No. 25-437

Public Interest Legal Foundation v. Jocelyn Benson, in Her Official Capacity as Michigan Secretary of State, et al.

Lower Court: Sixth Circuit
Docketed: 2025-10-09
Status: Pending
Type: Paid
Amici (2)Response RequestedResponse WaivedRelisted (2) Experienced Counsel
Tags: deceased-registrants election-integrity national-voter-registration-act public-records standing voter-registration
Key Terms:
SocialSecurity Securities Privacy JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2026-02-27 (distributed 2 times)
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Do genuine disputes of material fact exist as to whether Michigan failed to make a 'reasonable effort' to remove deceased registrants under the NVRA when there is evidence that Michigan's chief election official kept tens of thousands of deceased registrants on the voter roll, was subject to state audits documenting the same problem, and ignored credible evidence of deceased registrants on the voter roll?

Question Presented (from Petition)

Congress enacted the National Voter Registration Act (“NVRA”) to increase and enhance registration and voting by “eligible citizens,” “protect the integrity of the electoral process,” and “ensure that accurate and current voter registration rolls are maintained.” 52 U.S.C. § 20501(b)(1)-(4). States must “conduct a general program that makes a reasonable effort to remove the names of ineligible voters from the official lists of eligible voters” in relevant part, due to “the death of the registrant,” 52 U.S.C. § 20507(a)(4), and make public “all records concerning the implementation of programs and activities conducted for the purpose of ensuring the accuracy and currency” of the voter roll. 52 U.S.C. § 20507(i)(1). The Public Interest Legal Foundation marshalled credible and weighty facts supporting its challenge to the reasonableness of Michigan’s efforts to remove deceased registrants from the voter roll. Yet, the district court found “Michigan’s program fell squarely within the NVRA’s reasonable effort language.” (Pet.App. 24a-25a.) The appellate court affirmed and found the Foundation lacked standing to redress the denial of public records. The questions presented are: 1. Do genuine disputes of material fact exist as to whether Michigan failed to make a “reasonable effort” to remove deceased registrants under the NVRA when there is evidence that Michigan’s chief election official kept tens of thousands of deceased registrants on the voter roll, was subject to state audits documenting the same problem, and ignored credible ii evidence of deceased registrants on the voter roll? 2. Did the appellate court err by using TransUnion LLC v. Ramirez , 594 U.S. 413 (2021), to determine Article III standing in a case involving the denial of public records?

Docket Entries

2026-02-11
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/27/2026.
2026-02-09
Reply of petitioner Public Interest Legal Foundation, Inc. filed. (Distributed)
2026-02-09
Reply of Public Interest Legal Foundation, Inc. submitted.
2026-01-30
Brief of Jocelyn Benson, in Her Official Capacity as Michigan Secretary of State in opposition submitted.
2026-01-26
Brief of respondents Jocelyn Benson, in Her Official Capacity as Michigan Secretary of State in opposition filed.
2026-01-26
Brief of Jocelyn Benson, in Her Official Capacity as Michigan Secretary of State in opposition submitted.
2025-12-26
Letter from counsel for respondent Electronic Registration Information Center ("ERIC") filed.
2025-12-26
Letter of Electronic Registration Information Center submitted.
2025-12-12
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including January 26, 2026.
2025-12-11
Motion to extend the time to file a response from December 26, 2025 to January 26, 2026, submitted to The Clerk.
2025-12-11
Motion of Jocelyn Benson, in Her Official Capacity as Michigan Secretary of State for an extension of time submitted.
2025-11-25
Response Requested. (Due December 26, 2025)
2025-11-18
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 12/5/2025.
2025-11-10
Brief amicus curiae of Center for Election Confidence, Inc. filed.
2025-11-10
Brief amicus curiae of Honest Elections Project filed.
2025-11-10
Amicus brief of Center for Election Confidence, Inc. submitted.
2025-11-10
Amicus brief of Honest Elections Project submitted.
2025-11-06
Waiver of right of respondent Electronic Registration Information Center to respond filed.
2025-11-05
Waiver of right of respondent Jocelyn Benson, in Her Official Capacity as Michigan Secretary of State to respond filed.
2025-10-07
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due November 10, 2025)

Attorneys

Center for Election Confidence, Inc.
Phillip Michael GordonNaman Howell Smith & Lee, PLLC, Amicus
Phillip Michael GordonNaman Howell Smith & Lee, PLLC, Amicus
Electronic Registration Information Center
Robert Andrew WiygulHangley Aronchick Segal Pudlin & Schiller, Respondent
Robert Andrew WiygulHangley Aronchick Segal Pudlin & Schiller, Respondent
Honest Elections Project
Jason Brett TorchinskyHoltzman Vogel Baran Torchinsky Josefiak PLLC, Amicus
Jason Brett TorchinskyHoltzman Vogel Baran Torchinsky Josefiak PLLC, Amicus
Jocelyn Benson, in Her Official Capacity as Michigan Secretary of State
Ann Maurine ShermanMichigan Department of Attorney General, Respondent
Ann Maurine ShermanMichigan Department of Attorney General, Respondent
Public Interest Legal Foundation, Inc.
Kaylan Lytle PhillipsPublic Interest Legal Foundation, Petitioner
Kaylan Lytle PhillipsPublic Interest Legal Foundation, Petitioner