No. 21-395

Kevin Owen McCarthy, et al. v. Nancy Pelosi, in Her Official Capacity as Speaker of the House, et al.

Lower Court: District of Columbia
Docketed: 2021-09-13
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Amici (1)Relisted (4) Experienced Counsel
Tags: congressional-powers constitutional-law constitutional-review judicial-review legislative-procedure legislative-process pandemic-governance proxy-voting separation-of-powers speech-and-debate-clause speech-or-debate-clause
Key Terms:
JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2022-01-21 (distributed 4 times)
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Does the Speech and Debate Clause foreclose judicial review of the constitutionality of the proxy voting resolution?

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

QUESTIONS PRESENTED In May 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution to allow Members to cast floor votes by proxy. The unprecedented resolution permits a single Member to vote on behalf of 10 absent Members. In this action against the Speaker, the Clerk, and the Sergeant-at-Arms in their official capacities, Petitioners ask for a declaration that the proxy voting resolution is unconstitutional, as well as injunctive relief. The court below ruled that the Speech or Debate Clause insulated the resolution from review. Contravening this Court’s precedents, it held that collecting proxy letters, making public health declarations, and other acts by House employees necessary to effectuate the resolution were privileged acts. Eluding constitutional scrutiny, the House’s practice of operating in absentia continues. The questions presented are: (1) Does the Speech and Debate Clause foreclose judicial review of the constitutionality of the proxy voting resolution in this action against the Speaker, the Clerk, and the Sergeant-at-Arms? (2) Is the proxy voting resolution unconstitutional?

Docket Entries

2022-01-24
Petition DENIED.
2022-01-18
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/21/2022.
2022-01-10
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/14/2022.
2022-01-05
Rescheduled. (Docket updated January 10, 2022 - previous entry made in error)
2022-01-03
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/7/2022.
2021-12-08
Rescheduled.
2021-11-23
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 12/10/2021.
2021-11-19
Reply of petitioners Kevin Owen McCarthy, et al. filed. (Distributed)
2021-11-09
Brief of respondents Nancy Pelosi, et al. in opposition filed.
2021-10-13
Brief amicus curiae of Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence filed.
2021-09-28
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted in part and the time is extended to and including November 9, 2021.
2021-09-27
Motion to extend the time to file a response from October 13, 2021 to November 12, 2021, submitted to The Clerk.
2021-09-09
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due October 13, 2021)

Attorneys

Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence
Anthony Thomas CasoConstitutional Counsel Group, Amicus
Anthony Thomas CasoConstitutional Counsel Group, Amicus
Kevin Owen McCarthy, et al.
Taylor Ann Rausch MeehanConsovoy McCarthy PLLC, Petitioner
Taylor Ann Rausch MeehanConsovoy McCarthy PLLC, Petitioner
Nancy Pelosi, et al.
Douglas Neal LetterOffice of General Counsel, U.S. House of Representatives, Respondent
Douglas Neal LetterOffice of General Counsel, U.S. House of Representatives, Respondent