Case: Center for Biological Diversity v. Germann

4:26-cv-00021 | U.S. District Court for the District of Montana

Filed Date: March 2, 2026

Case Ongoing

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Case Summary

This case challenges the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) approval of management plans that abruptly change course for past management decisions of sage-grouse habitat across 9 states. On March 2, 2026, the Center for Biological Diversity, Gallatin Wildlife Association, Great Old Broads for Wilderness, Rocky Mountain Wild, the Sierra Club, the Western Watersheds Project, and the Wildearth Guardians ("Plaintiffs") filed suit in U.S. District Court for the District of Montana against the Montana…

This case challenges the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) approval of management plans that abruptly change course for past management decisions of sage-grouse habitat across 9 states.

On March 2, 2026, the Center for Biological Diversity, Gallatin Wildlife Association, Great Old Broads for Wilderness, Rocky Mountain Wild, the Sierra Club, the Western Watersheds Project, and the Wildearth Guardians ("Plaintiffs") filed suit in U.S. District Court for the District of Montana against the Montana-Dakotas State Director, the BLM, and acting state directors of the California, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming BLMs ("BLM"). Plaintiffs brought suit in the United States District Court for the District of Montana. The case was initially assigned to Magistrate Judge John Johnston, but was later re-assigned to District Judge Brian Matthew Morris.

The greater sage-grouse is a ground-dwelling bird. Some 16 million sage-grouse once roamed the western United States, but today, scientists estimate fewer than 200,000 are alive. In response to a 80 percent decline in population over the last two decades, federal agencies have taken a number of steps to protect sage-grouse habitat. The 2015 sage-grouse Management Plans prioritized oil and gas leasing outside of sage-grouse habitat and prohibited development on critical habitat. In 2017, the first Trump Administration began to dismantle the 2015 Plans to enact the administration's "energy dominance" agenda.

Today, the sage-grouse's habitat is also still disappearing at an alarming rate of 1.3 million acres per year. And as a forewarning for the remaining range, North Dakota’s sage-grouse population now appears to be effectively extinct. However, Plaintiffs allege that the 2025 Plan Amendments are "weaker in nearly all respects than the 2015 Plans" and build on the dismantling conducted during the first Trump Administration.

Plaintiffs challenge the BLM's approval of the 2025 Management Plan Amendments for greater sage-grouse in Montana, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. Plaintiffs allege that BLM's approval of the 2025 Management Plan Amendments violates the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), APA, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and BLM Planning Regulations. Plaintiffs seek declaratory and injunctive relief to reverse the 2025 plans and require a new legally compliant planning process.

This case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Allison Opheim (4/18/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72350818/parties/center-for-biological-diversity-v-germann/

Judge(s)

Johnston, John T. (Montana)

Morris, Brian Matthew (Montana)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Hursh, Andrew (Montana)

Parker, Margaret (Montana)

Stellberg, Sarah (Montana)

Judge(s)

Johnston, John T. (Montana)

Morris, Brian Matthew (Montana)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Hursh, Andrew (Montana)

Parker, Margaret (Montana)

Stellberg, Sarah (Montana)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

1 4:26-cv-00021	Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief	March 2, 2026	March 2, 2026 Complaint

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72350818/center-for-biological-diversity-v-germann/

Last updated Aug. 30, 2026, 3:25 a.m.

