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Judge Anthony J. Trenga (E.D. Va.) on Monday overruled the government’s objections and affirmed a magistrate judge’s ruling that the court, rather than the Justice Department, must review materials seized from Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson to protect First Amendment and statutory press safeguards in a leak investigation. (Memorandum Opinion and Order.) (WaPo.) For background on the case, see prior Roundups.
Judge Michael Maddox (D. Md.) at a hearing on Monday ordered the pretrial release of Aurelio Perez-Lugones, the government contractor charged with leaking classified information to Natanson, and set trial for Feb. 22. (Docket.) (Politico.)
Judge Melissa DuBose (D.R.I.) said at a hearing Monday that she is weighing whether to hold officials from the Department of Homeland Security or the Department of Justice in contempt of court after DHS issued a “patently false” press release alleging that she knowingly released an ICE detainee wanted for murder in the Dominican Republic. A lawyer for DOJ submitted a statement apologizing for failing to disclose information regarding the detainee’s criminal history. (Response to Order to Show Cause.) (Politico.)
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said today that the U.S.-Iran ceasefire “is not over,” despite exchanges of fire between Iranian and American forces in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. He also stated that Project Freedom, the U.S. operation to guide commercial vessels through the strait, is “separate and distinct from Operation Epic Fury.” (CBS.)
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro will not appeal a ruling by Judge James Boasberg (D.D.C.) quashing subpoenas to the Federal Reserve. Her office on Monday instead asked the court to vacate its prior decisions, as the department has now closed its investigation into the Fed and Chairman Jerome Powell. (Motion.) (WaPo.)
The Justice Department is seeking the identities of every election staffer and volunteer poll worker who helped administer the November 2020 election in Fulton County, Ga. The demand was disclosed on Monday when lawyers for the county filed a motion to quash a grand jury subpoena seeking the information. (ABC.) (NYT.)
U.S. Southern Command announced it struck another boat allegedly engaged in drug trafficking operations in the Caribbean Sea on Monday, killing two men. The strike brings the death toll of the boat striking campaign to at least 187. (NYT.)
Bob Bauer argued that the risk of expanding presidential power should guide the debate over Supreme Court reform and cautioned that Court expansion could strengthen the executive. (Executive Functions.)
Jim W. Ko and Jonathan Stroud argued that the Trump administration is reshaping AI governance through “managed federalism,” using executive coordination and funding leverage to influence state regulation without congressional action. (Lawfare.)
Pending Interim Order Applications Involving the U.S. Government in the Supreme Court
Blanche v. Perlmutter: The government filed an emergency application on October 27 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a district court interlocutory injunction that temporarily reinstated Shira Perlmutter to her role as Register of Copyrights while litigation over her removal continues. Chief Justice Roberts formally set a deadline of November 10 for a response to the application. Perlmutter submitted a response on November 10. Blanche submitted a reply on November 12. The Court deferred the application for stay on November 28 pending the Court’s decisions in Trump v. Slaughter and Trump v. Cook.
Trump v. Cook: The government filed an emergency application on September 18 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a preliminary injunction issued by a district court that blocked President Trump from removing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Cook filed an opposition to the request on the same day. The Chief Justice formally set a deadline of September 25 for a response to the application. Cook filed a response on September 25. On October 1, the Court deferred action on the stay application pending oral argument in January 2026 and established a supplemental briefing schedule. Additional amicus briefs were filed on October 29. Both sides filed supplemental briefs on November 19 and the Court heard oral argument on Jan. 21, 2026.
Mullin v. Doe: The government filed an application on February 26 requesting the Supreme Court stay pending appeal of a preliminary injunction issued by a district court preliminarily enjoining then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem from terminating temporary protected status designation for Syria. The government asked the Court to construe the application as a petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment and grant the petition. On March 16, the Court consolidated the case with a challenge to the Department of Homeland Security’s termination of Temporary Protected Status designations for Haiti and granted certiorari before judgment of the consolidated cases while deferring action on the government’s request for a stay.
Trump v. Miot: The government filed an application on March 11 requesting the Supreme Court to stay a lower court order postponing then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s decision to terminate temporary protected status designation for Haiti. The government also asked the Court to treat the application as a petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment and grant the petition. On March 16, the Court consolidated the case with Mullin v. Doe.