Case: State of California v. Trump

1:26-cv-11581 | U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts

Filed Date: April 3, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On April 3, 2026, twenty-four states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts challenging Executive Order No. 14399, which President Trump issued on March 31, 2026. The executive order, entitled "Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections," allegedly creates "shadow voter eligibility lists" within the federal government and uses threats of investigation and prosecution to coerce states into disen…

On April 3, 2026, twenty-four states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts challenging Executive Order No. 14399, which President Trump issued on March 31, 2026. The executive order, entitled "Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections," allegedly creates "shadow voter eligibility lists" within the federal government and uses threats of investigation and prosecution to coerce states into disenfranchising voters missing from those lists. The plaintiffs claim the order unlawfully mandates that the United States Postal Service (USPS) refuse to deliver voted ballots unless voters appear on USPS's pre-cleared list, which is maintained outside the control of states that administer federal elections. The lawsuit brings three constitutional challenges alleging the executive order violates separation of powers principles and unlawfully interferes with states' authority over voter roll maintenance, mail voting, and election record preservation. The states seek declaratory and injunctive relief to block implementation of the challenged provisions.

This case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Ben Hefter (4/7/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73141063/parties/state-of-california-v-trump/


Judge(s)

Talwani, Indira (Massachusetts)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Arslanian, Vanessa Azniv (Massachusetts)

Cohen, Jared B. (Massachusetts)

Kundl, Jak (Massachusetts)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:26-cv-11581

Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

April 3, 2026

April 3, 2026

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73141063/state-of-california-v-trump/

Last updated April 14, 2026, 3:07 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief against All Defendants Filing fee: $ 405, receipt number AMADC-11655463 (Fee Status: Filing Fee paid), filed by Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Commonwealth of Virginia, District of Columbia, Josh Shapiro, State of Arizona, State of California, State of Colorado, State of Connecticut, State of Delaware, State of Illinois, State of Maine, State of Maryland, State of Michigan, State of Minnesota, State of Nevada, State of New Jersey, State of New Mexico, State of New York, State of North Carolina, State of Oregon, State of Rhode Island, State of Vermont, State of Washington, State of Wisconsin. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Category Form)(Arslanian, Vanessa) (Entered: 04/03/2026)

April 3, 2026

April 3, 2026

Clearinghouse
2

ELECTRONIC NOTICE of Case Assignment. Judge Indira Talwani assigned to case. If the trial Judge issues an Order of Reference of any matter in this case to a Magistrate Judge, the matter will be transmitted to Magistrate Judge M. Page Kelley. (NMC) (Entered: 04/03/2026)

April 3, 2026

April 3, 2026

3

NOTICE of Appearance by Vanessa Azniv Arslanian on behalf of Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Arslanian, Vanessa) (Entered: 04/03/2026)

April 3, 2026

April 3, 2026

4

Summons Issued as to Frank Bisignano, Todd Blanche, Derek T Kan, Amber McReynolds, Markwayne Mullin, David Steiner, Ronald Stroman, Daniel Tangherlini, Doug Tolino, Donald J Trump, United States Department of Homeland Security, United States Department of Justice, United States Postal Service, United States Social Security Administration. Counsel receiving this notice electronically should download this summons, complete one for each defendant and serve it in accordance with Fed.R.Civ.P. 4 and LR 4.1. Summons will be mailed to plaintiff(s) not receiving notice electronically for completion of service. (SEC) (Entered: 04/03/2026)

April 3, 2026

April 3, 2026

Notice of Case Assignment

April 3, 2026

April 3, 2026

5

NOTICE of Appearance by Jak Kundl on behalf of Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Kundl, Jak) (Entered: 04/06/2026)

April 6, 2026

April 6, 2026

6

NOTICE of Appearance by Jared B. Cohen on behalf of Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Cohen, Jared) (Entered: 04/06/2026)

April 6, 2026

April 6, 2026

7

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Peter Baumann, Shannon Stevenson Filing fee: $ 250, receipt number AMADC-11658360 by State of Colorado. (Attachments: # 1 PB Certification, # 2 SS Certification)(Kundl, Jak) (Entered: 04/06/2026)

