robert Henry Weaver on behalf of Bernadette Matthews (Weaver, Robert) (Entered: 01/08/2026)

Jan. 8, 2026

Jan. 8, 2026

20

Joint MOTION to Enter Briefing Schedule by Defendant Bernadette Matthews. Responses due by 1/22/2026 (Weaver, Robert) (Entered: 01/08/2026)

Jan. 8, 2026

Jan. 8, 2026

RECAP

Order on Motion for Miscellaneous Relief AND ~Util - Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings

Jan. 8, 2026

Jan. 8, 2026

TEXT ORDER Entered by Magistrate Judge Douglas J Quivey on 1/8/2026. Before the Court is the Parties' Joint Motion to Enter Briefing Schedule. (Doc. 20 ). For the reasons stated, the Motion is GRANTED. Defendant to file Motion to Dismiss and response to Plaintiff's Motion to Compel (Doc. 5 ) by February 20, 2026. Plaintiff to file response to Defendant's Motion to Dismiss and reply in support of Plaintiff's Motion to Compel (Doc. 5 ) by March 6, 2026. Defendant to file reply in support of Defendant's Motion to Dismiss by March 20, 2026. (AEJ)

Jan. 8, 2026

Jan. 8, 2026

Order on Motion for Miscellaneous Relief

Jan. 8, 2026

Jan. 8, 2026

21

NOTICE of Appearance of Attorney by Kevin M. Fee, Jr on behalf of Common Cause [intvd], Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights [intvd], Brian Beals [intvd], Pablo Mendoza [intvd], Alejandra L. Ibanez [intvd] (Fee, Kevin) (Entered: 01/09/2026)

Jan. 9, 2026

Jan. 9, 2026

22

NOTICE of Appearance of Attorney by Rebecca Kim Glenberg on behalf of Brian Beals [intvd], Common Cause [intvd], Alejandra L. Ibanez [intvd], Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights [intvd], Pablo Mendoza [intvd] (Glenberg, Rebecca) (Entered: 01/09/2026)

Jan. 9, 2026

Jan. 9, 2026

23

NOTICE of Appearance of Attorney by Priyanka Menon on behalf of Brian Beals [intvd], Common Cause [intvd], Alejandra L. Ibanez [intvd], Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights [intvd], Pablo Mendoza [intvd] (Menon, Priyanka) (Entered: 01/09/2026)

Jan. 9, 2026

Jan. 9, 2026

24

MOTION to Intervene by Defendants Brian Beals [intvd], Common Cause [intvd], Alejandra L. Ibanez [intvd], Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights [intvd], Pablo Mendoza [intvd]. Responses due by 1/23/2026 (Fee, Kevin) (Entered: 01/09/2026)

Jan. 9, 2026

Jan. 9, 2026

RECAP
25

MEMORANDUM in Support re 24 MOTION to Intervene filed by Defendants Brian Beals [intvd], Common Cause [intvd], Alejandra L. Ibanez [intvd], Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights [intvd], Pablo Mendoza [intvd]. (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)(Fee, Kevin) (Entered: 01/09/2026)

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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Jan. 9, 2026

Jan. 9, 2026

RECAP
26

Proposed MOTION for Order by Defendants Brian Beals [intvd], Common Cause [intvd], Alejandra L. Ibanez [intvd], Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights [intvd], Pablo Mendoza [intvd]. Responses due by 1/23/2026 (Fee, Kevin) (Entered: 01/09/2026)

Jan. 9, 2026

Jan. 9, 2026

27

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 7.1 Disclosure Statement by Brian Beals [intvd], Common Cause [intvd], Alejandra L. Ibanez [intvd], Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights [intvd], Pablo Mendoza [intvd]. (Fee, Kevin) (Entered: 01/09/2026)

Jan. 9, 2026

Jan. 9, 2026

28

NOTICE of Appearance of Attorney by Ethan Herenstein on behalf of Brian Beals [intvd], Common Cause [intvd], Alejandra L. Ibanez [intvd], Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights [intvd], Pablo Mendoza [intvd] (Herenstein, Ethan) (Entered: 01/12/2026)

