Tuesday, January 06, 2026

ANNALS OF TRUMPI$TAN: 10 AM March 6, 2026 oral argument in NY TIMES CO. v. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. --- READ DOCKET

U.S. District Court
District of Columbia (Washington, DC)
CIVIL DOCKET FOR CASE #: 1:25-cv-04218-PLF


NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY et al v. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE et al
Assigned to: Judge Paul L. Friedman
Cause: 05:702 Administrative Procedure Act

Date Filed: 12/04/2025
Jury Demand: None
Nature of Suit: 440 Civil Rights: Other
Jurisdiction: U.S. Government Defendant
Plaintiff 
NEW YORK TIMES COMPANYrepresented byKatieLynn Boyd Townsend 
GIBSON DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP 
333 South Grand Avenue 
Los Angeles, CA 90071 
213-229-7839 
Email: ktownsend@gibsondunn.com
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED

Lee Ross Crain 
GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER, LLP 
200 Park Avenue 
47th Floor 
New York City, NY 10166-0193 
212-351-2454 
Email: lcrain@gibsondunn.com
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED

Susan Pelletier 
GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER 
1700 M Street, NW 
Washington, DC 20895 
202-887-3541 
Email: susan.pelletier@wilmerhale.com
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED

Theodore J. Boutrous , Jr. 
GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP 
333 South Grand Avenue 
Los Angeles, CA 90071 
(213) 229-7804 
Fax: (213) 229-6804 
Email: tboutrous@gibsondunn.com
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Plaintiff 
JULIAN E. BARNESrepresented byKatieLynn Boyd Townsend 
(See above for address)
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED

Lee Ross Crain 
(See above for address)
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED

Susan Pelletier 
(See above for address)
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED

Theodore J. Boutrous , Jr. 
(See above for address)
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED

V.
Defendant 
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
also known as
DEPARTMENT OF WAR
represented byMichael Benjamin Bruns 
DOJ-Civ 
1100 L St NW 
Washington, DC 20005 
202-514-4011 
Email: michael.bruns@usdoj.gov
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Defendant 
PETE HEGSETH
in his official capacity as Secretary of Defense
represented byMichael Benjamin Bruns 
(See above for address)
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Defendant 
SEAN PARNELL
in his official capacity as Chief Pentagon Spokesman
represented byMichael Benjamin Bruns 
(See above for address)
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED

