Case: DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

1:26-cv-01206 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: April 10, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

[This summary is temporary while we research the case.] Democracy Forward Foundation, a District of Columbia-based nonprofit organization focused on government transparency and accountability, filed suit against the U.S. Department of Justice on April 10, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The lawsuit arose from allegations that the DOJ's Civil Rights Division (CRT) had shifted its enforcement priorities in ways that allegedly undermine voting rights, including an un…

[This summary is temporary while we research the case.]

Democracy Forward Foundation, a District of Columbia-based nonprofit organization focused on government transparency and accountability, filed suit against the U.S. Department of Justice on April 10, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The lawsuit arose from allegations that the DOJ's Civil Rights Division (CRT) had shifted its enforcement priorities in ways that allegedly undermine voting rights, including an unprecedented effort to demand voter registration data from states for sharing with the Department of Homeland Security. The complaint also alleged that senior CRT officials had communications with external individuals and groups associated with election integrity concerns, including special government employee Kurt Olsen and Election Integrity Network leader Cleta Mitchell. Democracy Forward submitted multiple Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to obtain records of these communications and agreements, but alleged that the DOJ violated FOIA by failing to respond within the statutorily mandated time period⁻. The organization sought court orders requiring the DOJ to conduct proper searches, produce non-exempt records, and award attorneys' fees and costs.

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73173553/parties/democracy-forward-foundation-v-us-department-of-justice/


Attorney for Plaintiff

Hindocha, Anisha (District of Columbia)

McGrath, Daniel Alexander (District of Columbia)

Thurston, Robin F. (District of Columbia)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

No documents yet available via the Clearinghouse.

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73173553/democracy-forward-foundation-v-us-department-of-justice/

Last updated April 18, 2026, 3:07 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-12352914) filed by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons)(Hindocha, Anisha) (Entered: 04/10/2026)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

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2 Summons

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3 Summons

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4 Summons

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April 10, 2026

April 10, 2026

RECAP
2

LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION (Hindocha, Anisha) (Entered: 04/10/2026)

April 10, 2026

April 10, 2026

3

NOTICE of Appearance by Daniel Alexander McGrath on behalf of DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION (McGrath, Daniel) (Entered: 04/10/2026)

April 10, 2026

April 10, 2026

4

NOTICE of Appearance by Robin F. Thurston on behalf of DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION (Thurston, Robin) (Entered: 04/10/2026)

April 10, 2026

April 10, 2026

Case Assigned to Judge Dabney L. Friedrich. (znmw)

April 13, 2026

April 13, 2026

NOTICE OF NEW CASE ERROR regarding 1 Complaint. The following error(s) need correction: Incorrect summonses. Please locate the summons applicable to your case at www.dcd.uscourts.gov/new-case-forms and file using the event Request for Summons to issue. (znmw) Modified error on 4/13/2026 (znmw).

April 13, 2026

April 13, 2026

6

SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(znmw) (Entered: 04/14/2026)

April 14, 2026

April 14, 2026

7

.Order

April 14, 2026

April 14, 2026

Case Details

State / Territory:

District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Election/Voting Rights

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: April 10, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Case Details

Other Dockets:

District of District of Columbia 1:26-cv-01206

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