Litigation

Judicial Watch has filed more than 150 lawsuits against federal, state, and local agencies and officials across the country seeking to promote transparency, integrity, and accountability in government and fidelity to the rule of law.

Judicial Watch's current litigation is primarily focused on the following issues:

Government Integrity
Government Transparency
Immigration Enforcement
National Security
Whistleblower Protection
Other Litigation

In addition to its own litigation, Judicial Watch will file amicus curiae briefs in other cases which involve issues related to Judicial Watch's mission.

For a list of all Judicial Watch cases, past and present, please visit our legal archives.

Government Integrity

What separates Judicial Watch from other organizations is its willingness to take action to hold corrupt politicians accountable for their criminal and unethical behavior.

Alexander, et al. v. FBI (Nos. 96-2123/97-1288) - "Filegate"
Malone, et al. v. Phoenix Police Pension Board, et al. - Illegal pension payments to Phoenix Police Chief
Rodearmel v. Clinton (No. 09-171) - Hillary Clinton is constitutionally ineligible to serve as Secretary of State due to the "emoluments" clause
Sturgeon v. Los Angeles County (No. BC-351286) - Judge pay

Transparency in Government

Open government is honest government. This is the principle that drives Judicial Watch's fight against government secrecy. Using open records laws, such as the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the states' Sunshine Laws, Judicial Watch forces the release of government documents into the public domain. When elected and appointed public officials or government agencies stonewall investigations or try to hide behind special privilege, Judicial Watch takes strong legal action to force them to comply with open records laws.

Judicial Watch v. Bureau of Land Management (No. 07-1570)
Judicial Watch v. Central Intelligence Agency (No. 09-1303) - Reports on interrogation techniques from Office of former Vice President Cheney
Judicial Watch v. Central Intelligence Agency (No. 09-1352) - Records and documents relating to terrorist interrogation briefings of Nancy Pelosi and other members of Congress
Judicial Watch v. the Corporation for National and Community Service (No. 09-1854) - Investigation of ACORN corruption
Judicial Watch v. Department of Commerce (No. 07-1446) - Investigating the Security & Prosperity Partnership
Judicial Watch v. Department of Defense (No. 08-1748) - Overseas military voting
Judicial Watch v. Department of Defense (No. 09-836) - Senator visits/briefings on the Republic of Georgia
Judicial Watch v. Department of Housing and Urban Development (No. 09-1811) - ACORN grants
Judicial Watch v. Department of Labor (No. 09-1852) - Investigation of alleged embezzlement involving ACORN
Judicial Watch v. Department of the Treasury (No. 09-1427)- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac bailout documents
Judicial Watch v. Department of the Treasury (No. 09-1508) - TARP evaluation process and Barney Frank and OneUnited Bank documents
Judicial Watch v. Department of the Treasury - Sept. 18, 2008 bailout briefing held by Ben Bernanke and Henry Paulson
Judicial Watch v. Federal Communications Commission (No. 09-1481) - Digital television transition delay documents
Judicial Watch v. Federal Housing Finance Agency (No. 09-1537) - FOIA lawsuit to obtain documents regarding Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's political campaign contributions and policies about such contributions.
Judicial Watch v. Federal Reserve - visitor logs for meetings with Ben Bernanke and Kevin Warsh
Judicial Watch v. Food and Drug Administration (No. 07-1776) - Gardasil
Judicial Watch v. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (No. 09-837) - Venezuelan/Chinese space programs
Judicial Watch v. National Archives and Records Administration (No. 07-1987) - Hillary Clinton's Healthcare Task Force
Judicial Watch v. Office of the Mayor of Chicago, et al. - documents regarding White House involvement in Chicago Olympic bid
McKinley v. FDIC and Federal Reserve (No. 09-1263) - records regarding FDIC approval of Wachovia takeover and Federal Reserve approval of Bear Stearns bailout
Wurzelbacher v. Jones-Kelley, et al. (No. 2:07-cv-162) - "Joe the Plumber" civil rights violation

Immigration Enforcement

Through its innovative use of taxpayer standing and other legal strategies, Judicial Watch has brought lawsuits against state and local governments to ensure the rule of law is upheld. Additionally, Judicial Watch has used open records laws to obtain government data on illegal immigration and to investigate policies and procedures concerning illegal alliens used by police and governmental entities.

Johnson v. Hurtt, et al. (No. 09-60471) - lawsuit challenging Houston, TX sanctuary policy
Judicial Watch v. Department of Homeland Security (No. 04-0907) - alien crossings due to Bush Amnesty Program
Judicial Watch v. Department of Homeland Security (No. 07-0506) - Ramos & Compean
Judicial Watch v. Department of Homeland Security (No. 08-1723) - border fence records
Judicial Watch v. Department of Homeland Security (No. 08-2133) - mexican border incursion video
Judicial Watch v. Department of Homeland Security (No. 09-150) - 2008 mexican border incursion reports
Judicial Watch v. Department of Homeland Security (No. 09-151) - records on cease & desist order for alien fugitive apprehensions
Judicial Watch v. Department of Homeland Security (No. 09-1799) - documents regarding changes to immigration policy 287(g).
Judicial Watch v. Department of Justice (No. 08-1161) - T & U visas
Judicial Watch v. Department of State (No. 08-1011) - Osbaldo Aldrete-Davila
Judicial Watch v. Social Security Administration (No. 06-2034) - "no match" letter statistics
Fonseca v. Fong (No. CPF-07-507227) - San Francisco sanctuary policy ** SUCCESS **
Garcia v. City of Laguna Beach (No. 06-CC-10595) - day labor center
Moreno v. Bratton (No. BS-108317) - Los Angeles state notification
Sturgeon v. Bratton (No. BC-351646) - Special Order 40

National Security

Judicial Watch believes one of the fundamental roles of government is to protect is citizens from threats foreign and domestic. Through it open records investigations and litigation, Judicial Watch brings to light the government's failure to protect and holds the government accountable when it neglects its basic responsibilities.

Judicial Watch v. Department of Justice (No. 06-0406) - Terrorist Survelliance Program
Doe v. Bin Laden, et al. (No. 01-2516) - 9/11 victims suit
Vincent v. Federal Bureau of Investigation, et al. (No. 03-226)
Wright v. Federal Bureau of Investigation, et al. (No. 02-915)

Whistleblower Protection

Whistleblowers are those brave souls who willingly risk their lives and livelihoods to ask questions and tell the truth about corruption. Government officials, in their attempt to quash exposure, will abuse their power to defame, threaten and intimidate. Whistleblowers play key roles in many of Judicial Watch's cases, and in the fight for justice.