April 6, 2026

April 6, 2026

8

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Daniel P. Mosteller Filing fee: $ 125, receipt number AMADC-11658401 by State of North Carolina. (Attachments: # 1 Certification)(Kundl, Jak) (Entered: 04/06/2026)

April 6, 2026

April 6, 2026

9

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Meghan K. Musso, Jonathan B. Mangel, Joshua P. Bohn Filing fee: $ 375, receipt number AMADC-11658423 by State of New Jersey. (Attachments: # 1 JB Certification, # 2 JM Certification, # 3 MM Certification)(Kundl, Jak) (Entered: 04/06/2026)

April 6, 2026

April 6, 2026

10

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Eliza Simon Filing fee: $ 125, receipt number AMADC-11658884 by District of Columbia. (Attachments: # 1 Certification)(Kundl, Jak) (Entered: 04/06/2026)

April 6, 2026

April 6, 2026

11

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Karl D. Smith, Cristina Sepe, Tera M. Heintz Filing fee: $ 375, receipt number AMADC-11658910 by State of Washington. (Attachments: # 1 Smith Certification, # 2 Sepe Certification, # 3 Heintz Certification)(Kundl, Jak) (Entered: 04/06/2026)

April 6, 2026

April 6, 2026

12

Notice of Service of Process filed by Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Individual(s)/Entities served: Donald J. Trump, in his official capacity as President of the United States; United States Department of Justice; Todd Blanche, in his official capacity as Acting U.S. Attorney General; United States Department of Homeland Security; Markwayne Mullin, in his official capacity as Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security; United States Social Security Administration; Frank Bisignano, in his official capacity as Commissioner of the U.S. Social Security Administration; United States Postal Service; David Steiner, in his official capacity as Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer of the Postal Service; Doug Tulino, in his official capacity as Deputy Postmaster General, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Human Resources Officer of the Postal Service, and Member of the Postal Service Board of Governors; Amber McReynolds, in her official capacity as Chair of the Postal Service Board of Governors; Derek T. Kan, in his official capacity as Vice Chairman of the Postal Service Board of Governors; Ronald Stroman, in his official capacity as a Member of the Postal Service Board of Governors; and Daniel Tangherlini, in his official capacity as a Member of the Postal Service Board of Governors. (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit)(Kundl, Jak) (Entered: 04/07/2026)

April 7, 2026

April 7, 2026

13

Withdrawn MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Brian Bilford, Luke Freedman, Joel Marrero, Michael Newman, Daniel Sheehan, Alyssa Zhang Filing fee: $ 750, receipt number AMADC-11661665 by State of California. (Attachments: # 1 BB Certification, # 2 LF Certification, # 3 JM Certification, # 4 MN Certification, # 5 DS Certification, # 6 AZ Certification)(Kundl, Jak) Modified on 4/10/2026 (SEC). (Entered: 04/07/2026)

April 7, 2026

April 7, 2026

14

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Kara Karlson, Karen J. Hartman-Tellez, Joshua M. Whitaker, Syreeta Tyrell Filing fee: $ 500, receipt number AMADC-11662781 by State of Arizona. (Attachments: # 1 KHT Certification, # 2 KK Certification, # 3 ST Certification, # 4 JW Certification)(Kundl, Jak) (Entered: 04/07/2026)

April 7, 2026

April 7, 2026

15

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Alex Hemmer, Vikas Didwania, Holly F.B. Berlin Filing fee: $ 375, receipt number AMADC-11662791 by State of Illinois. (Attachments: # 1 HB Certification, # 2 VD Certification, # 3 AH Certification)(Kundl, Jak) (Entered: 04/07/2026)

April 7, 2026

April 7, 2026

16

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Katherine W. Thompson Filing fee: $ 125, receipt number AMADC-11662802 by State of Maine. (Attachments: # 1 Certification)(Kundl, Jak) (Entered: 04/07/2026)