Docket for: Center for Biological Diversity v. Germann

ECF Number	Date	Description	Link
1	March 2, 2026	COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF against All Defendants filed by Center for Biological Diversity, Gallatin Wildlife Association, Great Old Broads For Wilderness, Rocky Mountain Wild, Sierra Club, Western Watersheds Project, and Wildearth Guardian. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Attachment to Civil Cover Sheet, # 3 Proposed Summons Germann, # 4 Proposed Summons Stout, # 5 Proposed Summons Conry, # 6 Proposed Summons Raby, # 7 Proposed Summons Heinlein, # 8 Proposed Summons Kirby, # 9 Proposed Summons Groffy, # 10 Proposed Summons BLM) (SAH) (Entered: 03/02/2026)	Clearinghouse
2	March 2, 2026	Summons Issued as to All Defendants. Issued summons may be downloaded and printed by counsel for service. (SAH) (Entered: 03/02/2026)	RECAP
3	March 2, 2026	MOTION Sarah Stellberg to Appear Pro Hac Vice ( Filing fee $ 273 receipt number AMTDC-3642068.). Andrew Hursh appearing for Plaintiffs Center for Biological Diversity, Gallatin Wildlife Association, Great Old Broads For Wilderness, Rocky Mountain Wild, Sierra Club, Western Watersheds Project, Wildearth Guardians. (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit Affidavit of Sarah Stellberg, # 2 Text of Proposed Order) (Hursh, Andrew) Modified on 3/3/2026 to unterm motion (KAH). (Entered: 03/02/2026)	RECAP
4	March 2, 2026	MOTION Margaret Parker to Appear Pro Hac Vice ( Filing fee $ 273 receipt number AMTDC-3642078.). Andrew Hursh appearing for Plaintiffs Center for Biological Diversity, Gallatin Wildlife Association, Great Old Broads For Wilderness, Rocky Mountain Wild, Sierra Club, Western Watersheds Project, Wildearth Guardians. (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit Affidavit of Margaret Parker, # 2 Text of Proposed Order) (Hursh, Andrew) (Entered: 03/02/2026)	RECAP
5	March 2, 2026	Corporate Disclosure Statement by Center for Biological Diversity, Gallatin Wildlife Association, Great Old Broads For Wilderness, Rocky Mountain Wild, Sierra Club, Western Watersheds Project, Wildearth Guardians. (Hursh, Andrew) (Entered: 03/02/2026)	RECAP
6	March 2, 2026	ORDER REASSIGNING CASE. Case reassigned to Judge Brian Morris for all further proceedings. Magistrate Judge John Johnston no longer assigned to case Please update case number on future filings to: CV-26-21-GF-BMM. . Signed by Judge Brian Morris on 3/2/2026. (ACC) (Entered: 03/02/2026)	RECAP
7	March 2, 2026	ORDER granting 4 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Attorney Margaret Parker NOTE: Instructions to request Montana CM/ECF registration through PACER are found here.. Acknowledgment of PHV Order due by 3/17/2026. Signed by Judge Brian Morris on 3/2/2026. (ACC) (Entered: 03/02/2026)	RECAP
	March 2, 2026	Filing Fee Received
	March 2, 2026	Filing fee: $ 405, receipt number AMTDC-3641841 (SAH)
8	March 3, 2026	ORDER granting 3 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Attorney Sarah Stellberg. NOTE: Instructions to request Montana CM/ECF registration through PACER are found here. Acknowledgment of PHV Order due by 3/18/2026. Signed by Judge Brian Morris on 3/3/2026. (KAH) (Entered: 03/03/2026)	RECAP
9	March 3, 2026	NOTICE of Acknowledgment of Pro Hac Vice Order by Center for Biological Diversity, Gallatin Wildlife Association, Great Old Broads For Wilderness, Rocky Mountain Wild, Sierra Club, Western Watersheds Project, Wildearth Guardians (Stellberg, Sarah) (Entered: 03/03/2026)	RECAP
10	March 4, 2026	NOTICE of Acknowledgment of Pro Hac Vice Order by Center for Biological Diversity, Gallatin Wildlife Association, Great Old Broads For Wilderness, Rocky Mountain Wild, Sierra Club, Western Watersheds Project, Wildearth Guardians (Parker, Margaret) (Entered: 03/04/2026)	RECAP
