Case: United States v. Caldwell

3:26-cv-02025 | U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey

Filed Date: Feb. 26, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

(This summary is temporary while we investigate the case further). On February 26, 2026, the Civil Rights Division announced it sued New Jersey under the Civil Rights Act of 1960 to compel disclosure of the State’s complete statewide voter registration list. New Jersey had refused to provide the requested information, citing privacy concerns.

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72333329/parties/united-states-v-caldwell/


Judge(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff

BENNETT, BRITTANY E. (New Jersey)

GARDNER, CHRISTOPHER J (New Jersey)

Attorney for Defendant

ALERASOOL, OMEED (New Jersey)

COX, DEVIN QUINN (New Jersey)

FLEMING, LIZA (New Jersey)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case
1

3:26-cv-02025

Complaint

The United States of America v. Caldwell

Feb. 26, 2026

Feb. 26, 2026

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72333329/united-states-v-caldwell/

Last updated April 20, 2026, 3:08 a.m.

ECF Number Date Description Link
1 Feb. 26, 2026

COMPLAINT against DALE CALDWELL, filed by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Supplement Attachment I, # 3 Summons)(BENNETT, BRITTANY) (Entered: 02/26/2026)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

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2 Supplement Attachment I

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3 Summons

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Clearinghouse
Feb. 26, 2026

Add and Terminate Judges

Feb. 26, 2026

Judge Zahid N. Quraishi and Magistrate Judge Justin T. Quinn added. (mlh)

2 Feb. 27, 2026

SUMMONS ISSUED as to DALE G. CALDWELL. Attached is the official court Summons, please fill out Defendant and Plaintiffs attorney information and serve. (mlh) (Entered: 02/27/2026)

RECAP
Feb. 27, 2026

Add and Terminate Judges

3 March 4, 2026

MOTION to Intervene as Defendants by LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF NEW JERSEY, Latino Action Network, Maungsai Somboon. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion to Intervene, # 2 Exhibit A to Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion to Intervene, # 3 Exhibit B to Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion to Intervene, # 4 Exhibit C to Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion to Intervene, # 5 Exhibit D to Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion to Intervene, # 6 Text of Proposed Order, # 7 Proposed Motion to Dismiss and Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion to Dismiss)(WEISBERG, LIZA) (Entered: 03/04/2026)

1 Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion to Intervene

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2 Exhibit A to Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion to Intervene

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3 Exhibit B to Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion to Intervene

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4 Exhibit C to Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion to Intervene

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5 Exhibit D to Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion to Intervene

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6 Text of Proposed Order

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7 Proposed Motion to Dismiss and Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion to Dismis

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RECAP
March 5, 2026

Set/Reset Motion and R&R Deadlines/Hearings

March 5, 2026

Set Deadlines as to 3 MOTION to Intervene as Defendants. Motion set for 4/6/2026 before Judge Zahid N. Quraishi. Unless otherwise directed by the Court, this motion will be decided on the papers and no appearances are required. Note that this is an automatically generated message from the Clerk`s Office and does not supersede any previous or subsequent orders from the Court. (mlh)

4 March 6, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by JEANNE LOCICERO on behalf of LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF NEW JERSEY, Latino Action Network, Maungsai Somboon (LOCICERO, JEANNE) (Entered: 03/06/2026)

RECAP
5 March 6, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by EZRA D. ROSENBERG on behalf of LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF NEW JERSEY, Latino Action Network, Maungsai Somboon (ROSENBERG, EZRA) (Entered: 03/06/2026)

RECAP
6 March 6, 2026

MOTION to Intervene as Defendants by MAKE THE ROAD NEW JERSEY, JAMIE Y DING, DANIELLE LITWAK. (Attachments: # 1 Brief in Support of Motion to Intervene, # 2 Declaration of Rajiv D. Parikh with Exhibits, # 3 Declaration of Make the Road New Jersey, # 4 Declaration of Jamie Y. Ding, # 5 Declaration of Danielle Litwak, # 6 Text of Proposed Order)(PARIKH, RAJIV) (Entered: 03/06/2026)

1 Brief in Support of Motion to Intervene

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2 Declaration of Rajiv D. Parikh with Exhibits