April 7, 2026

April 7, 2026

17

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Daniel Kobrin, Virginia A. Williamson Filing fee: $ 250, receipt number AMADC-11662815 by State of Maryland. (Attachments: # 1 DK Certification, # 2 VW Certification)(Kundl, Jak) (Entered: 04/07/2026)

April 7, 2026

April 7, 2026

18

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Kyla Duffy Filing fee: $ 125, receipt number AMADC-11662817 by State of Rhode Island. (Attachments: # 1 Certification)(Kundl, Jak) (Entered: 04/07/2026)

April 7, 2026

April 7, 2026

19

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Lynn Lodahl Filing fee: $ 125, receipt number AMADC-11662822 by State of Wisconsin. (Attachments: # 1 Certification)(Kundl, Jak) (Entered: 04/07/2026)

April 7, 2026

April 7, 2026

20

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Ryan P. Kane Filing fee: $ 125, receipt number AMADC-11662829 by State of Vermont. (Attachments: # 1 Certification)(Kundl, Jak) (Entered: 04/07/2026)

April 7, 2026

April 7, 2026

21

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Anne P. Bellows, Malcolm A. Brudigam, Michael S. Cohen, Lisa C. Ehrlich Filing fee: $ 500, receipt number AMADC-11662835 by State of California. (Attachments: # 1 Bellows Certification, # 2 Brudigam Certification, # 3 Cohen Certification, # 4 Ehrlich Certification)(Kundl, Jak) (Entered: 04/07/2026)

April 7, 2026

April 7, 2026

22

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Seth E. Goldstein, Kevin L. Quade, Robert William Setrakian Filing fee: $ 375, receipt number AMADC-11662853 by State of California. (Attachments: # 1 Goldstein Certification, # 2 Quade Certification, # 3 Setrakian Certification)(Kundl, Jak) (Entered: 04/07/2026)

April 7, 2026

April 7, 2026

23

NOTICE of Appearance by Rayford A. Farquhar on behalf of Frank Bisignano, Todd Blanche, Derek T Kan, Amber McReynolds, Markwayne Mullin, Ronald Stroman, Daniel Tangherlini, Doug Tolino, Donald J Trump, United States Department of Homeland Security, United States Department of Justice, United States Postal Service, United States Social Security Administration (Farquhar, Rayford) (Main Document 23 replaced on 4/8/2026) (SEC). (Entered: 04/08/2026)

April 8, 2026

April 8, 2026

24

Judge Indira Talwani: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered granting 7 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice; granting 8 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice; granting 9 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice; granting 10 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice; granting 11 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice; granting 14 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice; granting 15 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice; granting 16 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice; granting 17 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice; granting 18 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice; granting 19 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice; granting 20 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice; granting 21 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice; granting 22 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice. Added Peter Baumann, Shannon Stevenson, Daniel P. Mosteller, Meghan K. Musso, Jonathan B. Mangel, Joshua P. Bohn, Eliza Simon, Karl D. Smith, Cristina Sepe, Tera M. Heintz, Kara Karlson, Karen J. Hartman-Tellez, Joshua M. Whitaker, Syreeta Tyrell, Alex Hemmer, Vikas Didwania, Holly F.B. Berlin, Katherine W. Thompson, Daniel Kobrin, Virginia A. Williamson, Kyla Duffy, Lynn Lodahl, Ryan P. Kane, Anne P. Bellows, Malcolm A. Brudigam, Michael S. Cohen, Lisa C. Ehrlich, Seth E. Goldstein, Kevin L. Quade, and Robert William Setrakian.. Attorneys admitted Pro Hac Vice must have an individual PACER account, not a shared firm account, to electronically file in the District of Massachusetts. To register for a PACER account, go the Pacer website at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/register-account. You must put the docket number under ADDITIONAL FILER INFORMATION on your form when registering or it will be rejected.Pro Hac Vice Admission Request Instructions https://www.mad.uscourts.gov/caseinfo/nextgen-pro-hac-vice.htm.A Notice of Appearance must be entered on the docket by each of the newly admitted attorneys. (SEC) (Entered: 04/08/2026)

