Case: National Federation of the Blind v. Department of Justice

1:26-cv-02007 | U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

Filed Date: May 21, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This is a case challenging the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) and Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) interim final rules (IFRs).  The DOJ and HHS issued IFRs that extended compliance deadlines by one year for state and local governments and HHS funding recipients to make their websites and mobile applications accessible. On May 21, 2026, the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) – a non-profit organization representing blind individuals – filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District…

This is a case challenging the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) and Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) interim final rules (IFRs). 

The DOJ and HHS issued IFRs that extended compliance deadlines by one year for state and local governments and HHS funding recipients to make their websites and mobile applications accessible. On May 21, 2026, the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) – a non-profit organization representing blind individuals – filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. NFB sued the DOJ, HHS, and the department Secretaries in their official capacities, asserting violations of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). Represented by Democracy Forward and Brown Goldstein & Levy, LLP, NFB alleged that the government issued the IFRs without prior notice-and-comment rulemaking required by the APA and acted in an arbitrary and capricious manner by failing to consider the harm caused by the delays to blind individuals who rely on assistive technologies to access critical services. NFB sought declaratory relief, a vacatur of the IFRs, and attorney’s fees. The case was assigned to District Judge Richard D. Bennett.

This case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Alexis Gil (7/10/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73378158/parties/national-federation-of-the-blind-v-department-of-justice/


Judge(s)

Bennett, Richard D. (Maryland)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Wolfson, Paul R.Q. (Maryland)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case
1

1:26-cv-02007

Complaint

May 21, 2026

May 21, 2026

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73378158/national-federation-of-the-blind-v-department-of-justice/

Last updated Sept. 7, 2026, 3:11 a.m.

Docket for: National Federation of the Blind v. Department of Justice
ECF Number Date Description Link
1 May 21, 2026

COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number AMDDC-12769465.), filed by National Federation of the Blind. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons Blanche Summons, # 3 Summons DOJ Summons, # 4 Summons HHS Summons, # 5 Summons RFK Summons, # 6 Summons USAO Summons, # 7 Summons USAG Summons)(Wolfson, Paul) (Entered: 05/21/2026)

1 Civil Cover Sheet Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

2 Summons Blanche Summons

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3 Summons DOJ Summons

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4 Summons HHS Summons

View on PACER

5 Summons RFK Summons

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6 Summons USAO Summons

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7 Summons USAG Summons

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Clearinghouse
2 May 21, 2026

Local Rule 103.3 Disclosure Statement by National Federation of the Blind (Wolfson, Paul) (Entered: 05/21/2026)

RECAP
3 May 21, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by Paul R.Q. Wolfson on behalf of National Federation of the Blind (Wolfson, Paul) (Entered: 05/21/2026)

RECAP
4 May 22, 2026

MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Laura B. Bakst (Filing fee $100, receipt number AMDDC-12770848.) by National Federation of the Blind(Wolfson, Paul) (Entered: 05/22/2026)

RECAP
5 May 22, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by Robin F. Thurston on behalf of National Federation of the Blind (Thurston, Robin) (Entered: 05/22/2026)

RECAP
6 May 22, 2026

PAPERLESS ORDER granting 4 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Laura B. Bakst. Directing attorney Laura B. Bakst to register for pro hac vice filing in the District of Maryland through PACER at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ if attorney has not already done so. The Pro Hac Vice option must be selected when registering. Signed by Clerk on 5/22/2026. (mh4s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 05/22/2026)

RECAP
7 May 22, 2026

Summons Issued 60 days as to Todd Blanche, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Justice, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General(kk5s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 05/22/2026)

RECAP
8 June 16, 2026

SUMMONS Returned Executed by National Federation of the Blind. Todd Blanche served on 6/15/2026, answer due 8/14/2026. (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit USAO)(Wolfson, Paul) (Entered: 06/16/2026)

RECAP
9 June 17, 2026

SUMMONS Returned Executed by National Federation of the Blind. Department of Health and Human Services served on 6/15/2026, answer due 7/6/2026; Department of Justice served on 6/15/2026, answer due 7/6/2026; Robert F. Kennedy, Jr served on 6/15/2026, answer due 7/6/2026. (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit DoJ, # 2 Affidavit RFK)(Wolfson, Paul) (Entered: 06/17/2026)

RECAP
10 June 26, 2026

MOTION Joint Motion for Briefing Schedule by National Federation of the Blind (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Wolfson, Paul) (Entered: 06/26/2026)

1 Text of Proposed Order

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RECAP
11 June 29, 2026

ORDER granting 10 Parties' Joint Motion For Briefing Schedule. Signed by Judge Richard D. Bennett on 6/29/2026. (kk5s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 06/29/2026)

RECAP
12 July 10, 2026

-[STRICKEN]- STIPULATION re: Protective Order by Todd Blanche, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Justice, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr(Farber, Molissa) Modified on 7/13/2026 (bas). (Entered: 07/10/2026)

RECAP
13 July 10, 2026

MOTION to Strike 12 Stipulation by Todd Blanche, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Justice, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Farber, Molissa) (Entered: 07/10/2026)

1 Text of Proposed Order

View on RECAP

RECAP
14 July 13, 2026

ORDER Granting 13 Motion to Strike 12 Stipulation re: Protective Order. Signed by Judge Richard D. Bennett on 7/13/2026. (bas, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 07/13/2026)

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory:

Maryland

Case Type(s):

Disability Rights

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: May 21, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

The plaintiff is the National Federation of the Blind (NFB).

Plaintiff Type(s):

Non-profit NON-religious organization

Attorney Organizations:

Democracy Forward

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Federal

Department of Justice (DOJ)

Secretary of Health and Human Services

U.S. Attorney General

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

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.

Other Dockets:

District of Maryland 1:26-cv-02007

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Attorneys fees

Declaratory judgment

Relief Granted:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

Disability and Disability Rights:

Reasonable Accommodations

Visual impairment

Recommended Citation