11	April 1, 2026	SUMMONS Returned Executed by Western Watersheds Project, Great Old Broads For Wilderness, Wildearth Guardians, Gallatin Wildlife Association, Center for Biological Diversity, Rocky Mountain Wild, Sierra Club. Bureau of Land Management served on 3/9/2026, answer due 5/8/2026; Meagan Conry served on 3/6/2026, answer due 5/5/2026; Sonya Germann served on 3/9/2026, answer due 5/8/2026; Bill Groffy served on 3/9/2026, answer due 5/8/2026; Tom Heinlein served on 4/1/2026, answer due 6/1/2026; Kristina Kirby served on 3/9/2026, answer due 5/8/2026; Jon K. Raby served on 3/6/2026, answer due 5/5/2026; Joseph Stout served on 3/11/2026, answer due 5/11/2026. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A) (Stellberg, Sarah) (Entered: 04/01/2026)	RECAP
12	April 2, 2026	MOTION to Intervene. Shannon Leininger appearing for Interested Party State of Wyoming. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Answer) (KJC) (Entered: 04/02/2026)	RECAP
13	April 2, 2026	Brief/Memorandum in Support re 12 MOTION to Intervene filed by State of Wyoming. (KJC) (Entered: 04/02/2026)	RECAP
14	April 9, 2026	MOTION Andrew Royce Missel to Appear Pro Hac Vice ( Filing fee $ 273 receipt number AMTDC-3666813.). Andrew Hursh appearing for Plaintiffs Center for Biological Diversity, Gallatin Wildlife Association, Great Old Broads For Wilderness, Rocky Mountain Wild, Sierra Club, Western Watersheds Project, Wildearth Guardians. (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit of Andrew Royce Missel, # 2 Text of Proposed Order) (Hursh, Andrew) (Entered: 04/09/2026)	RECAP
15	April 9, 2026	ORDER granting 14 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Attorney Andrew Royce Missel. NOTE: Instructions to request Montana CM/ECF registration through PACER are found here. Acknowledgment of PHV Order due by 4/24/2026. Signed by Judge Brian Morris on 4/9/2026. (ACC) (Entered: 04/09/2026)	RECAP
16	April 10, 2026	NOTICE of Acknowledgment of Pro Hac Vice Order by Center for Biological Diversity, Gallatin Wildlife Association, Great Old Broads For Wilderness, Rocky Mountain Wild, Sierra Club, Western Watersheds Project, Wildearth Guardians re 15 Order on Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice, (Missel, Andrew) (Entered: 04/10/2026)	RECAP
17	April 10, 2026	RESPONSE to Motion re 12 MOTION to Intervene filed by Center for Biological Diversity, Gallatin Wildlife Association, Great Old Broads For Wilderness, Rocky Mountain Wild, Sierra Club, Western Watersheds Project, Wildearth Guardians. (Stellberg, Sarah) (Entered: 04/10/2026)	RECAP
18	April 15, 2026	ORDER: IT IS ORDERED that the motion (Doc. 12) for intervention as of right by the State of Wyoming is hereby GRANTED. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of Court shall file the Defendant-Intervenor Wyomings Proposed Answer as a separate docket entry. Signed by Judge Brian Morris on 4/15/2026. (KAH) (Entered: 04/15/2026)	RECAP
19	April 15, 2026	ANSWER to 1 Complaint by State of Wyoming. (KAH) (Entered: 04/15/2026)	RECAP
20	May 8, 2026	ANSWER to 1 Complaint,, by All Defendants. (Hajek, Luther) (Entered: 05/08/2026)	RECAP
21	May 18, 2026	MOTION to Dismiss, MOTION to Transfer to Wyoming. Shannon Leininger appearing for Intervenor Defendant State of Wyoming. (Leininger, Shannon) (Entered: 05/18/2026)	RECAP
22	May 18, 2026	Brief/Memorandum in Support re 21 MOTION to Dismiss MOTION to Transfer to Wyoming filed by State of Wyoming. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A-Response RE: Consistency Review, # 2 Exhibit B-Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon's Consistency Review Excerpts) (Leininger, Shannon) (Entered: 05/18/2026)	RECAP