April 8, 2026

April 8, 2026

Order on Motion for Leave to Appear AND Order on Motion for Leave to Appear AND Order on Motion for Leave to Appear AND Order on Motion for Leave to Appear AND Order on Motion for Leave to Appear AND Order on Motion for Leave to Appear AND Order on Motion for Leave to Appear AND Order on Motion for Leave to Appear AND Order on Motion for Leave to Appear AND Order on Motion for Leave to Appear AND Order on Motion for Leave to Appear AND Order on Motion for Leave to Appear AND Order on Motion for Leave to Appear AND Order on Motion for Leave to Appear

April 8, 2026

April 8, 2026

25

NOTICE of Appearance by Daniel Paul Mosteller on behalf of State of North Carolina (Mosteller, Daniel) (Entered: 04/09/2026)

April 9, 2026

April 9, 2026

26

MOTION to Withdraw 13 MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Brian Bilford, Luke Freedman, Joel Marrero, Michael Newman, Daniel Sheehan, Alyssa Zhang Filing fee: $ 750, receipt number AMADC-11661665 by Commonwealth of Massachusetts.(Kundl, Jak) (Entered: 04/09/2026)

April 9, 2026

April 9, 2026

RECAP
27

NOTICE of Appearance by Joshua Paul Bohn on behalf of State of New Jersey (Bohn, Joshua) (Entered: 04/09/2026)

April 9, 2026

April 9, 2026

28

NOTICE of Appearance by Eliza Simon on behalf of District of Columbia (Simon, Eliza) (Entered: 04/09/2026)

April 9, 2026

April 9, 2026

29

NOTICE of Appearance by Virginia Anne Williamson on behalf of State of Maryland (Williamson, Virginia) (Entered: 04/09/2026)

April 9, 2026

April 9, 2026

30

NOTICE of Appearance by Katherine Thompson on behalf of State of Maine (Thompson, Katherine) (Entered: 04/09/2026)

April 9, 2026

April 9, 2026

31

Judge Indira Talwani: ELECTRONIC ORDER granting Motion to Withdraw Motion for Leave to Appear [ 26 ]. The Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hace Vice for Admission of Brian Bilford, Luke Freedman, Joel Marrero, Michael Newman, Daniel Sheehan, and Alyssa Zhang [ 13 ] is withdrawn and shall be terminated on the docket. (SEC) (Entered: 04/10/2026)

April 10, 2026

April 10, 2026

32

Notice of Appearance

April 10, 2026

April 10, 2026

Order on Motion to Withdraw

April 10, 2026

April 10, 2026

33

Notice of Appearance

April 13, 2026

April 13, 2026

34

Notice of Appearance

April 13, 2026

April 13, 2026

35

Notice of Appearance

April 13, 2026

April 13, 2026

36

Notice of Appearance

April 13, 2026

April 13, 2026

37

Miscellaneous Relief

1 Exhibit A - Proposed Scheduling Order Re: Dispositive Motions

View on PACER

2 Exhibit B - Proposed Scheduling Order Re: Preliminary Injunction Motion

View on PACER

April 13, 2026

April 13, 2026

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory:

Massachusetts

Case Type(s):

Election/Voting Rights

Immigration and/or the Border

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: April 3, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Twenty-four states and the District of Columbia

Plaintiff Type(s):

State Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Ex parte Young (federal or state officials)

Constitutional Clause(s):

Federalism (including 10th Amendment)

Separation of Powers

Other Dockets:

District of Massachusetts 1:26-cv-11581

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Attorneys fees

Declaratory judgment

Injunction

Stay of government action

Relief Granted:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority:

Commandeering

Voting:

Voter ID

Voter qualifications

Voter registration rules

Voting: General & Misc.

Voting: Physical/Effective Access

Access to Voter Rolls / Voter Information

Recommended Citation