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3 Declaration of Make the Road New Jersey

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4 Declaration of Jamie Y. Ding

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5 Declaration of Danielle Litwak

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6 Text of Proposed Order

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RECAP
7 March 9, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by OMEED ALERASOOL on behalf of JAMIE Y DING, DANIELLE LITWAK, MAKE THE ROAD NEW JERSEY (ALERASOOL, OMEED) (Entered: 03/09/2026)

RECAP
March 9, 2026

Set/Reset Deadlines as to 6 MOTION to Intervene as Defendants. Motion set for 4/6/2026 before Judge Zahid N. Quraishi. Unless otherwise directed by the Court, this motion will be decided on the papers and no appearances are required. Note that this is an automatically generated message from the Clerk`s Office and does not supersede any previous or subsequent orders from the Court. (kht)

March 9, 2026

Set/Reset Motion and R&R Deadlines/Hearings

8 March 12, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by CHRISTOPHER J GARDNER on behalf of THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (GARDNER, CHRISTOPHER) (Entered: 03/12/2026)

RECAP
9 March 13, 2026

Corporate Disclosure Statement by MAKE THE ROAD NEW JERSEY identifying n/a as Corporate Parent.. (PARIKH, RAJIV) (Entered: 03/13/2026)

RECAP
10 March 13, 2026

MOTION to Intervene by THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE (NAACP), NAACP New Jersey State Conference, Salvation and Social Justice, AAPI New Jersey, Returning Citizens Support Group, Association of Black Women Lawyers of New Jersey, Garden State Bar Association, New Jersey Muslim Lawyers Association, PEOPLE'S ORGANIZATION FOR PROGRESS, Edwin Ortiz. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion to Intervene, # 2 Exhibit 1 to Memo of Law in Support of Motion to Intervene, # 3 Exhibit 2 to Memo of Law in Support of Motion to Intervene, # 4 Exhibit 3 to Memo of Law in Support of Motion to Intervene, # 5 Exhibit 4 to the Memo of Law in Support of Motion to Intervene, # 6 Exhibit 5 to the Memo of Law in Support of Motion to Intervene, # 7 Exhibit 6 to the Memo of Law in Support of Motion to Intervene, # 8 Exhibit 7 to the Memo of Law in Support of Motion to Intervene, # 9 Exhibit 8 to the Memo of Law in Support of Motion to Intervene, # 10 Exhibit 9 to the Memo of Law in Support of Motion to Intervene, # 11 Exhibit 10 to the Memo of Law in Support of Motion to Intervene, # 12 Exhibit 11 to the Memo of Law in Support of Motion to Intervene, # 13 Text of Proposed Order)(GRIFFIN, CJ) (Entered: 03/13/2026)

1 Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion to Intervene

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2 Exhibit 1 to Memo of Law in Support of Motion to Intervene

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3 Exhibit 2 to Memo of Law in Support of Motion to Intervene

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4 Exhibit 3 to Memo of Law in Support of Motion to Intervene

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5 Exhibit 4 to the Memo of Law in Support of Motion to Intervene

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6 Exhibit 5 to the Memo of Law in Support of Motion to Intervene

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7 Exhibit 6 to the Memo of Law in Support of Motion to Intervene

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8 Exhibit 7 to the Memo of Law in Support of Motion to Intervene

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9 Exhibit 8 to the Memo of Law in Support of Motion to Intervene

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10 Exhibit 9 to the Memo of Law in Support of Motion to Intervene

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11 Exhibit 10 to the Memo of Law in Support of Motion to Intervene

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12 Exhibit 11 to the Memo of Law in Support of Motion to Intervene

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13 Text of Proposed Order

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RECAP
March 16, 2026

Set/Reset Motion and R&R Deadlines/Hearings

March 16, 2026

Set Deadlines as to 10 MOTION to Intervene . Motion set for 4/6/2026 before Judge Zahid N. Quraishi. Unless otherwise directed by the Court, this motion will be decided on the papers and no appearances are required. Note that this is an automatically generated message from the Clerk`s Office and does not supersede any previous or subsequent orders from the Court. (mlh)

