Case: The Advocates For Human Rights v. BONDI

1:26-cv-00865 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: March 12, 2026

Case Ongoing

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Case Summary

The Advocates for Human Rights, a Minneapolis-based non-profit organization that monitors U.S. Immigration Court operations, filed a complaint on March 12, 2026, against several Department of Justice officials in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The organization alleged that it had operated an Immigration Court Observation Project at the Fort Snelling Immigration Court since 2017, with volunteers and staff regularly observing removal and bond proceedings under federal regulations requiring immigration court hearings to be generally open to the public. Beginning in early 2025, however, the Fort Snelling Immigration Court increasingly limited or completely blocked public access to hearings, both in-person and by Webex, without prior notice or explanation. These restrictions included locked courtroom doors, ejection of observers from virtual hearings, blanket closure notices, and arbitrary access policies that prevented observers from attending proceedings even when respondents and their attorneys gave permission. The complaint asserted four counts under the Administrative Procedure Act and First Amendment, alleging the restrictions were arbitrary, capricious, implemented without required notice-and-comment procedures, and violated constitutional rights. The organization sought declaratory and injunctive relief requiring defendants to comply with federal regulations governing public access to immigration proceedings.

The case was assigned to District Judge Rudolph Contreras.

On March 19, 2026, plaintiffs filed a motion for preliminary injunction and stay against federal immigration authorities, seeking to restore public access to immigration court proceedings.

This case is ongoing.

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Summary Authors

Maddy Ligon (4/14/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72455259/parties/advocates-for-human-rights-v-bondi/

Judge(s)

Contreras, Rudolph (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Nagy, Brandon R. (District of Columbia)

Reiter, Harvey L. (District of Columbia)

Judge(s)

Contreras, Rudolph (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Nagy, Brandon R. (District of Columbia)

Reiter, Harvey L. (District of Columbia)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

	Document
1 1:26-cv-00865	Complaint and Request for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief The Advocates for Human Rights v. Bondi	March 12, 2026	March 12, 2026 Complaint
6 1:26-cv-00865	Motion For Preliminary Injunction And Stay And Memorandum Of Law In Support Of The Motion By The Advocates For Human Rights The Advocates For Human Rights v. Bondi et al.	March 19, 2026	March 19, 2026 Pleading / Motion / Brief

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72455259/advocates-for-human-rights-v-bondi/

Last updated June 20, 2026, 3:25 a.m.

