Case: Center For Biological Diversity v. Burgum
1:26-cv-01172 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia
Filed Date: April 7, 2026
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
Case Summary
This case challenged the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's failure to issue a final listing determination for the coal darter under the Endangered Species Act, despite a statutory deadline requiring action within one year of a proposed listing.
The Center for Biological Diversity, a national non-profit conservation organization incorporated in California and headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, filed suit on April 7, 2026 against the Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service itself. The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
The Center had petitioned the Fish and Wildlife Service to list the coal darter under the Endangered Species Act on April 20, 2010, and the Service issued a positive 90-day finding on September 27, 2011, followed by a proposed listing of the coal darter as threatened on December 21, 2023. However, the Service allegedly failed to issue the required final listing determination by the statutory deadline of December 21, 2024. The Center claimed this violated section 4(b)(A)(i) of the Endangered Species Act, which requires publication of a final listing rule within one year of a 12-month finding that proposes listing a species. The Center sought declaratory and injunctive relief along with attorneys' fees and costs. The case was brought before District Judge Reggie B. Walton.
Summary Authors
Zahra Jamil (6/19/2026)
Jinan Abufarha (4/12/2026)
People
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73154574/parties/center-for-biological-diversity-v-burgum/
Walton, Reggie B. (District of Columbia)
Reeves, Lindsay (District of Columbia)
Waltz, Daniel H. (District of Columbia)
Levy, Brian J. (District of Columbia)
Documents in the Clearinghouse
Docket
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73154574/center-for-biological-diversity-v-burgum/
Last updated Oct. 25, 2026, 3:29 a.m.
Docket for: CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY v. BURGUM
Case Details
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Public Benefits/Government Services
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: April 7, 2026
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
The Center for Biological Diversity, a national, non-profit conservation organization that works through science, law, and policy to protect imperiled wildlife and their habitat.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Non-profit NON-religious organization
Attorney Organizations:
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Federal
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. § 1531 et seq.
Other Dockets:
District of District of Columbia 1:26-cv-01172
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
Environmental Justice and Resources:
Case Summary of Center For Biological Diversity v. Burgum, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/48078/ (last updated 4/12/2026).