Filed Date: April 10, 2026
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding in progress
[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.
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/
Friedrich, Dabney Langhorne (District of Columbia)
Hindocha, Anisha (District of Columbia)
McGrath, Daniel Alexander (District of Columbia)
Thurston, Robin F. (District of Columbia)
Petit, Derrick A. (District of Columbia)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73173553/democracy-forward-foundation-v-us-department-of-justice/
Last updated June 15, 2026, 3:19 a.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: April 10, 2026
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
The plaintiff is Democracy Forward Foundation, which is a nonprofit organization focused on government transparency and accountability.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Non-profit NON-religious organization
Attorney Organizations:
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: Yes
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Federal
U.S. Department of Justice
Defendant Type(s):
Facility Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
FOIA (Freedom of Information Act), 5 U.S.C. § 552
Other Dockets:
District of District of Columbia 1:26-cv-01206
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General/Misc.:
Voting:
Case Summary of DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/48083/.