Case: State of Minnesota v. U.S. Department of Justice

1:26-cv-01007 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: March 24, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

On March 24, 2026, the State of Minnesota, Hennepin County Attorney, and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent filed suit against federal agencies and officials in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The lawsuit arose from three shootings involving federal agents during "Operation Metro Surge," a large-scale immigration enforcement operation conducted in Minnesota. On January 7, 2026, ICE Agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed 37-year-old U.S. citizen Renee Good. Seven days later, on January 14, 2026, a federal immigration agent shot and wounded Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis. Ten days after that incident, on January 24, 2026, federal immigration agents shot and killed U.S. citizen Alex Jeffrey Pretti. The plaintiffs alleged that federal officials departed from longstanding cooperative practices by blocking Minnesota investigators from accessing evidence and conducting their investigation into these shootings⁻⁻. The complaint asserted four counts against the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Attorney General Pamela Bondi, and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem⁻. These included Administrative Procedure Act (APA) claims alleging arbitrary and capricious action and violations of statutory authority, an alternative APA claim for unlawfully withheld agency action, and a Tenth Amendment claim alleging violation of state sovereignty in criminal law enforcement. The plaintiffs sought declaratory and injunctive relief, orders compelling compliance with evidence requests, access to testimony and records related to the shootings, and attorneys' fees.

This case is ongoing.

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Summary Authors

Claire Pollard (3/27/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72590076/parties/state-of-minnesota-v-us-department-of-justice/

Judge(s)

Sullivan, Emmet G. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Farrell, Peter (District of Columbia)

Freeny, Kyle Renee (District of Columbia)

Richie, Joseph Robert (District of Columbia)

Svendsen, Kimberly (District of Columbia)

Judge(s)

Sullivan, Emmet G. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Farrell, Peter (District of Columbia)

Freeny, Kyle Renee (District of Columbia)

Richie, Joseph Robert (District of Columbia)

Svendsen, Kimberly (District of Columbia)

Zelinsky, Nathaniel Avi (District of Columbia)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

	Document
1 1:26-cv-01007	Complaint State of Minnesota et al. v. U.S. Department of Justice et al.	March 24, 2026	March 24, 2026 Complaint

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72590076/state-of-minnesota-v-us-department-of-justice/

Last updated June 8, 2026, 3:22 a.m.

