Supreme Court of the United States · Official docket →
Nathaniel J. Buckley v. Department of Justice
Paid petition · United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, No. 24-3192 · judgment October 14, 2025
Before the decision, well below the 4.1% base rate, with no standout signals pointing toward a grant.
Question presented
The Freedom of Information Act requires federal agencies to make information available to the public upon request unless the information falls within one of nine exemptions. Exemption 7 covers certain “records or information compiled for law enforcement purposes.” 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(7). The question presented is: Whether “records or information compiled for law enforcement purposes” encompasses all records or information compiled by a law enforcement agency, even those not compiled for law enforcement purposes.
Counsel of record
For petitioner
Michael Kuzma
Michael Kuzma
For respondent
D. John Sauer
Solicitor General
Proceedings
- Jun 29 2026Petition DENIED.
- Jun 09 2026DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 6/25/2026.
- Jun 09 2026Reply of petitioner Nathaniel J. Buckley filed. (Distributed)
- May 20 2026Brief of respondent Department of Justice in opposition filed.
- Apr 27 2026Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including May 20, 2026.
- Apr 24 2026Motion to extend the time to file a response from May 4, 2026 to May 20, 2026, submitted to The Clerk.
- Apr 02 2026Brief amicus curiae of Cato Institute filed.
- Mar 30 2026Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including May 4, 2026.
- Mar 27 2026Motion to extend the time to file a response from April 2, 2026 to May 4, 2026, submitted to The Clerk.
- Feb 26 2026Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due April 2, 2026)
- Feb 04 2026Application (25A743) granted by Justice Sotomayor extending the time to file until February 26, 2026.
- Jan 30 2026Application (25A743) to extend further the time from February 11, 2026 to February 26, 2026, submitted to Justice Sotomayor.
- Dec 31 2025Application (25A743) granted by Justice Sotomayor extending the time to file until February 11, 2026.
- Dec 19 2025Application (25A743) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from January 12, 2026 to February 11, 2026, submitted to Justice Sotomayor.