11 March 17, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by MICAURI VARGAS on behalf of AAPI New Jersey, Association of Black Women Lawyers of New Jersey, Garden State Bar Association, NAACP New Jersey State Conference, New Jersey Muslim Lawyers Association, Edwin Ortiz, PEOPLE'S ORGANIZATION FOR PROGRESS, Returning Citizens Support Group, Salvation and Social Justice, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE (NAACP) (VARGAS, MICAURI) (Entered: 03/17/2026)

RECAP
12 March 19, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by JULIA PUDIMOTT on behalf of JAMIE Y DING, DANIELLE LITWAK, MAKE THE ROAD NEW JERSEY (PUDIMOTT, JULIA) (Entered: 03/19/2026)

RECAP
13 March 19, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by HENAL PATEL on behalf of AAPI New Jersey, Association of Black Women Lawyers of New Jersey, Garden State Bar Association, NAACP New Jersey State Conference, New Jersey Muslim Lawyers Association, Edwin Ortiz, PEOPLE'S ORGANIZATION FOR PROGRESS, Returning Citizens Support Group, Salvation and Social Justice, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE (NAACP) (PATEL, HENAL) (Entered: 03/19/2026)

RECAP
14 March 20, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by RYAN PAUL HAYGOOD on behalf of AAPI New Jersey, Association of Black Women Lawyers of New Jersey, Garden State Bar Association, NAACP New Jersey State Conference, New Jersey Muslim Lawyers Association, Edwin Ortiz, PEOPLE'S ORGANIZATION FOR PROGRESS, Returning Citizens Support Group, Salvation and Social Justice, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE (NAACP) (HAYGOOD, RYAN) (Entered: 03/20/2026)

RECAP
15 March 20, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by DEVIN QUINN COX on behalf of JAMIE Y DING, DANIELLE LITWAK, MAKE THE ROAD NEW JERSEY (COX, DEVIN) (Entered: 03/20/2026)

RECAP
16 March 24, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by LIZA FLEMING on behalf of DALE G. CALDWELL (FLEMING, LIZA) (Entered: 03/24/2026)

RECAP
17 March 24, 2026

Application and Proposed Order for Clerk's Order to extend time to answer as to Defendant Dale G. Caldwell. Attorney LIZA FLEMING for DALE G. CALDWELL added. (FLEMING, LIZA) (Entered: 03/24/2026)

RECAP
March 25, 2026

Update Answer Due Deadline

March 25, 2026

Clerk`s Text Order - The document 17 Application for Clerk's Order to Ext Answer/Proposed Order submitted by DALE G. CALDWELL has been GRANTED. The answer due date has been set for 4/10/2026. (arm)

18 March 30, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by JONATHON HAUENSCHILD on behalf of THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (HAUENSCHILD, JONATHON) (Entered: 03/30/2026)

RECAP
19 March 31, 2026

Letter from Proposed Intervenor-Defendants re Applications for Admission Pro Hac Vice of Ari Savitzky, Sophia Lin Lakin, Theresa Lee, and William Hughes. (Attachments: # 1 Certification of A. Savitzky, # 2 Certification of Liza Weisberg (Application of A. Savitzky), # 3 Text of Proposed Order (A. Savitzky), # 4 Certification of S. Lin Lakin, # 5 Certification of Liza Weisberg (Application of S. Lin Lakin), # 6 Text of Proposed Order (S. Lin Lakin), # 7 Certification of T. Lee, # 8 Certification of Liza Weisberg (Application of T. Lee), # 9 Text of Proposed Order (T. Lee), # 10 Certification of W. Hughes, # 11 Certification of Liza Weisberg (Application of W. Hughes), # 12 Text of Proposed Order (W. Hughes))(WEISBERG, LIZA) (Entered: 03/31/2026)

1 Certification of A. Savitzky

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2 Certification of Liza Weisberg (Application of A. Savitzky)

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3 Text of Proposed Order (A. Savitzky)

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4 Certification of S. Lin Lakin

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5 Certification of Liza Weisberg (Application of S. Lin Lakin)

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6 Text of Proposed Order (S. Lin Lakin)

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7 Certification of T. Lee

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8 Certification of Liza Weisberg (Application of T. Lee)

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9 Text of Proposed Order (T. Lee)

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10 Certification of W. Hughes

