Case: United States v. McGrane

1:26-cv-00197 | U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho

Filed Date: April 1, 2026

Case Ongoing

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Case Summary

The United States filed this lawsuit against Idaho Secretary of State Philip McGrane in his official capacity on April 1, 2026, alleging violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1960. The Attorney General had sent a written demand on September 8, 2025, requesting Idaho's statewide voter registration list to assess compliance with the Help America Vote Act's list maintenance requirements. Initially, Secretary McGrane acknowledged the Department of Justice's authority to request such records in Decem…

The United States filed this lawsuit against Idaho Secretary of State Philip McGrane in his official capacity on April 1, 2026, alleging violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1960. The Attorney General had sent a written demand on September 8, 2025, requesting Idaho's statewide voter registration list to assess compliance with the Help America Vote Act's list maintenance requirements. Initially, Secretary McGrane acknowledged the Department of Justice's authority to request such records in December 2025, but he subsequently refused the demand on February 26, 2026, claiming no clear legal duty existed to disclose the requested data. The United States seeks a declaratory judgment that McGrane's refusal violates federal law, along with orders compelling him to provide the voter registration list and other federal election records within five days of a court order.

The complaint was followed with a motion to compel production of records pursuant t 52 U.S.C. § 20701, et seq. This case remains ongoing.

Summary Authors

Ben Hefter (4/2/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73126970/parties/united-states-v-mcgrane/


Judge(s)

Winmill, Barry Lynn (Idaho)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Casali, John (Idaho)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:26-cv-00197

Complaint

April 1, 2026

April 1, 2026

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73126970/united-states-v-mcgrane/

Last updated May 31, 2026, 3:18 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against Phil McGrane, filed by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. (Attachments: # 1 Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons)(Casali, John)

1 Cover Sheet

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2 Summons

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April 1, 2026

April 1, 2026

Clearinghouse
2

MOTION to Compel Production of Records Pursuant to 52 U.S.C. § 20701, et seq. John Casali appearing for Plaintiff UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Responses due by 4/22/2026 (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support of Motion to Compel, # 2 Affidavit of Eric Neff, # 3 Exhibit 1 - September 8 Letter, # 4 Exhibit 2 - September 22 Emails, # 5 Exhibit 3 - Signed JEFS Agreement, # 6 Exhibit 4 - December 30 Letter, # 7 Exhibit 5 - February 26 Letter, # 8 Exhibit 6 - North Carolina Consent Order, # 9 Exhibit 7 - Texas MOU, # 10 Exhibit 8 - 2006 Georgia Complaint, # 11 Exhibit 9 - 2006 Georgia Consent Decree)(Casali, John)

1 Memorandum in Support of Motion to Compel

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2 Affidavit of Eric Neff

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3 Exhibit 1 - September 8 Letter

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4 Exhibit 2 - September 22 Emails

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5 Exhibit 3 - Signed JEFS Agreement

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6 Exhibit 4 - December 30 Letter

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7 Exhibit 5 - February 26 Letter

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8 Exhibit 6 - North Carolina Consent Order

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9 Exhibit 7 - Texas MOU

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10 Exhibit 8 - 2006 Georgia Complaint

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11 Exhibit 9 - 2006 Georgia Consent Decree

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April 1, 2026

April 1, 2026

3

Summons Issued as to Phil McGrane. (Print attached Summons for service.) (jd)

April 2, 2026

April 2, 2026

4

MOTION to Intervene as Defendants Terri R Pickens appearing for Defendants National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, NAACP Tri-State Conference, Idaho Alliance for Retired Americans. Responses due by 4/27/2026 (Attachments: # 1 Cover Sheet Cover Sheet, # 2 Exhibit Proposed Answer, # 3 Exhibit Affidavit of NAACP Tri State, # 4 Exhibit Affidavit of NAACP, # 5 Exhibit Affidavit of Idaho Alliance for Retired Americans)(Pickens, Terri)

1 Cover Sheet Cover Sheet

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2 Exhibit Proposed Answer

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3 Exhibit Affidavit of NAACP Tri State

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4 Exhibit Affidavit of NAACP

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5 Exhibit Affidavit of Idaho Alliance for Retired Americans

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April 6, 2026

April 6, 2026

RECAP
5

MOTION FOR PRO HAC VICE APPEARANCE by James J. Pinchak. ( Filing fee $ 250 receipt number AIDDC-3082064.)Terri R Pickens appearing for Defendants Idaho Alliance for Retired Americans, NAACP Tri-State Conference, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Responses due by 4/27/2026 (Pickens, Terri)

April 6, 2026

April 6, 2026

6

MOTION FOR PRO HAC VICE APPEARANCE by Christopher D. Dodge. ( Filing fee $ 250 receipt number AIDDC-3082066.)Terri R Pickens appearing for Defendants Idaho Alliance for Retired Americans, NAACP Tri-State Conference, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Responses due by 4/27/2026 (Pickens, Terri)

April 6, 2026

April 6, 2026

7

MOTION FOR PRO HAC VICE APPEARANCE by David R. Fox. ( Filing fee $ 250 receipt number AIDDC-3082067.)Terri R Pickens appearing for Defendants Idaho Alliance for Retired Americans, NAACP Tri-State Conference, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Responses due by 4/27/2026 (Pickens, Terri)

April 6, 2026

April 6, 2026

8

MEMORANDUM/BRIEF re 4 MOTION to Intervene as Defendants filed by Idaho Alliance for Retired Americans, NAACP Tri-State Conference, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People . (Pickens, Terri)

April 6, 2026

April 6, 2026

9

DOCKET ENTRY ORDER approving 5, 6 AND 7 Motion for Pro Hac Vice Appearance of attorney James J. Pinchak,Christopher D. Dodge,David R Fox for NAACP Tri-State Conference, for Idaho Alliance for Retired Americans, for National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Per Local Rule 83.4(e), out-of-state counsel shall immediately register for ECF. (Notice sent to CM/ECF Registration Clerk) (caused to be mailed to non Registered Participants at the addresses listed on the Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) by (jd)

April 7, 2026

April 7, 2026

10

DISREGARD - NOTICE of Appearance by Aaron Michael Green on behalf of Phil McGrane (Green, Aaron) Modified on 4/22/2026, SEE CORRECTIVE ENTRY (jd).

