No. 20-331

Donald J. Trump, President of the United States v. District of Columbia, et al.

Lower Court: Fourth Circuit
Docketed: 2020-09-14
Status: GVR
Type: Paid
Amici (2)Relisted (2) Experienced Counsel
Tags: abuse-of-discretion district-court domestic-emoluments emoluments-clause foreign-emoluments interlocutory-appeal legal-error mandamus motion-to-dismiss presidential-immunity
Key Terms:
AdministrativeLaw Privacy JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2021-01-22 (distributed 2 times)
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether a writ of mandamus is appropriate to correct the district court's denial of the President's motion to dismiss and refusal to certify an interlocutory appeal

Question Presented (from Petition)

QUESTIONS PRESENTED The Foreign Emoluments Clause provides that no person holding an “Office of Profit or Trust” under the United States “shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.” U.S. Const. Art. I, § 9, Cl. 8. The Domestic Emoluments Clause provides that, apart from the President’s compensation for the period for which he is elected, he “shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.” U.S. Const. Art. II, § 1, Cl. 7. In this case, the District of Columbia and the State of Maryland sued President Donald J. Trump, in his official capacity, asserting an implied cause of action to enforce the Emoluments Clauses. The district court denied a motion to dismiss and refused to certify an interlocutory appeal under 28 U.S.C. 1292(b). A panel of the court of appeals granted the President’s petition for a writ of mandamus, but the en banc court of appeals, by a 9-6 vote, held that mandamus was not available here. The questions presented are: 1. Whether a writ of mandamus is appropriate because, contrary to the holding of the court of appeals, the district court’s denial of the President’s motion to dismiss was clear and indisputable legal error. 2. Whether a writ of mandamus is appropriate, contrary to the holding of the court of appeals, where the district court’s refusal to grant the President’s motion to certify an interlocutory appeal was a clear abuse of discretion under 28 U.S.C. 1292(b). (I)

Docket Entries

2021-02-26
JUDGMENT ISSUED.
2021-01-25
Motion for leave to file amici brief filed by Scholar Seth Barrett Tillman, et al. GRANTED.
2021-01-25
Petition GRANTED. Judgment VACATED and case REMANDED with instructions to dismiss the case as moot. See <i>United States</i> v. <i>Munsingwear, Inc.</i>, 340 U. S. 36 (1950).
2021-01-19
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/22/2021.
2020-12-23
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/8/2021.
2020-12-23
Reply of petitioner In Re Donald J.Trump filed. (Distributed)
2020-12-14
Brief of respondents District of Columbia and the State of Maryland in opposition filed.
2020-12-08
Letter waiving the 14-day waiting period for the distribution of the petition for a writ of certiorari pursuant to Rule 15.5. filed.
2020-11-19
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted in part; the time is extended to and including December 14, 2020.
2020-11-18
Motion to extend the time to file a response from November 30, 2020 to December 30, 2020, submitted to The Clerk.
2020-10-14
Motion for leave to file amici brief filed by Scholar Seth Barrett Tillman and the Judicial Education Project.
2020-10-07
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including November 30, 2020. See Rule 30.1.
2020-10-06
Motion to extend the time to file a response from October 14, 2020 to November 28, 2020, submitted to The Clerk.
2020-09-09
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due October 14, 2020)

Attorneys

District of Columbia and the State of Maryland
Loren L. AliKhanD.C. Office of the Attorney General, Respondent
Loren L. AliKhanD.C. Office of the Attorney General, Respondent
In Re Donald J.Trump
Jeffrey B. WallActing Solicitor General, Petitioner
Jeffrey B. WallActing Solicitor General, Petitioner
Scholar Seth Barrett Tillman and the Judicial Education Project
Robert W. RayZeichner Ellman & Krause LLP, Amicus
Robert W. RayZeichner Ellman & Krause LLP, Amicus