23	May 20, 2026	TEXT ORDER Setting Hearing on Motion 21 MOTION to Dismiss MOTION to Transfer to Wyoming filed by State of Wyoming: IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that a Motion Hearing is set for Monday, June 29, 2026 at 11:00 AM at the Paul Hatfield Federal Courthouse in Helena, MT before Judge Brian Morris. Signed by Judge Brian Morris on 5/20/2026. (SLL) (Entered: 05/20/2026)	RECAP
	May 20, 2026	Order Setting Hearing on Motion - SDM
24	June 1, 2026	Transfer - MT	RECAP
25	June 1, 2026	Brief/Memorandum in Support - MT	RECAP
26	June 1, 2026	Extension of Time to File Response/Reply	RECAP
27	June 2, 2026	Order on Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply	RECAP
	June 2, 2026	Order Setting Hearing on Motion - SDM
29	June 12, 2026	Response to Motion	RECAP
30	June 12, 2026	Response to Motion	RECAP
	June 15, 2026	Order Setting Hearing on Motion - SDM AND Order Vacating - MT
32	June 17, 2026	Notice of Appearance	RECAP
33	June 18, 2026	Appear Pro Hac Vice - MT	RECAP
34	June 18, 2026	Order on Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice - MT	RECAP
35	June 24, 2026	Notice of Acknowledgment of Pro Hac Vice Order - MT	RECAP
36	June 24, 2026	Reply to Response to Motion	RECAP
37	June 25, 2026	Request for Live Audio Access	RECAP
39	June 29, 2026	Reply to Response to Motion	RECAP
	June 29, 2026	Response to Request for Live Audio Access
40	July 6, 2026	Intervene	RECAP
41	July 6, 2026	Brief/Memorandum in Support - MT	RECAP
	July 6, 2026	Motion Hearing - SDM
43	July 15, 2026	Response to Motion	RECAP
44	July 29, 2026	ORDER denying 21 State of Wyoming's Motion to Dismiss or, in the Alternative, to Sever and Transfer; denying 24 Federal Defendants' Motion to Transfer. Signed by Judge Brian Morris on 7/29/2026. (MMS)	RECAP
45	July 29, 2026	ORDER granting 40 Motion to Intervene. The Clerk of Court shall file the Defendant-Intervenor Utah's Proposed Answer as a separate docket entry. Signed by Judge Brian Morris on 7/29/2026. (MMS)	RECAP
46	July 29, 2026	Answer to Complaint	RECAP
47	July 31, 2026	Appear Pro Hac Vice - MT	RECAP
48	July 31, 2026	Appear Pro Hac Vice - MT	RECAP
49	July 31, 2026	Order on Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice - MT AND Order on Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice - MT	RECAP
50	Aug. 4, 2026	Notice of Acknowledgment of Pro Hac Vice Order - MT	RECAP
51	Aug. 4, 2026	Notice of Acknowledgment of Pro Hac Vice Order - MT	RECAP
52	Aug. 14, 2026	Intervene	RECAP
53	Aug. 14, 2026	Brief/Memorandum in Support - MT	RECAP
54	Aug. 26, 2026	Administrative Record	RECAP
55	Aug. 26, 2026	Notice of Conventional Filing Administrative Record	RECAP
56	Aug. 27, 2026	Notice of Withdrawal of Counsel - MT	RECAP
57	Aug. 28, 2026	Response to Motion	RECAP

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Case Details

State / Territory:

Montana

Case Type(s):

Environmental Justice

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Environmental Protections

Key Dates

Filing Date: March 2, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Center for Biological Diversity, Gallatin Wildlife Association, Great Old Broads for Wilderness, Rocky Mountain Wild, Sierra Club, Western Watersheds Project, and Wildearth Guardians

Plaintiff Type(s):

Non-profit NON-religious organization

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

National Environmental Protection Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 4321–4370f

Other Dockets:

District of Montana 4:26-cv-00021

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.:

Other

Environmental Justice and Resources:

Environmental Impact Statements

Recommended Citation

Case Summary of Center for Biological Diversity v. Germann, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/47868/ (last updated 4/18/2026).