Date Filed#Docket Text
12/04/20251 COMPLAINT for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief against DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, PETE HEGSETH, SEAN PARNELL ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-12113704) filed by THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY, JULIAN E. BARNES. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - Oct. 6, 2025 Policy, # 2 Exhibit B - RCFP Letter to Parnell, # 3 Exhibit C - Parnell Letter to RCFP, # 4 Exhibit D - Redlined Acknowledgment, # 5 Exhibit E - Sept. 18, 2025 Policy, # 6 Exhibit F - Updated Physical Control Measures, # 7 Civil Cover Sheet, # 8 Summons - Attorney General Pamela J. Bondi, # 9 Summons - Department of Defense a/k/a Department of War, # 10 Summons - Pete Hegseth, in his official capacity as Secretary of Defense, # 11 Summons - Sean Parnell, in his official capacity as Chief Pentagon Spokesman, # 12 Summons - Jeanine F. Pirro, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia)(Boutrous, Theodore) (Entered: 12/04/2025)
12/04/20252 LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY (Boutrous, Theodore) (Entered: 12/04/2025)
12/04/20253 NOTICE of Appearance by Lee Ross Crain on behalf of JULIAN E. BARNES, THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY (Crain, Lee) (Entered: 12/04/2025)
12/04/20254 NOTICE of Appearance by KatieLynn Boyd Townsend on behalf of JULIAN E. BARNES, THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY (Townsend, KatieLynn) (Entered: 12/04/2025)
12/04/2025 Case Assigned to Judge Paul L. Friedman. (zhcn) (Entered: 12/04/2025)
12/04/20255 SUMMONS (5) Issued Electronically as to All Defendants, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zhcn) (Entered: 12/04/2025)
12/04/20256 MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Susan M. Pelletier, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12115912. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by JULIAN E. BARNES, NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Susan M. Pelletier in Support of Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice, # 2 Exhibit B - District of Columbia Certificate of Good Standing, # 3 Text of Proposed Order for Admission Pro Hac Vice of Susan M. Pelletier)(Boutrous, Theodore) (Entered: 12/04/2025)
12/05/20257 NOTICE of Appearance by Michael Benjamin Bruns on behalf of All Defendants (Bruns, Michael) (Entered: 12/05/2025)
12/05/2025 MINUTE ORDER granting 6 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice. Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to LCvR 83.6(a). Click for instructions. Signed by Judge Paul L. Friedman on December 5, 2025. (lcao) (Entered: 12/05/2025)
12/17/20258 Joint MOTION for Briefing Schedule / JOINT MOTION FOR ENTRY OF A BRIEFING SCHEDULE FOR EXPEDITED SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND OTHER RELATED RELIEF by JULIAN E. BARNES, NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY. (Boutrous, Theodore) (Entered: 12/17/2025)
12/23/2025 MINUTE ORDER granting the parties' 8 Joint Motion for Entry of a Briefing Schedule. Defendants shall serve the administrative record on plaintiffs on or before December 23, 2025. Plaintiffs shall file their motion for summary judgment on or before January 5, 2026. Plaintiff-side amicus briefs, if any, shall be filed on or before January 15, 2026. Defendants shall file their response and cross-motion for summary judgment on or before January 30, 2026. Defendant-side amicus briefs, if any, shall be filed on or before February 10, 2026. Plaintiffs shall file their response and reply on or before February 18, 2026. Defendants shall file their reply on or before February 27, 2026. Defendants' deadline to answer the complaint shall be extended until 21 days after the Court rules on the parties' cross-motions for summary judgment. The Court dispenses with the requirement that the parties appear for a Rule 26(f) conference. Signed by Judge Paul L. Friedman on December 23, 2025. (lcao) (Entered: 12/23/2025)
12/23/2025 MINUTE ORDER: it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall appear for oral argument on their cross-motions for summary judgment at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 6, 2026, in Courtroom 29 in the William B. Bryant Annex to the E. Barrett Prettyman Courthouse at 333 Constitution Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Paul L. Friedman on December 23, 2025. (lcao) (Entered: 12/23/2025)
12/23/20259 NOTICE of Production of Administrative Record by DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, PETE HEGSETH, SEAN PARNELL (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit certifying AR, # 2 Exhibit AR Index)(Bruns, Michael) (Entered: 12/23/2025)
12/29/2025 Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Amicus Brief due by 1/15/2026. Summary Judgment motions due by 1/5/2026. Response to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 1/30/2026. Reply to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 2/18/2026. Cross Motions due by 1/30/2026. Response to Cross Motions due by 2/18/2026. Reply to Cross Motions due by 2/27/2026. Motion Hearing set for 3/6/2026 at 10:00 AM in Courtroom 29A- In Person before Judge Paul L. Friedman. (tj) (Entered: 12/29/2025)
01/05/202610 MOTION for Summary Judgment and Declaratory and Permanent Injunctive Relief by JULIAN E. BARNES, NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Text of Proposed Order, # 3 Declaration of Julian E. Barnes, # 4 Declaration of Robert Burns, # 5Declaration of Richard W. Stevenson, # 6 Declaration of Pete Williams, # 7 Exhibit A, # 8 Declaration of Theodore J.Boutrous, Jr., # 9 Exhibit 1, # 10Exhibit 2, # 11 Exhibit 3, # 12 Exhibit 4, # 13 Exhibit 5, # 14 Exhibit 6, # 15 Exhibit 7, # 16 Exhibit 8, # 17 Exhibit 9, # 18 Exhibit 10, # 19 Exhibit 11, # 20 Exhibit 12, # 21 Exhibit 13, # 22 Exhibit 14, # 23 Exhibit 15, # 24 Exhibit 16, # 25 Exhibit 17, # 26 Exhibit 18, # 27 Exhibit 19, # 28 Exhibit 20, # 29Exhibit 21, # 30 Exhibit 22, # 31 Exhibit 23, # 32 Exhibit 24, # 33 Exhibit 25, # 34 Exhibit 26, # 35 Exhibit 27, # 36 Statement of Facts)(Boutrous, Theodore) (Entered: 01/05/2026)
01/06/202611 NOTICE of Appearance by Susan Pelletier on behalf of JULIAN E. BARNES, NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY (Pelletier, Susan) (Entered: 01/06/2026)

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