ECF Number	Description	Date	Link Date / Link
1	COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-12294683) filed by The Advocates For Human Rights. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Exhibit List, # 3 Exhibit Exhibits 1-16, # 4 Summons P. Bondi via DC US Attorney, # 5 Summons P. Bondi via J. Sullens, # 6 Summons D. Margolin, # 7 Summons T. Riley, # 8 Summons E. Dillow, # 9 Summons D. Margolin via US Attorney, # 10 Summons T. Riley via US Attorney, # 11 Summons E. Dillow via US Attorney)(Nagy, Brandon) (Attachment 1 replaced on 3/12/2026) (zmtm). (Entered: 03/12/2026) 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 2 Exhibit List View on PACER 3 Exhibit Exhibits 1-16 View on PACER 4 Summons P. Bondi via DC US Attorney View on PACER 5 Summons P. Bondi via J. Sullens View on PACER 6 Summons D. Margolin View on PACER 7 Summons T. Riley View on PACER 8 Summons E. Dillow View on PACER 9 Summons D. Margolin via US Attorney View on PACER 10 Summons T. Riley via US Attorney View on PACER 11 Summons E. Dillow via US Attorney View on PACER	March 12, 2026	March 12, 2026 Clearinghouse
2	SUMMONS (8) Issued Electronically as to All Defendants, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zmtm) (Entered: 03/12/2026)	March 12, 2026	March 12, 2026
3	NOTICE of Appearance by Harvey L. Reiter on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Reiter, Harvey) (Entered: 03/12/2026)	March 12, 2026	March 12, 2026
	Case Assigned/Reassigned	March 12, 2026	March 12, 2026
	Case Assigned to Judge Rudolph Contreras. (zmtm)	March 12, 2026	March 12, 2026
4	MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Kathleen Aine Parnow, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12303886. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by ADVOCATES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration For Pro Hac Vice Admission, # 2 Certificate of Good Standing)(Reiter, Harvey) (Entered: 03/17/2026)	March 17, 2026	March 17, 2026
	Order on Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice	March 17, 2026	March 17, 2026
	MINUTE ORDER granting 4 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice: Pursuant to Local Civil Rule 83.2, it is hereby ORDERED that Kathleen A. Parnow is admitted to represent Plaintiff pro hac vice in this case. Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to LCvR 83.6(a). Click for instructions. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 03/17/2026. (lcrc3)	March 17, 2026	March 17, 2026
5	NOTICE of Appearance by Kathleen Aine Parnow on behalf of ADVOCATES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (Parnow, Kathleen) (Entered: 03/18/2026)	March 18, 2026	March 18, 2026
6	MOTION for Preliminary Injunction by ADVOCATES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Exhibits 1-16, # 2 Proposed Order)(Parnow, Kathleen). Added MOTION to Stay on 3/19/2026 (znmw). (Entered: 03/19/2026) 1 Exhibit Exhibits 1-16 View on PACER 2 Proposed Order View on PACER	March 19, 2026	March 19, 2026 Clearinghouse
7	NOTICE of Appearance by James R. Powers on behalf of All Defendants (Powers, James) (Entered: 03/25/2026)	March 25, 2026	March 25, 2026
8	PROPOSED BREIFING SCHEDULE. (Reiter, Harvey) Modified event on 3/26/2026 (znmw). (Entered: 03/26/2026)	March 26, 2026	March 26, 2026
	.Order	March 26, 2026	March 26, 2026
	Set/Reset Deadlines AND Set/Reset Hearings	March 26, 2026	March 26, 2026
	MINUTE ORDER: It is hereby ORDERED that the following schedule shall govern proceedings on 6 Plaintiff's Motion for Preliminary Injunction: Defendants shall file their response on or before April 6, 2026, and Plaintiff shall file its reply, if any, on or before April 10, 2026. It is FURTHER ORDERED that the parties shall appear for a hearing on the Motion on April 16, 2026 at 10:00 AM in Courtroom 23A. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 03/26/2026. (lcrc3)	March 26, 2026	March 26, 2026
	Set/Reset Deadlines: Responses due by 4/6/2026 and Replies due by 4/10/2026. Motion Hearing set for 4/16/2026 at 10:00 AM in Courtroom 23A- In Person before Judge Rudolph Contreras. (tj)	March 26, 2026	March 26, 2026
9	ERRATA by ADVOCATES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS re 6 Motion for Preliminary Injunction, Motion to Stay, 1 Complaint,, (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit)(Parnow, Kathleen) Modified event on 4/7/2026 (mg). (Entered: 04/06/2026) 1 Exhibit View on RECAP	April 6, 2026	April 6, 2026 RECAP
10	Memorandum in opposition to re 6 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction MOTION to Stay filed by PAMELA BONDI, ERIC L. DILLOW, DAREN K. MARGOLIN, TERESA RILEY. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Proposed Order)(Powers, James) (Entered: 04/06/2026)	April 6, 2026	April 6, 2026
11	REPLY to opposition to motion re 6 Motion for Preliminary Injunction, Motion to Stay filed by ADVOCATES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. (Parnow, Kathleen) (Entered: 04/10/2026)	April 10, 2026	April 10, 2026
12	MOTION for Leave to File Amicus Brief by REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Proposed Amicus Brief, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Kortz, Mason) (Entered: 04/13/2026)	April 13, 2026	April 13, 2026
13	MOTION for Leave to File Amicus Brief by DOW JONES & COMPANY, INC., GUARDIAN NEWS & MEDIA LLC, MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO, MINNESOTA REFORMER, MINNPOST, PRO PUBLICA, INC., SAHAN JOURNAL, STAR TRIBUNE MEDIA COMPANY LLC, THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY, WP COMPANY LLC D/B/A THE WASHINGTON POST. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Amicus Brief, # 2 Proposed Order)(Russell, Lauren) (Entered: 04/13/2026) 1 Proposed Amicus Brief View on RECAP 2 Proposed Order View on PACER	April 13, 2026	April 13, 2026
	Motion Hearing	April 16, 2026	April 16, 2026
	Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Rudolph Contreras: Motion Hearing held on 4/16/2026 re 6 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction and MOTION to Stay filed by plaintiff ADVOCATES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. Oral argument heard, and the court takes the motion under advisement. (Court Reporter: Tim Miller) (tj)	April 16, 2026	April 16, 2026
