Case: National Association for the Advancement of Colored People v. Trump

1:26-cv-01151 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: April 3, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and four other civil rights organizations filed suit against President Donald J. Trump and various federal agencies in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on April 3, 2026. The complaint challenged President Trump's Executive Order entitled "Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections," issued on March 31, 2026. According to the plaintiffs, this represented Trump's second attempt to …

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and four other civil rights organizations filed suit against President Donald J. Trump and various federal agencies in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on April 3, 2026. The complaint challenged President Trump's Executive Order entitled "Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections," issued on March 31, 2026. According to the plaintiffs, this represented Trump's second attempt to regulate elections via executive action after courts had previously struck down a prior order. The Order allegedly required the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to compile "State Citizenship Lists" using error-prone federal databases, mandated the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) refuse mail-in ballot delivery to voters not on federal lists, and directed the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate officials who failed to comply. The plaintiffs brought six counts alleging constitutional violations including ultra vires presidential action, separation of powers violations, infringement on voting rights, and violations of federal statutes governing USPS authority and the Privacy Act. They sought declaratory and injunctive relief to block implementation of the Executive Order.

This case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Ben Hefter (4/7/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73143746/parties/national-association-for-the-advancement-of-colored-people-v-donald-j/


Judge(s)

Kollar-Kotelly, Colleen (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Freedman, John Arak (District of Columbia)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case
1

1:26-cv-01151

Complaint

April 3, 2026

April 3, 2026

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73143746/national-association-for-the-advancement-of-colored-people-v-donald-j/

Last updated April 20, 2026, 3:07 a.m.

ECF Number Date Description Link
1 April 3, 2026

COMPLAINT against FRANK J. BISIGNANO, TODD BLANCHE, DONALD J. TRUMP, JOSEPH B. EDLOW, EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, HOWARD LUTNICK, MARKWAYNE MULLIN, SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, DAVID STEINER, U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. POSTAL SERVICE, U.S. POSTAL SERVICE BOARD OF GOVERNORS (Fee Status:Filing Fee Waived) filed by COMMON CAUSE, NAACP, COMMON CAUSE EDUCATION FUND, BLACK VOTERS MATTER FUND, INC., BVM CAPACITY BUILDING INSTITUTE, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons, # 5 Summons, # 6 Summons, # 7 Summons, # 8 Summons, # 9 Summons, # 10 Summons, # 11 Summons, # 12 Summons, # 13 Summons, # 14 Summons, # 15 Summons, # 16 Summons, # 17 Summons)(Freedman, John) (Entered: 04/03/2026)

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

8 Summons

View on PACER

9 Summons

View on PACER

10 Summons

View on PACER

11 Summons

View on PACER

12 Summons

View on PACER

13 Summons

View on PACER

14 Summons

View on PACER

15 Summons

View on PACER

16 Summons

View on PACER

17 Summons

View on PACER

Clearinghouse
2 April 3, 2026

NOTICE OF RELATED CASE by BLACK VOTERS MATTER FUND, INC., BVM CAPACITY BUILDING INSTITUTE, INC., COMMON CAUSE, COMMON CAUSE EDUCATION FUND, NAACP. Case related to Case No. 1:26-cv-01114-CK. (Freedman, John) (Entered: 04/03/2026)

RECAP
April 3, 2026

Payment of Fee - Complaint/Petition

April 3, 2026

Payment for 1 Complaint,,,. ($405; Receipt number ADCDC-12340928). (Freedman, John)

3 April 6, 2026

SUMMONS (16) Issued Electronically as to All Defendants, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(znmw) (Entered: 04/06/2026)

RECAP
4 April 6, 2026

ORDER ESTABLISHING PROCEDURESFOR CIVIL CASES ASSIGNED TO JUDGE COLLEEN KOLLAR-KOTELLY. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 4/6/2026. (lcckk3) (Entered: 04/06/2026)

RECAP
April 6, 2026

Case Assigned/Reassigned

April 6, 2026

Case Assigned to Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly. (znmw)

5 April 8, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by Esam Al-Shareffi on behalf of All Defendants (Al-Shareffi, Esam) (Entered: 04/08/2026)

RECAP
6 April 8, 2026

ORDER granting (23) Motion to Reassign Case in case 1:26-cv-01114-CKK; granting (16) Motion to Reassign Case in case 1:26-cv-01132-CKK. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 4/8/2026. (lcckk3) (Entered: 04/08/2026)

RECAP
7 April 9, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by John Arak Freedman on behalf of BLACK VOTERS MATTER FUND, INC., BVM CAPACITY BUILDING INSTITUTE, INC., COMMON CAUSE, COMMON CAUSE EDUCATION FUND, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE (Freedman, John) (Entered: 04/09/2026)

RECAP
8 April 9, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by Elisabeth S. Theodore on behalf of BLACK VOTERS MATTER FUND, INC., BVM CAPACITY BUILDING INSTITUTE, INC., COMMON CAUSE, COMMON CAUSE EDUCATION FUND, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE (Theodore, Elisabeth) (Entered: 04/09/2026)

RECAP
9 April 9, 2026

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Sydney E. Lopes, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12350311. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by BLACK VOTERS MATTER FUND, INC., BVM CAPACITY BUILDING INSTITUTE, INC., COMMON CAUSE, COMMON CAUSE EDUCATION FUND, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Sydney Lopes, # 2 Certificate of Good Standing)(Theodore, Elisabeth) (Entered: 04/09/2026)

RECAP
April 9, 2026

Case Assigned/Reassigned

April 9, 2026

Case directly reassigned to Judge Carl J. Nichols as related to 26cv1114 (CJN). Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly is no longer assigned to the case. (ztnr)

10 April 10, 2026

ORDER CONSOLIDATING CASES. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on 4/9/2026. (zkh) (Entered: 04/13/2026)

RECAP
11 April 13, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by Stephen M. Pezzi on behalf of All Defendants (Pezzi, Stephen) (Entered: 04/13/2026)

RECAP
12 April 14, 2026

Summons Returned Executed as to US Attorney

RECAP
April 14, 2026

Create Case Association

April 14, 2026

Cases Consolidated. This case has been consolidated with case 26cv1114 pursuant to 10 Order filed 4/10/2026. From this date forward, all pleadings shall be filed ONLY in the lead case, 26cv1114. Parties are advised NOT to elect the SPREAD TEXT option when filing in ECF, as this will result in repetitive docketing. (znmw)

April 14, 2026

Order on Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice

Case Details

State / Territory:

District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Election/Voting Rights

Immigration and/or the Border

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: April 3, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

The NAACP, Common Cause, Common Cause Education Fund, Black Voters Matter Fund Inc., and BVM Capacity Building Institute Inc.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Non-profit NON-religious organization

Attorney Organizations:

NAACP Legal Defense Fund

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Ex parte Young (federal or state officials)

Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552a

Constitutional Clause(s):

Federalism (including 10th Amendment)

Freedom of speech/association

Separation of Powers

Other Dockets:

District of District of Columbia 1:26-cv-01151

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

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority:

Access to information systems

Commandeering

Voting:

Voter ID

Voter qualifications

Voter registration rules

Voting: General & Misc.

Voting: Physical/Effective Access

Access to Voter Rolls / Voter Information

Recommended Citation