ECF Number	Description	Date	Link Date / Link
1	COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-12317154) filed by STATE OF MINNESOTA, DREW EVANS, MARY F. MORIARTY. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 - DHS Touhy Demand re: Good, # 2 Exhibit 2 - DOJ Touhy Demand re: Good, # 3 Exhibit 3 - DHS Touhy Demand re: Pretti, # 4 Exhibit 4 - DOJ Touhy Demand re: Pretti, # 5 Exhibit 5 - DHS Touhy Demand re: Sosa-Celis, # 6 Exhibit 6 - DOJ Touhy Demand re: Sosa-Celis, # 7 Exhibit 7 - ICE Email Exchange, # 8 Exhibit 8 - DHS Touhy Response re: Good, # 9 Civil Cover Sheet, # 10 Summons, # 11 Summons, # 12 Summons, # 13 Summons)(Freeny, Kyle) (Entered: 03/24/2026) 1 Exhibit 1 - DHS Touhy Demand re: Good View on RECAP 2 Exhibit 2 - DOJ Touhy Demand re: Good View on RECAP 3 Exhibit 3 - DHS Touhy Demand re: Pretti View on RECAP 4 Exhibit 4 - DOJ Touhy Demand re: Pretti View on RECAP 5 Exhibit 5 - DHS Touhy Demand re: Sosa-Celis View on RECAP 6 Exhibit 6 - DOJ Touhy Demand re: Sosa-Celis View on RECAP 7 Exhibit 7 - ICE Email Exchange View on RECAP 8 Exhibit 8 - DHS Touhy Response re: Good View on RECAP 9 Civil Cover Sheet View on RECAP 10 Summons View on RECAP 11 Summons View on RECAP 12 Summons View on RECAP 13 Summons View on RECAP	March 24, 2026	March 24, 2026 Clearinghouse
2	NOTICE of Appearance by Nathaniel Avi Gideon Zelinsky on behalf of MARY F. MORIARTY (Zelinsky, Nathaniel) (Entered: 03/24/2026)	March 24, 2026	March 24, 2026
3	CIVIL COVER SHEET by STATE OF MINNESOTA, DREW EVANS, MARY F. MORIARTY re 1 Complaint,, filed by STATE OF MINNESOTA, DREW EVANS, MARY F. MORIARTY. Related document: 1 Complaint,, filed by DREW EVANS, MARY F. MORIARTY, STATE OF MINNESOTA.(Freeny, Kyle) (Entered: 03/24/2026)	March 24, 2026	March 24, 2026
4	REQUEST FOR SUMMONS TO ISSUE to U.S. Attorney & U.S. Attorney General filed by STATE OF MINNESOTA, DREW EVANS, MARY F. MORIARTY. Related document: 1 Complaint,, filed by DREW EVANS, MARY F. MORIARTY, STATE OF MINNESOTA. (Attachments: # 1 Summons)(Freeny, Kyle) (Entered: 03/24/2026)	March 24, 2026	March 24, 2026
5	SUMMONS (6) Issued Electronically as to All Defendants, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zmtm) (Entered: 03/24/2026) 1 Notice and Consent View on PACER	March 24, 2026	March 24, 2026
	Case Assigned/Reassigned	March 24, 2026	March 24, 2026
	Notice of Error- New Case	March 24, 2026	March 24, 2026
	NOTICE OF NEW CASE ERROR The following error(s) need correction: Incorrect civil cover sheet. Please locate the Civil Cover Sheet (JS44) form at www.dcd.uscourts.gov/new-case-forms & file using the event Civil Cover Sheet. Missing summonses- U.S. government. When naming a U.S. government agent or agency as a defendant, you must supply a summons for each defendant & two additional summonses for the U.S. Attorney & U.S. Attorney General. Please submit using the event Request for Summons to Issue. COMPLIANCE DEADLINE is by close of business today. This case will not proceed any further until all errors are satisfied. (zmtm)	March 24, 2026	March 24, 2026
	Case Assigned to Judge Emmet G. Sullivan. (zmtm)	March 24, 2026	March 24, 2026
6	NOTICE of Appearance by Kimberly Svendsen on behalf of DREW EVANS, STATE OF MINNESOTA (Svendsen, Kimberly) (Entered: 03/25/2026)	March 25, 2026	March 25, 2026
7	NOTICE of Appearance by Joseph Robert Richie on behalf of DREW EVANS, STATE OF MINNESOTA (Richie, Joseph) (Entered: 03/25/2026)	March 25, 2026	March 25, 2026
8	NOTICE of Appearance by Peter Farrell on behalf of DREW EVANS, STATE OF MINNESOTA (Farrell, Peter) (Entered: 03/25/2026)	March 25, 2026	March 25, 2026
9	NOTICE of Appearance by Morgan David Kunz on behalf of MARY F. MORIARTY (Kunz, Morgan) (Entered: 03/27/2026)	March 27, 2026	March 27, 2026 RECAP
10	NOTICE of Appearance by Sarah Davis on behalf of MARY F. MORIARTY (Davis, Sarah) (Entered: 03/27/2026)	March 27, 2026	March 27, 2026
11	NOTICE of Appearance by Clare A. Diegel on behalf of MARY F. MORIARTY (Diegel, Clare) (Entered: 03/30/2026)	March 30, 2026	March 30, 2026
12	STANDING ORDER: The parties are directed to read the attached Standing Order Governing Civil Cases Before Judge Emmet G. Sullivan in its entirety upon receipt. The parties are hereby ORDERED to comply with the directives in the attached Standing Order. Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 03/31/26. (Attachment: # 1 Exhibit 1) (mac) (Entered: 03/31/2026) 1 Exhibit 1 View on PACER	March 31, 2026	March 31, 2026 RECAP
13	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 3/24/2026. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 5/23/2026. (Freeny, Kyle) (Entered: 04/08/2026)	April 8, 2026	April 8, 2026
14	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General April 6, 2026. (Freeny, Kyle) (Entered: 04/08/2026)	April 8, 2026	April 8, 2026
15	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. PAMELA BONDI served on 4/6/2026; KRISTI NOEM served on 4/3/2026; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY served on 4/3/2026; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 4/6/2026 (Freeny, Kyle) (Entered: 04/08/2026)	April 8, 2026	April 8, 2026 RECAP
16	MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer by PAMELA BONDI, KRISTI NOEM, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Anon, Pierce) (Entered: 05/20/2026)	May 20, 2026	May 20, 2026 RECAP
	Order on Motion for Extension of Time to Answer	May 21, 2026	May 21, 2026
	MINUTE ORDER granting 16 Motion to Extend. The following deadlines shall govern this matter: (1) Defendants shall respond to Plaintiffs' February 2026 letters and produce an administrative record to Plaintiffs by 6/4/2026; (2) Plaintiffs will amend their complaint to address the 6/4/2026 letters by 6/18/2026; (3) Defendants and Plaintiffs shall file their respective cross-dispositive motions by 6/25/2026; (4) The parties' oppositions and replies shall be filed in accordance with Local Civil Rule 7. The schedule is subject to the following proviso: Neither Plaintiffs nor Defendants waive any arguments by agreeing to the foregoing schedule. Plaintiffs do not oppose this requested relief, with the caveat that they "reserve the position that Defendants have already made denial decisions that constitute final agency action, and that any letters produced after the filing of the Complaint would represent Defendants' post-hoc litigating position; and their agreement does not constitute an admission or agreement that the administrative record that will be filed June 4, 2026, represents the operative administrative record in this matter." Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 5/21/2026. (lcegs1)	May 21, 2026	May 21, 2026
	Set/Reset Deadlines	May 22, 2026	May 22, 2026
	Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendant Response and Administrative Record due by 6/4/2026. Plaintiffs Amended Complaint due by 6/18/2026. Plaintiffs and Defendants Dispositive Cross Motions due by 6/25/2026. (mac)	May 22, 2026	May 22, 2026

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Case Details

State / Territory:

District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Immigration and/or the Border

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Immigration Enforcement

Key Dates

Filing Date: March 24, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Case Details

Other Dockets:

District of District of Columbia 1:26-cv-01007

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Recommended Citation

Case Summary of State of Minnesota v. U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/47964/ (last updated 3/27/2026).