Case: Conservation Law Foundation v. Trump

1:26-cv-01528 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: May 4, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

(This summary is temporary while we research the case.) On May 4, 2026, the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. (NRDC), the Center for Biological Diversity, and marine naturalist R. Zack Klyver filed suit in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia against President Donald J. Trump and several administrators, challenging actions that reopened the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument to commercial fishing. Plaintiffs…

(This summary is temporary while we research the case.)

On May 4, 2026, the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. (NRDC), the Center for Biological Diversity, and marine naturalist R. Zack Klyver filed suit in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia against President Donald J. Trump and several administrators, challenging actions that reopened the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument to commercial fishing. Plaintiffs alleged this action exceeded the President's constitutional and statutory authority because the Antiquities Act empowers the President to create national monuments but reserves to Congress the power to revoke their protections. Plaintiffs further alleged the National Marine Fisheries Service's Rescission Rule violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and NEPA. Plaintiffs sought declaratory relief, vacatur of the Rescission Rule, injunctive relief against implementation of the 2026 Dismantling Proclamation, and attorneys' fees and costs.

This case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Niam Vora (6/10/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73292266/parties/conservation-law-foundation-v-trump/


show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:26-cv-01528

Complaint for Injunctive and Declaratory Relief

Conservation Law Foundation et al. v. Trump et al.

May 4, 2026

May 4, 2026

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73292266/conservation-law-foundation-v-trump/

Last updated June 10, 2026, 2:43 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-12399478) filed by NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons, # 5 Summons, # 6 Summons, # 7 Summons)(Iwata, Jacqueline) (Entered: 05/04/2026)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

2 Summons

View on PACER

3 Summons

View on PACER

4 Summons

View on PACER

5 Summons

View on PACER

6 Summons

View on PACER

7 Summons

View on PACER

May 4, 2026

May 4, 2026

Clearinghouse
2

NOTICE OF RELATED CASE by NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL, INC.. Case related to Case No. 1:20-cv-01589. (Iwata, Jacqueline) (Entered: 05/04/2026)

May 4, 2026

May 4, 2026

3

LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests Conservation Law Foundation, Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., and Center for Biological Diversity by NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL, INC. (Iwata, Jacqueline) (Entered: 05/04/2026)

May 4, 2026

May 4, 2026

4

NOTICE of Appearance by Erica A. Fuller on behalf of CONSERVATION LAW FOUNDATION (Fuller, Erica) (Entered: 05/04/2026)

May 4, 2026

May 4, 2026

5

NOTICE of Appearance by Chloe Fross on behalf of CONSERVATION LAW FOUNDATION (Fross, Chloe) (Entered: 05/04/2026)

May 4, 2026

May 4, 2026

6

NOTICE of Appearance by Kristen Monsell on behalf of CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, R. ZACK KLYVER (Monsell, Kristen) (Entered: 05/05/2026)

May 5, 2026

May 5, 2026

7

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Devon Lea Flanagan, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12402037. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration)(Iwata, Jacqueline) (Entered: 05/05/2026)

May 5, 2026

May 5, 2026

8

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Lauren P. Phillips, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12402045. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration Declaration of Lauren P. Phillips)(Iwata, Jacqueline) (Entered: 05/05/2026)

May 5, 2026

May 5, 2026

9

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Jennifer A. Friedmann, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12402052. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration Declaration of Jennifer A. Friedmann)(Iwata, Jacqueline) (Entered: 05/05/2026)

May 5, 2026

May 5, 2026

10

NOTICE of Appearance by Katherine K. Desormeau on behalf of NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL, INC. (Desormeau, Katherine) (Entered: 05/06/2026)

May 6, 2026

May 6, 2026

11

SUMMONS (6) Issued Electronically as to All Defendants, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(znmw) (Entered: 05/06/2026)

May 6, 2026

May 6, 2026

12

ERRATA by NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL, INC. re 7 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice,. (Attachments: # 1 Errata Corrected Motion, # 2 Errata Certificate of Good Standing)(Iwata, Jacqueline) (Entered: 05/06/2026)

