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Watson v. Republican National Committee (Election Law)

Docket No. Op. BelowArgument Opinion Vote Author Term
24-1260 5th Cir. Mar 23, 2026 TBD TBD TBD OT 2025

Issue: Whether the federal election-day statutes, 2 U.S.C. § 7, 2 U.S.C. § 1, and 3 U.S.C. § 1, preempt a state law that allows ballots that are cast by federal election day to be received by election officials after that day.

SCOTUSblog Coverage

DateProceedings and Orders (key to color coding)
06/06/2025Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due July 10, 2025)
06/17/2025Waiver of right of respondents Justin Wetzel, Toni Jo Diaz, Becky Payne, Barbara Kimball, Christine Brice, and Carolyn Handler to respond filed.
07/03/2025Motion of Libertarian Party of Mississippi to extend the time to file a response from July 10, 2025 to August 11, 2025, submitted to The Clerk.
07/03/2025Motion of Republican National Committee, et al. to extend the time to file a response from July 10, 2025 to August 11, 2025, submitted to The Clerk.
07/08/2025Motions to extend the time to file a response are granted and the time is extended to and including August 11, 2025, for all respondents.
07/10/2025Brief of respondents Vet Voice Foundation, et al. in support filed.
07/10/2025Brief amici curiae of Center for Election Confidence, Inc., et al. filed.
07/10/2025Brief amici curiae of District of Columbia, et al. filed.
08/11/2025Brief of respondents Republican National Committee, et al. in opposition filed.
08/11/2025Brief of respondent Libertarian Party of Mississippi in opposition filed.
08/25/2025Reply of petitioner Michael Watson filed. (Distributed)
08/27/2025DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/29/2025.
09/03/2025Response Requested. (Due October 3, 2025)
09/24/2025Letter of September 24, 2025 from counsel for respondents Justin Wetzel, et al. filed.
09/26/2025Waiver of the 14-day waiting period for the distribution of the petition pursuant to Rule 15.5 filed by petitioner.
10/01/2025DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 10/17/2025.
11/03/2025DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/7/2025.
11/10/2025Petition GRANTED.
11/20/2025Motion for an extension of time to file the briefs on the merits filed.
11/20/2025Motion to dispense with printing the joint appendix filed by petitioner Michael Watson.
12/01/2025Motion to extend the time to file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits is extended to and including January 2, 2026. The time to file respondents' briefs on the merits is extended to and including February 9, 2026.
12/15/2025Motion to dispense with printing the joint appendix filed by petitioner GRANTED.
01/02/2026Brief of petitioner Michael Watson filed.
01/02/2026Brief of respondents Vet Voice Foundation, et al. in support of petitioner filed.
01/05/2026Amicus brief of Corey J. Biazzo not accepted for filing. (To be corrected - January 07, 2026)
01/05/2026Brief amicus curiae of Corey J. Biazzo filed. (Corrected)
01/09/2026Amicus brief of League of United Latin Americans Citizens not accepted for filing. (To be corrected - January 12, 2026)
01/09/2026Brief amicus curiae of League of United Latin American Citizens filed. (Corrected)
01/09/2026Brief amici curiae of National Congress of American Indians, et al. filed.
01/09/2026Brief amici curiae of League of Women Voters, et al. filed.
01/09/2026Brief amici curiae of Professor Michael T. Morley, et al. in support of neither party filed.
01/09/2026Brief amicus curiae of National Defense Committee filed.
01/09/2026Brief amici curiae of Campaign Legal Center, et al. filed.
01/09/2026Brief amici curiae of District of Columbia, et al. filed.
01/09/2026Brief amici curiae of Former Election Administrators filed.
01/09/2026Brief amicus curiae of The Democratic National Committee filed.
01/09/2026Brief amici curiae of Local Election Officials, et al. filed.
01/09/2026Brief amicus curiae of Alaska in support of neither party filed.
01/09/2026Brief amicus curiae of Constitutional Accountability Center filed.
01/09/2026Brief amici curiae of Fourteen United States Senators filed.
01/09/2026Brief amici curiae of Lawyers’ Committee For Civil Rights Under Law, et al. filed.
01/09/2026Amicus brief of National Security Leaders for America not accepted for filing. (To be corrected - January 13, 2026)
01/09/2026Brief amicus curiae of National Security Leaders for America filed. (Corrected)
01/09/2026Brief amicus curiae of Society For The Rule Of Law Institute filed.
01/09/2026Brief amici curiae of Individuals and Organizations Representing Military and Overseas Voters filed.
01/29/2026Motion for divided argument filed by respondents Vet Voice Foundation, et al. in support of petitioner.
01/30/2026SET FOR ARGUMENT on Monday, March 23, 2026.
02/03/2026Record requested from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
02/06/2026Response of Michael Watson to motion submitted.
02/09/2026Brief of respondents Republican National Committee, et al. filed.
02/09/2026Brief of respondent Libertarian Party of Mississippi filed.
02/13/2026Brief amici curiae of Members of Congress, et al. filed.
02/17/2026Brief amicus curiae of United States filed.
02/17/2026Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed.
02/17/2026Brief amici curiae of Citizens United, et al. filed.
02/17/2026Brief amici curiae of Citizens for New Jersey Election Integrity, et al. filed.
02/17/2026Brief amici curiae of Montana, et al. filed.
02/17/2026Brief amici curiae of National Republican Congressional Committee, et al. filed.
02/17/2026Brief amici curiae of Center for Election Confidence, Inc., et al. filed.
02/17/2026Brief amicus curiae of The Claremont Institute's Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence filed.
02/17/2026Brief amici curiae of Wisconsin Voter Alliance, et al. filed.
02/17/2026Brief amici curiae of Secretaries of State of Louisiana, et al. filed.
02/17/2026Brief amici curiae of Public Interest Legal Foundation, et al. filed.
02/17/2026Motion of Libertarian Party of Mississippi for divided argument submitted.
02/18/2026Record received from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. The record is electronic and is available on PACER.