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11 Certification of Liza Weisberg (Application of W. Hughes)

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12 Text of Proposed Order (W. Hughes)

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RECAP
20 April 3, 2026

MOTION to Compel Federal Election Records by THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum Memo in SUpport, # 2 Declaration Dec. of E. Neff, # 3 Exhibit July Letter, # 4 Exhibit August Letter, # 5 Exhibit SOS Response, # 6 Exhibit NC Consent Decree, # 7 Exhibit GA Complaint, # 8 Exhibit GA Consent Decree, # 9 Exhibit Texas MOU)(GARDNER, CHRISTOPHER) (Entered: 04/03/2026)

1 Memorandum Memo in SUpport

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2 Declaration Dec. of E. Neff

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3 Exhibit July Letter

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4 Exhibit August Letter

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5 Exhibit SOS Response

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6 Exhibit NC Consent Decree

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7 Exhibit GA Complaint

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8 Exhibit GA Consent Decree

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9 Exhibit Texas MOU

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RECAP
21 April 3, 2026

Proposed Order by THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA re 20 MOTION to Compel Federal Election Records. (GARDNER, CHRISTOPHER) (Entered: 04/03/2026)

RECAP
April 6, 2026

Set/Reset Motion and R&R Deadlines/Hearings

April 6, 2026

Set Deadlines as to 20 MOTION to Compel Federal Election Records. Motion set for 5/4/2026 before Magistrate Judge Justin T. Quinn. Unless otherwise directed by the Court, this motion will be decided on the papers and no appearances are required. Note that this is an automatically generated message from the Clerk`s Office and does not supersede any previous or subsequent orders from the Court. (mlh)

22 April 7, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by ROBERT ANDREW WIYGUL on behalf of DALE G. CALDWELL (WIYGUL, ROBERT) (Entered: 04/07/2026)

RECAP
23 April 7, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by JASON ADAM LEVINE on behalf of DALE G. CALDWELL (LEVINE, JASON) (Entered: 04/07/2026)

RECAP
24 April 8, 2026

Letter from Rajiv D. Parikh, Esq. seeking leave to file a Rule 12 motion. (PARIKH, RAJIV) (Entered: 04/08/2026)

RECAP
25 April 8, 2026

Application for Pro Bono Counsel by JAMIE Y DING, DANIELLE LITWAK, MAKE THE ROAD NEW JERSEY. (Attachments: # 1 Certification of Abha Khanna, Esq., # 2 Certification of Rajiv D. Parikh, Esq., # 3 Text of Proposed Order, # 4 Certification of Walker McKusick, Esq., # 5 Certification of Rajiv D. Parikh, Esq., # 6 Text of Proposed Order, # 7 Certificate of Service)(PARIKH, RAJIV) (Entered: 04/08/2026)

RECAP
26 April 8, 2026

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice (resubmission of doc 25) by JAMIE Y DING, DANIELLE LITWAK, MAKE THE ROAD NEW JERSEY. (Attachments: # 1 Certification of Abha Khanna, Esq., # 2 Certification of Rajiv D. Parikh, Esq., # 3 Text of Proposed Order, # 4 Certification of Walker McKusick, Esq., # 5 Certification of Rajiv D. Parikh, Esq., # 6 Text of Proposed Order, # 7 Certificate of Service)(PARIKH, RAJIV) (Entered: 04/08/2026)

RECAP
April 8, 2026

Set/Reset Motion and R&R Deadlines/Hearings

April 8, 2026

Set Deadlines as to 26 MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice (resubmission of doc 25). Motion set for 5/4/2026 before Magistrate Judge Justin T. Quinn. Unless otherwise directed by the Court, this motion will be decided on the papers and no appearances are required. Note that this is an automatically generated message from the Clerk`s Office and does not supersede any previous or subsequent orders from the Court. (arm)

27 April 9, 2026

Letter from Defendant regarding pre-motion conference. (FLEMING, LIZA) (Entered: 04/09/2026)

RECAP
28 April 9, 2026

SUMMONS Returned Executed by THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. DALE G. CALDWELL served on 3/9/2026, answer due 4/10/2026. (GARDNER, CHRISTOPHER) (Entered: 04/09/2026)