May 6, 2026

May 6, 2026

13

ERRATA by NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL, INC. re 8 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice,. (Attachments: # 1 Errata Corrected Motion, # 2 Errata Certificate of Good Standing)(Iwata, Jacqueline) (Entered: 05/06/2026)

May 6, 2026

May 6, 2026

14

ERRATA by NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL, INC. re 9 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice,. (Attachments: # 1 Errata Corrected Motion, # 2 Errata Certificate of Good Standing)(Iwata, Jacqueline) (Entered: 05/06/2026)

May 6, 2026

May 6, 2026

Notice of Error

May 6, 2026

May 6, 2026

Case Assigned/Reassigned

May 6, 2026

May 6, 2026

Order on Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice

May 6, 2026

May 6, 2026

Case Assigned to Chief Judge James E. Boasberg. (znmw)

May 6, 2026

May 6, 2026

NOTICE OF ERROR regarding 8 MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Lauren P. Phillips, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12402045. Fee Status: Fee Paid., 9 MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Jennifer A. Friedmann, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12402052. Fee Status: Fee Paid., 7 MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Devon Lea Flanagan, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12402037. Fee Status: Fee Paid.. The following error(s) need correction: Pro Hac Vice motion must be accompanied by a Certificate of Good Standing issued within the last 30 days (LCvR 83.2(c)(2)). Please file certificate as an Errata (znmw)

May 6, 2026

May 6, 2026

MINUTE ORDER: The Court ORDERS that the 7 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice of Devon Lea Flanagan is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. A Pro Hac Vice motion must be accompanied by a Certificate of Good Standing issued within the last 30 days. See LCvR 83.2(c)(2). So ORDERED by Chief Judge James E. Boasberg on May 6, 2026. (lcjeb4)

May 6, 2026

May 6, 2026

MINUTE ORDER: The Court ORDERS that: 1) The Minute Order dated May 6, 2026, is STRICKEN as a Certificate of Good Standing has now been filed; and 2) the 7 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice of Devon Lea Flanagan is GRANTED. Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to LCvR 83.6(a). Click for instructions. So ORDERED by Chief Judge James E. Boasberg on May 6, 2026. (lcjeb4)

May 6, 2026

May 6, 2026

MINUTE ORDER: The Court ORDERS that the 8 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice of Lauren P. Phillips is GRANTED. Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to LCvR 83.6(a). Click for instructions. So ORDERED by Chief Judge James E. Boasberg on May 6, 2026. (lcjeb4)

May 6, 2026

May 6, 2026

MINUTE ORDER: The Court ORDERS that the 9 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice of Jennifer A. Friedmann is GRANTED. Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to LCvR 83.6(a). Click for instructions. So ORDERED by Chief Judge James E. Boasberg on May 6, 2026. (lcjeb4)

May 6, 2026

May 6, 2026

15

NOTICE of Appearance by Lauren Patricia Phillips on behalf of NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL, INC. (Phillips, Lauren) (Entered: 05/07/2026)

May 7, 2026

May 7, 2026

16

NOTICE of Appearance by Devon Lea Flanagan on behalf of NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL, INC. (Flanagan, Devon) (Entered: 05/07/2026)

May 7, 2026

May 7, 2026

17

NOTICE of Appearance by Jennifer Alida Friedmann on behalf of NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL, INC. (Friedmann, Jennifer) (Entered: 05/07/2026)

May 7, 2026

May 7, 2026

18

Notice of Appearance

May 22, 2026

May 22, 2026

19

Notice of Withdrawal of Appearance

June 10, 2026

June 10, 2026

Case Details

State / Territory:

District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Environmental Justice

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: May 4, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Environmental advocacy organizations and a marine conservation advocate are challenging the reopening of a federally protected marine national monument to commercial fishing.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Non-profit NON-religious organization

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Federal

United States

United States Department of Commerce

United States Department of the Interior

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Facility Type(s):

Government-run

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq.

National Environmental Protection Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 4321–4370f

Constitutional Clause(s):

Separation of Powers

Other Dockets:

District of District of Columbia 1:26-cv-01528

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Attorneys fees

Declaratory judgment

Injunction

Relief Granted:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

General/Misc.:

Navigable waters

Environmental Justice and Resources:

Environmental Impact Statements

Recommended Citation