Does federal law require Michigan to hand over its full voter list?Yes, dismissed: affirmed and rehearing denied ·
The trial court dismissed the suit, and the Sixth Circuit affirmed over a dissent. The full appeals court then declined to rehear the case.
Michigan and the intervenors ask the trial court to dismiss the suit
Filed their own motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim once the court let them intervene.
Argued the complaint fails to state a claim under any of the three federal laws the government cited.
Opposed both motions, defending its claims to the full list.
Filed replies supporting their motions to dismiss.
Held that none of the three laws requires Michigan to turn over its voter registration list.
The United States asks the Sixth Circuit to reverse the dismissal
Appealed the opinion, order, and judgment and filed its opening brief.
Filed briefs asking the appeals court to uphold the dismissal.
Filed a reply brief.
Heard video argument before Judges Cole, Nalbandian, and Mathis.
Affirmed the dismissal in a published opinion by Judge Mathis; Judge Nalbandian dissented.
The United States asks the full Sixth Circuit to rehear the appeal
Petitioned for rehearing by the full court and asked the court to expedite its decision.
Granted the request to expedite in part and denied rehearing; Judge Murphy concurred, and Judges Griffin and Thapar dissented.
Which outside groups may file briefs or argue as friends of the court?Briefs allowed on appeal; argument time refused ·
Trial-court amicus requests became moot when the suit was dismissed. On appeal the court granted leave requests but refused argument time to the League of Women Voters.
The League of Women Voters asks to take part in oral argument
Asked leave to appear at oral argument as a friend of the court.
Denied the request.
Three groups ask to file briefs supporting rehearing
The Honest Elections Project, the American Constitutional Rights Union, and Liberty Legal Foundation sought leave to support the rehearing petition.
Granted all three motions.
Should the appeal be briefed on a faster schedule?Partly: a shortened briefing schedule ·
Over Michigan's and the intervenors' opposition, the Sixth Circuit partly granted the government's emergency request and set briefing to finish by April 20, 2026.
The United States asks the Sixth Circuit to speed up briefing
Filed an emergency motion to expedite the briefing schedule.
Both sets of appellees opposed the faster schedule.
Replied in support of expediting.
Set the government's brief for March 23, the appellees' for April 13, and the reply for April 20, 2026.
May voter and retiree groups join the case to defend it?Partly: retiree group admitted, League denied ·
The court admitted the Michigan Alliance for Retired Americans and two voters as defendants but turned away the League of Women Voters of Michigan.
A retiree group, two voters, and the League of Women Voters ask to join
The Michigan Alliance for Retired Americans, Donald Duquette, and Keely Crimando asked to join as defendants.
The League of Women Voters of Michigan asked to join as a defendant.
Opposed both requests to intervene.
Both groups obtained leave and filed replies.
Let the retiree group and two voters intervene and denied the League's motion; the League's request to file a motion to dismiss became moot.
Should the trial-court case pause at the government's request?Partly: deadline extended ·
The court partly granted the government's October 2025 request, extending the deadline to respond to the intervention motion to November 13.
The United States asks the trial court to stay the case
Asked the court to pause the case.
Granted the request in part and extended the government's deadline to respond to the intervention motion to November 13, 2025.