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 complete
Case Summary
This is a case challenging the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) refusal to disclose information about its voting initiatives.
Democracy Forward Foundation is a D.C.-based nonprofit organization focused on government transparency and accountability. The organization filed this lawsuit against the DOJ on April 10, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Represented by internal counsel, Democracy Forward alleged that the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division (CRD) had shifted its enforcement priorities in ways that undermined voting rights, including an unprecedented effort to demand voter registration data from states and share that data with the Department of Homeland Security. Voting and election law cases involving document information are compiled in the Clearinghouse here. The complaint also alleged that senior CRD officials had communications with external individuals and groups associated with election integrity concerns. Democracy Forward submitted multiple Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to obtain records of these communications and agreements, but alleged that the DOJ violated the FOIA by failing to respond within the statutorily mandated time period. Democracy Forward sought court orders requiring the DOJ to conduct proper searches and produce non-exempt records, along with an injunction and attorneys' fees. The case was assigned to District Judge Dabney L. Friedrich.
On April 20, 2026, Democracy Forward filed an amended complaint in which it alleged an additional violation of the FOIA, asserting that the DOJ failed to grant expedited processing.
This case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Alexis Gil (6/25/2026)
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/
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)
Documents in the Clearinghouse
Docket
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73173553/democracy-forward-foundation-v-us-department-of-justice/
Last updated Sept. 17, 2026, 3:24 a.m.
Docket for: DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Case Details
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/ (last updated 6/25/2026).