RECAP
29 April 9, 2026

Letter from proposed intervenor-defendants the League of Women Voters of New Jersey, Latino Action Network, and Maungsai Somboon regarding pre-motion process. (WEISBERG, LIZA) (Entered: 04/09/2026)

RECAP
30 April 10, 2026

TEXT ORDER that the Court has reviewed Defendant Caldwell's pre-motion letter 27 . Given the issues raised in this case, the Court hereby WAIVES a pre-motion conference. Defendant shall confer with Plaintiff with respect to a consolidated briefing schedule for the Motion to Compel 20 and the anticipated Motion to Dismiss and file a joint proposed briefing schedule by 04/14/2026. Any additional prospective intervenors or amici must file their motions to intervene/join no later than one week prior to the deadline the parties set for an opposition for the anticipated Motion to Dismiss. So Ordered by Judge Zahid N. Quraishi on 04/10/2026. (Gonzalez, P) (Entered: 04/10/2026)

RECAP
31 April 10, 2026

Notice of Request by Pro Hac Vice Heather Richner to receive Notices of Electronic Filings. (Attachments: # 1 Certification of Heather Richner, # 2 Certification of Micauri Vargas in Support of Heather Richner's Pro Hac Vice Motion, # 3 Text of Proposed Order, # 4 Certificate of Service)(VARGAS, MICAURI) (Entered: 04/10/2026)

RECAP
32 April 10, 2026

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice by AAPI New Jersey, Association of Black Women Lawyers of New Jersey, Garden State Bar Association, NAACP New Jersey State Conference, New Jersey Muslim Lawyers Association, Edwin Ortiz, PEOPLE'S ORGANIZATION FOR PROGRESS, Returning Citizens Support Group, Salvation and Social Justice, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE (NAACP). (Attachments: # 1 Certification of Heather Richner, # 2 Certification of Micauri Vargas in Support of Heather Richner's Pro Hac Vice Motion, # 3 Text of Proposed Order, # 4 Certificate of Service)(VARGAS, MICAURI) (Entered: 04/10/2026)

RECAP
April 10, 2026

Text Order

April 10, 2026

QC - Incorrect Event Selected

April 10, 2026

CLERK'S QUALITY CONTROL MESSAGE - The 31 "REQUEST TO APPEAR PRO HAC VICE" filed by MICAURI VARGAS on 4/10/2026 was submitted incorrectly as a "NOTICE OF REQUEST BY PRO HAC VICE TO RECEIVE NEF". PLEASE RESUBMIT THE 31 "REQUEST TO APPEAR PRO HAC VICE" USING THE EVENT: Civil Events -> Motions and Related Filings -> Motions -> Appear Pro Hac Vice. This submission will remain on the docket unless otherwise ordered by the court. (mlh)

April 13, 2026

Set/Reset Motion and R&R Deadlines/Hearings

April 13, 2026

Set Deadlines as to 32 MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice . Motion set for 5/4/2026 before Magistrate Judge Justin T. Quinn. Unless otherwise directed by the Court, this motion will be decided on the papers and no appearances are required. Note that this is an automatically generated message from the Clerk`s Office and does not supersede any previous or subsequent orders from the Court. (jal, )

33 April 14, 2026

Letter from Robert A. Wiygul regarding Briefing Schedule for the motion to compel re 30 Text Order,,. (WIYGUL, ROBERT) (Entered: 04/14/2026)

RECAP
34 April 17, 2026

TEXT ORDER: Oral argument by telephone has been scheduled before Magistrate Judge Quinn re: 3 MOTION to Intervene as Defendants; 6 MOTION to Intervene as Defendants; and 10 MOTION to Intervene on April 22, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. The parties and the movants will be provided with dial-in information prior to the conference. So Ordered by Magistrate Judge Justin T. Quinn on 4/17/2026. (ijf) (Entered: 04/17/2026)

RECAP
April 17, 2026

Text Order AND ~Util - Set/Reset Motion and R&R Deadlines/Hearings

Case Details

State / Territory:

New Jersey

Case Type(s):

Election/Voting Rights

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Litigation and Investigations By the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Feb. 26, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Case Details

Other Dockets:

District of New Jersey 3:26-cv-02025

Recommended Citation