14	NOTICE of Supplemental Evidence by ADVOCATES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS re 6 Motion for Preliminary Injunction, Motion to Stay (Attachments: # 1 Declaration Lange Declaration, # 2 Declaration ACIJ Wood Declaration)(Parnow, Kathleen) (Entered: 04/20/2026) 1 Declaration Lange Declaration View on RECAP 2 Declaration ACIJ Wood Declaration View on RECAP	April 20, 2026	April 20, 2026 RECAP
15	RESPONSE re 14 Notice (Other) (Defendants' Response to Plaintiff's Notice of Supplemental Evidence) filed by PAMELA BONDI, ERIC L. DILLOW, DAREN K. MARGOLIN, TERESA RILEY. (Powers, James) (Entered: 04/23/2026)	April 23, 2026	April 23, 2026 RECAP
16	ORDER denying 6 Plaintiff's Motion for Preliminary Injunction and Stay and granting 12 13 Amici Curiae's Motions to File Briefs. See document for details. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 04/29/2026. (lcrc3) (Entered: 04/29/2026)	April 29, 2026	April 29, 2026
17	MEMORANDUM OPINION denying 6 Plaintiff's Motion for Preliminary Injunction and Stay and granting 12 13 Amici Curiae's Motions to File Briefs. See document for details. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 04/29/2026. (lcrc3) (Entered: 04/29/2026)	April 29, 2026	April 29, 2026 RECAP
18	AMICUS BRIEF by REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS, INC.. (mg) (Entered: 05/04/2026)	April 29, 2026	April 29, 2026
19	AMICUS BRIEF by DOW JONES & COMPANY, INC., GUARDIAN NEWS & MEDIA LLC, MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO, MINNESOTA REFORMER, MINNPOST, NEW YORK TIMES, PRO PUBLICA, INC., SAHAN JOURNAL, STAR TRIBUNE MEDIA COMPANY LLC, WASHINGTON POST. (mg) (Entered: 05/04/2026)	April 29, 2026	April 29, 2026
20	Joint MOTION for Scheduling Order by ADVOCATES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order Proposed Scheduling Order)(Parnow, Kathleen) (Entered: 05/19/2026)	May 19, 2026	May 19, 2026
	Order on Motion for Scheduling Order	May 19, 2026	May 19, 2026
	MINUTE ORDER granting 20 the parties' Joint Motion for Scheduling Order: Upon consideration of 20 the parties' Joint Motion for Scheduling Order, it is hereby ORDERED that Defendants' deadline to provide an answer or responsive pleading is vacated. It is further ORDERED that Plaintiff's Amended Complaint and Renewed Motion for Preliminary Injunction shall be filed on or before June 9, 2026; Defendants' Consolidated Motion to Dismiss and Opposition to Plaintiff's Renewed Motion for Preliminary Injunction shall be filed on or before June 26, 2026; Plaintiff's Consolidated Reply in Support of its Renewed Motion for Preliminary Injunction and Opposition to Defendants' Motion to Dismiss shall be due on or before July 10, 2026; and Defendants' Reply in Support of their Motion to Dismiss shall be due on or before July 17, 2026. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 05/19/2026. (lcrc3)	May 19, 2026	May 19, 2026
	Set/Reset Deadlines: Amended Pleadings due by 6/9/2026. Dispositive Motions due by 6/26/2026. Response to Dispositive Motions due by 7/10/2026. Reply to Dispositive Motions due by 7/17/2026. Motions due by 6/9/2026. Responses due by 6/26/2026 Replies due by 7/17/2026. (tj)	May 20, 2026	May 20, 2026
	Set/Reset Deadlines	May 20, 2026	May 20, 2026
21	NOTICE OF RELATED CASE by ADVOCATES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. Case related to Case No. 26-cv-01858. (Parnow, Kathleen) (Entered: 06/01/2026)	June 1, 2026	June 1, 2026 RECAP
22	NOTICE of Appearance by John David Bessler on behalf of ADVOCATES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (Bessler, John) (Entered: 06/09/2026)	June 9, 2026	June 9, 2026
23	AMENDED COMPLAINT against All Defendants filed by ADVOCATES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Exhibits 19 through 76)(Parnow, Kathleen) (Entered: 06/09/2026) 1 Exhibit Exhibits 19 through 76 View on RECAP	June 9, 2026	June 9, 2026 RECAP
24	MOTION for Preliminary Injunction, MOTION to Stay by ADVOCATES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order Proposed Order)(Parnow, Kathleen) (Entered: 06/09/2026)	June 9, 2026	June 9, 2026
25	NOTICE of Appearance by John David Bessler on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Bessler, John) (Entered: 06/10/2026)	June 10, 2026	June 10, 2026
26	NOTICE of Appearance by Harvey L. Reiter on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Reiter, Harvey) (Entered: 06/10/2026)	June 10, 2026	June 10, 2026
27	NOTICE of Appearance by Brandon R. Nagy on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Nagy, Brandon) (Entered: 06/10/2026)	June 10, 2026	June 10, 2026
28	NOTICE of Appearance by Kathleen Aine Parnow on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Parnow, Kathleen) (Entered: 06/10/2026)	June 10, 2026	June 10, 2026
29	NOTICE of Appearance by Shelby E Kostolni on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Kostolni, Shelby) (Entered: 06/12/2026)	June 12, 2026	June 12, 2026

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Case Details

State / Territory:

District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Public Benefits/Government Services

Immigration and/or the Border

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: March 12, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

The Advocates for Human Rights, a Minneapolis-based non-profit organization that monitors U.S. Immigration Court operations.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Non-profit NON-religious organization

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Federal

DAREN K. MARGOLIN

HON. ERIC L. DILLOW

HON. TERESA L. RILEY

PAMELA BONDI

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Constitutional Clause(s):

Freedom of speech/association

Other Dockets:

District of District of Columbia 1:26-cv-00865

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Relief Granted:

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

General/Misc.:

Access to lawyers or judicial system

Recommended Citation

Case Summary of The Advocates For Human Rights v. BONDI, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/47904/ (last updated 4/14/2026).