Browse 19 separation of powers cases decided by D.C. Circuit. AI-powered summaries, holdings, and legal analysis.
D.C. Circuit: SEC ALJs violate Appointments Clause
John Doe v. SEC, decided by D.C. Circuit on April 17, 2026, resulted in a remanded outcome. The case concerns whether the SEC's use of its in-house administrative law judges (ALJs) to adjudicate enfor...
D.C. Circuit: Trump's presidential immunity doesn't cover private conduct
In re: Donald Trump, decided by D.C. Circuit on April 14, 2026, resulted in a affirmed outcome. The D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of Donald Trump's motion to dismiss a defamation l...
Former President Trump's defamation suit immunity claims rejected
In re: Donald Trump, decided by D.C. Circuit on December 15, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of Donald Trump's motion to dismiss a defa...
D.C. Circuit: Resigned Official Not Subject to PRA Subpoena
In re: Sealed Case, decided by D.C. Circuit on September 9, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court's decision to quash a subpoena issued by a special c...
PRA Governs Trump COVID Records, Privilege Claims Rejected
J.G.G. v. Donald Trump, decided by D.C. Circuit on August 29, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, J.G.G., sought to compel the release of records from the National Archives and R...
D.C. Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Lawsuit Against Trump Over WHO Withdrawal
Global Health Council v. Donald J. Trump (AMENDED OPINION), decided by D.C. Circuit on August 28, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of...
D.C. Circuit Affirms Dismissal of COVID-19 Lawsuit Against Trump
Global Health Council v. Donald J. Trump, decided by D.C. Circuit on August 20, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a lawsuit brought...
Court Dismisses Case Seeking Trump Records, Citing PRA and Standing
J.G.G. v. Donald Trump, decided by D.C. Circuit on August 8, 2025, resulted in a dismissed outcome. The plaintiff, J.G.G., sought to compel the release of records from the National Archives and Record...
Court Dismisses Case Seeking Trump Records, Citing PRA and Standing
J.G.G. v. Donald Trump, decided by D.C. Circuit on August 8, 2025, resulted in a dismissed outcome. The plaintiff, J.G.G., sought to compel the release of records from the National Archives and Record...
Court Denies Private Right of Action to Compel Presidential Records Release
J.G.G. v. Donald J. Trump, decided by D.C. Circuit on July 21, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, J.G.G., sought to compel the former President to disclose records related to hi...
PRA Preempts FOIA for Presidential Records, Court Rules
J.G.G. v. Donald Trump, decided by D.C. Circuit on July 21, 2025, resulted in a dismissed outcome. The plaintiff, J.G.G., sought to compel the release of records related to former President Trump's bu...
D.C. Circuit Quashes Special Counsel Subpoena for Former White House Official's Records
In re: Sealed Case, decided by D.C. Circuit on July 18, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court's decision to quash a subpoena issued by a special couns...
D.C. Circuit Affirms SEC ALJ Appointment Constitutionality
Casey Nelson v. SEC (PUBLIC REISSUED OPINION), decided by D.C. Circuit on May 30, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The case concerns whether the SEC's administrative law judges (ALJs) are co...
D.C. Circuit: Foreign Media Outlets Lack Standing to Challenge NDAA Provision
25-5150 Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc. v. USA; 25-5151 Radio Free Asia v. USA; 25-5158 RFE/RL, Inc. v. Kari Lake; & 25-5144 Patsy Widakuswara v. Kari Lake, decided by D.C. Circuit on May 7, 2...
Union Lacks Standing to Challenge Trump's Executive Order on Collective Bargaining
National Treasury Employees Union v. Donald J. Trump, decided by D.C. Circuit on May 1, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) challenged President Tru...
D.C. Circuit: SEC's FINRA Oversight Doesn't Violate Non-Delegation Doctrine
Casey Nelson v. SEC, decided by D.C. Circuit on April 25, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The case concerns whether the SEC's "self-regulatory organization" (SRO) oversight of FINRA, a priv...
Court Upholds Subpoena for Trump's Testimony on January 6th Committee Investigation
Gwynne Wilcox v. Donald Trump, decided by D.C. Circuit on April 7, 2025, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. This case concerns a dispute over the enforceability of a subpoena issued by the House Sel...
Presidential communications not absolutely immune from state process
Cathy Harris v. Scott Bessent & Gwynne Wilcox v. Donald Trump, decided by D.C. Circuit on March 30, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. This case consolidates two appeals concerning the scope o...
Court Affirms Dismissal of Defamation Suit Against Trump
Gwynne Wilcox v. Donald Trump, decided by D.C. Circuit on March 10, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. This case concerns a defamation lawsuit filed by Gwynne Wilcox against Donald Trump. Wilc...
CaseLawBrief currently tracks 19 separation of powers cases from D.C. Circuit. This number is updated as new opinions are published.
Outcome breakdown: Remanded: 1, Affirmed: 1, Defendant Win: 13, Dismissed: 3, Plaintiff Win: 1.
Each case page on CaseLawBrief includes an AI-generated plain English summary, key holdings, and legal analysis. Click any case above to read its full analysis.