Case 1:18-cv-02664-RDM Document 13 Filed 01/11/19 Page 1 of 4

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Senator RICHARD BLUMENTHAL, et
al.,
Plaintiffs,
No. 1:18-cv-02664
v.
MATTHEW G. WHITAKER, in his
official capacity, et al.,
Defendants.

DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR A STAY OF PROCEEDINGS
IN LIGHT OF LAPSE OF APPROPRIATIONS
Defendants Donald J. Trump, in his official capacity as the President of the United States,
and Matthew G. Whitaker, in his official capacity as Acting Attorney General, hereby move for a
stay of proceedings, including their deadline to answer or otherwise respond to the Complaint, in
the above-captioned case. In support of this motion, Defendants state as follows:
1.

Plaintiffs are three Senators who brought this suit alleging that the President’s

appointment of Mr. Whitaker as Acting Attorney General violates the Appointments Clause of
the Constitution, U.S. Const. art. II, § 2, cl. 2. The U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia
was served on November 26, 2018, and Defendants’ answer or other response to the Complaint
is currently due on January 25, 2018. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(a)(2).
2.

At the end of the day on December 21, 2018, the appropriations act that had been

funding the Department of Justice expired and appropriations to the Department lapsed. The
Department does not know when funding will be restored by Congress.
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 Case 1:18-cv-02664-RDM Document 13 Filed 01/11/19 Page 2 of 4

3.

Absent an appropriation, Department of Justice attorneys are prohibited from

working, even on a voluntary basis, except in very limited circumstances, including
“emergencies involving the safety of human life or the protection of property.” 31 U.S.C.
§ 1342.
4.

Undersigned counsel for the Department of Justice therefore requests a stay of

proceedings in this case, including the deadline of January 25, 2019 to respond to the Complaint,
until Congress has restored appropriations to the Department.
5.

If this motion for a stay is granted, undersigned counsel will notify the Court as

soon as Congress has appropriated funds for the Department. Defendants request that, at that
point, all current deadlines for the parties be extended commensurate with the duration of the
lapse in appropriations.
6.

Undersigned counsel has conferred with counsel for Plaintiffs, and counsel for

Plaintiffs indicate that Plaintiffs oppose this motion.
Therefore, although we greatly regret any disruption caused to the Court and the other
litigants, Defendants hereby move for a stay of proceedings in this case, including the deadline to
answer or otherwise respond to the Complaint, until Department of Justice attorneys are
permitted to resume their usual civil litigation functions.

Dated: January 11, 2019

Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH H. HUNT
Assistant Attorney General
BRETT A. SHUMATE
Deputy Assistant Attorney General
JENNIFER D. RICKETTS
Director, Federal Programs Branch

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 Case 1:18-cv-02664-RDM Document 13 Filed 01/11/19 Page 3 of 4

CHRISTOPHER R. HALL
Assistant Branch Director
/s/ Jean Lin
JEAN LIN
Special Counsel
U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Division, Federal Programs Branch
1100 L Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202) 514-3716
Fax: (202) 616-8202
Email: jean.lin@usdoj.gov

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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that on January 11, 2019, I electronically filed a copy of the foregoing.
Notice of this filing will be sent via email to all parties by operation of the Court’s electronic
filing system. Parties may access this filing through the Court’s CM/ECF System.
/s/ Jean Lin
JEAN LIN