Filed Date: May 4, 2026
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
(This summary is temporary while we research the case.)
On May 5, 2026, Plaintiff - a Chicago immigration judge - filed this lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois alleging violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and of the First Amendment following her termination from the position. Plaintiff argued that her termination was one in a series of firings motivated by race or national origin animus, through which Defendant Blanche intended to fire judges that may be likelier to hand down immigrant-friendly rulings.
This case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Simon Jillson (6/2/2026)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73294104/parties/espinoza-v-blanche/
Kocoras, Charles Petros (Illinois)
Lee, David L. (Illinois)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73294104/espinoza-v-blanche/
Last updated June 2, 2026, 3:06 a.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: May 4, 2026
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Plaintiff (Carla I. Espinoza) is a resident and citizen of the State of Illinois whom was appointed by defendant to serve as an Immigration Judge for its Executive Office for Immigration Review (“EOIR”), Chicago Immigration Court.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: Unknown
Filed Pro Se: No
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:
Title VII (including PDA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e
Constitutional Clause(s):
Other Dockets:
Northern District of Illinois 1:26-cv-05157
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General/Misc.:
Discrimination Area:
Content/viewpoint discrimination
Discrimination Basis:
National origin discrimination
Affected National Origin/Ethnicity(s):
Affected Race(s):
Affected Sex/Gender(s):
Immigration/Border:
Case Summary of Espinoza v. Blanche, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/48140/ (last updated 6/2/2026).