Jan. 12, 2026

Jan. 12, 2026

29

NOTICE of Appearance of Attorney by Patricia Jia Yan on behalf of Brian Beals [intvd], Common Cause [intvd], Alejandra L. Ibanez [intvd], Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights [intvd], Pablo Mendoza [intvd] (Yan, Patricia) (Entered: 01/12/2026)

Jan. 12, 2026

Jan. 12, 2026

30

NOTICE of Appearance of Attorney by William Hughes on behalf of Brian Beals [intvd], Common Cause [intvd], Alejandra L. Ibanez [intvd], Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights [intvd], Pablo Mendoza [intvd] (Hughes, William) (Entered: 01/12/2026)

Jan. 12, 2026

Jan. 12, 2026

31

NOTICE of Appearance of Attorney by Sophia Lin Lakin on behalf of Brian Beals [intvd], Common Cause [intvd], Alejandra L. Ibanez [intvd], Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights [intvd], Pablo Mendoza [intvd] (Lakin, Sophia) (Entered: 01/12/2026)

Jan. 12, 2026

Jan. 12, 2026

32

NOTICE of Appearance of Attorney by Theresa J Lee on behalf of Brian Beals [intvd], Common Cause [intvd], Alejandra L. Ibanez [intvd], Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights [intvd], Pablo Mendoza [intvd] (Lee, Theresa) (Entered: 01/12/2026)

Jan. 12, 2026

Jan. 12, 2026

33

NOTICE of Appearance of Attorney by Priyanka Menon on behalf of Brian Beals [intvd], Common Cause [intvd], Alejandra L. Ibanez [intvd], Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights [intvd], Pablo Mendoza [intvd] (Menon, Priyanka) (Entered: 01/13/2026)

Jan. 13, 2026

Jan. 13, 2026

TEXT ORDER entered by Judge Colleen R. Lawless on 1/13/2026: Before the Court is a Notice of Appearance of Attorney by Priyanka Menon (Doc. 23 ). Pursuant to Local Rule 11.4(A)(2), "[d]ocuments signed by an attorney must be filed using that attorney's log-in and password; they may not be filed using a log-in and password of another attorney." The Notice of Appearance was filed using Priyanka Menon's log-in and password but is signed by Rebecca Glenberg. Therefore, the Clerk is directed to STRIKE the Notice of Appearance (Doc. 23 ). The Notice of Appearance, if refiled, must be done so using a signatory's log-in and password. (DW)

Jan. 13, 2026

Jan. 13, 2026

Order Striking/Vacating Document

Jan. 13, 2026

Jan. 13, 2026

34

NOTICE of No Position re 7 MOTION to Intervene as Defendants, 24 MOTION to Intervene (Weaver, Robert) (Entered: 01/15/2026)

Jan. 15, 2026

Jan. 15, 2026

RECAP
35

NOTICE of Appearance of Attorney by Ami Gandhi on behalf of Brian Beals [intvd], Common Cause [intvd], Alejandra L. Ibanez [intvd], Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights [intvd], Pablo Mendoza [intvd] (Gandhi, Ami) (Entered: 01/15/2026)

Jan. 15, 2026

Jan. 15, 2026

36

NOTICE of Appearance of Attorney by Aneel Lachman Chablani on behalf of Brian Beals [intvd], Common Cause [intvd], Alejandra L. Ibanez [intvd], Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights [intvd], Pablo Mendoza [intvd] (Chablani, Aneel) (Entered: 01/15/2026)

Jan. 15, 2026

Jan. 15, 2026

37

NOTICE of Supplemental Authority re 24 MOTION to Intervene (Attachments: # 1 EXHIBIT 1, # 2 EXHIBIT 2)(Fee, Kevin) (Entered: 01/21/2026)

1 EXHIBIT 1

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2 EXHIBIT 2

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Jan. 21, 2026

Jan. 21, 2026

RECAP
38

NOTICE of Appearance of Attorney by David D. Vandenberg on behalf of United States of America (Vandenberg, David) (Entered: 01/21/2026)

Jan. 21, 2026

Jan. 21, 2026

Case Details

State / Territory:

Illinois

Case Type(s):

Election/Voting Rights

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Litigation and Investigations By the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Dec. 18, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Case Details

Other Dockets:

Central District of Illinois 3:25-cv-03398

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Relief Sought:

Document/Information

Issues

Voting:

Access to Voter Rolls / Voter Information