April 21, 2026

April 21, 2026

11

NOTICE of Appearance by Aaron Michael Green on behalf of Phil McGrane (Green, Aaron)

April 21, 2026

April 21, 2026

12

NOTICE of Appearance by James Edward Monroe Craig on behalf of Phil McGrane (Craig, James)

April 21, 2026

April 21, 2026

13

MOTION to Stay Proceedings or in the Alternative, MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply ( Responses due by 5/12/2026)Aaron Michael Green appearing for Defendant Phil McGrane. (Green, Aaron)

April 21, 2026

April 21, 2026

RECAP
14

NOTICE of Availability of Magistrate Judge and Requirement for Consent sent to counsel for Phil McGrane, The United States of America re 1 Complaint, 12 Notice of Appearance, 11 Notice of Appearance Consent/Objection to Magistrate due by 5/22/2026. (jd)

April 22, 2026

April 22, 2026

RECAP
15

ORDER: Plaintiffs Response to the Motion to Stay (Dkt. 13 ) is due by April 28, 2026. Defendants Reply to the Motion to Stay (Dkt. 13 ) is due by April 30, 3036. Defendants Response to the Motion for Order to Compel Production of Records (Dkt. 2 ) is due by May 8, 2026. Responses to the Motion to Intervene as Defendants (Dkt. 4 ) are due by May 8, 2026. Signed by Senior Judge B. Lynn Winmill. (caused to be mailed to non Registered Participants at the addresses listed on the Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) by (ra)

April 22, 2026

April 22, 2026

RECAP

CORRECTIVE ENTRY - The entry docket number 10 Notice of Appearance filed by Phil McGrane was filed incorrectly in this case. Please disregard.(jd)

April 22, 2026

April 22, 2026

16

PROCESS RECEIPT AND RETURN USM-285 by The United States of America as to AG's Office served 4/17/26. (jd)

April 23, 2026

April 23, 2026

RECAP
17

PROCESS RECEIPT AND RETURN by The United States of America as to Office of the Secretary of State McGrane served on 4/17/26. (jd)

April 23, 2026

April 23, 2026

RECAP

Set/Reset Deadlines as to 13 MOTION to Stay Proceedings or in the Alternative MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply, 4 MOTION to Intervene as Defendants, 2 MOTION to Compel Production of Records Pursuant to 52 U.S.C. § 20701, et seq.. Responses due by 4/28/2026 Replies due by 4/30/2026. Responses due by 5/8/2026 (jd)

April 23, 2026

April 23, 2026

18

RESPONSE to Motion re 13 MOTION to Stay Proceedings or in the Alternative MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply filed by The United States of America. Replies due by 5/12/2026.(Yang, Raymond)

April 28, 2026

April 28, 2026

RECAP
19

REPLY to Response to Motion re 13 MOTION to Stay Proceedings or in the Alternative MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply filed by Phil McGrane.Motion Ripe Deadline set for 5/1/2026.(Green, Aaron)

April 30, 2026

April 30, 2026

RECAP
20

ORDER - Defendants Response to the Motion for Order to Compel Production of Records is due by June 30, 2026. Responses tot he Motion to Intervene as Defendants are due by June 30, 2026. Signed by Senior Judge B. Lynn Winmill. (caused to be mailed to non Registered Participants at the addresses listed on the Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) by (jd)

May 4, 2026

May 4, 2026

RECAP
21

DOCKET ENTRY ORDER: For the reasons stated in the Order at Dkt. 20, the deadline for Defendant's response to the Complaint is hereby extended to June 30, 2026. Signed by Senior Judge B. Lynn Winmill. (caused to be mailed to non Registered Participants at the addresses listed on the Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) by (ra)

May 5, 2026

May 5, 2026

22

NOTICE of Appearance by George Carlo Lempke Clark on behalf of The United States of America (Clark, George Carlo)

May 11, 2026

May 11, 2026

NOTICE OF CONSENT DEADLINE: Pursuant to General Order 457, this is a reminder that the Court has not received your completed form in response to the 14 Notice of Availability Setting Deadline,. Please discuss this matter with your client and complete and return the consent to proceed form, if appropriate. As provided in Local Rule 73.1, your opportunity to consent will expire if we do not receive your consent prior to the 30 day deadline. * Consents are not to be filed in the case and should be emailed in pdf form to consents@id.uscourts.gov. No Judge will be informed of a party's response. (jd)

May 11, 2026

May 11, 2026

23

MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER RE: DKT. 13 - Signed by Senior Judge B. Lynn Winmill. (caused to be mailed to non Registered Participants at the addresses listed on the Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) by (jd)

May 21, 2026

May 21, 2026

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory:

Idaho

Case Type(s):

Election/Voting Rights

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Litigation and Investigations By the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: April 1, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

The United States via the DOJ.

Plaintiff Type(s):

U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Civil Rights Act of 1957/1960, 52 U.S.C. § 10101 (previously 42 U.S.C. § 1971)

Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201

Other Dockets:

District of Idaho 1:26-cv-00197

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Declaratory judgment

Document/Information

Relief Granted:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

Voting:

Election administration

Voter registration rules

Access to Voter Rolls / Voter Information

Recommended Citation