Watson v. Republican National Committee (Election Law)
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.
Jun 6, 2025Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due July 10, 2025)Jun 17, 2025Waiver of right of respondents Justin Wetzel, Toni Jo Diaz, Becky Payne, Barbara Kimball, Christine Brice, and Carolyn Handler to respond filed.Jul 3, 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.Jul 3, 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.
Jul 8, 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.
Jul 10, 2025Brief of respondents Vet Voice Foundation, et al. in support filed.Jul 10, 2025Brief amici curiae of Center for Election Confidence, Inc., et al. filed.Jul 10, 2025Brief amici curiae of District of Columbia, et al. filed.Aug 11, 2025Brief of respondents Republican National Committee, et al. in opposition filed.Aug 11, 2025Brief of respondent Libertarian Party of Mississippi in opposition filed.Aug 25, 2025Reply of petitioner Michael Watson filed. (Distributed)Aug 27, 2025DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/29/2025.
Sep 3, 2025Response Requested. (Due October 3, 2025)
Sep 24, 2025Letter of September 24, 2025 from counsel for respondents Justin Wetzel, et al. filed.Sep 26, 2025Waiver of the 14-day waiting period for the distribution of the petition pursuant to Rule 15.5 filed by petitioner.Oct 1, 2025DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 10/17/2025.
Nov 3, 2025DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/7/2025.
Nov 10, 2025Petition GRANTED.
Nov 20, 2025Motion for an extension of time to file the briefs on the merits filed.Nov 20, 2025Motion to dispense with printing the joint appendix filed by petitioner Michael Watson.Dec 1, 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.
Dec 15, 2025Motion to dispense with printing the joint appendix filed by petitioner GRANTED.
Jan 2, 2026Brief of petitioner Michael Watson filed.Jan 2, 2026Brief of respondents Vet Voice Foundation, et al. in support of petitioner filed.Jan 5, 2026Amicus brief of Corey J. Biazzo not accepted for filing. (To be corrected - January 07, 2026)
Jan 5, 2026Brief amicus curiae of Corey J. Biazzo filed. (Corrected)Jan 9, 2026Amicus brief of League of United Latin Americans Citizens not accepted for filing. (To be corrected - January 12, 2026)
Jan 9, 2026Brief amicus curiae of League of United Latin American Citizens filed. (Corrected)Jan 9, 2026Brief amici curiae of National Congress of American Indians, et al. filed.Jan 9, 2026Brief amici curiae of League of Women Voters, et al. filed.Jan 9, 2026Brief amici curiae of Professor Michael T. Morley, et al. in support of neither party filed.Jan 9, 2026Brief amicus curiae of National Defense Committee filed.Jan 9, 2026Brief amici curiae of Campaign Legal Center, et al. filed.Jan 9, 2026Brief amici curiae of District of Columbia, et al. filed.Jan 9, 2026Brief amici curiae of Former Election Administrators filed.Jan 9, 2026Brief amicus curiae of The Democratic National Committee filed.Jan 9, 2026Brief amici curiae of Local Election Officials, et al. filed.Jan 9, 2026Brief amicus curiae of Alaska in support of neither party filed.Jan 9, 2026Brief amicus curiae of Constitutional Accountability Center filed.Jan 9, 2026Brief amici curiae of Fourteen United States Senators filed.Jan 9, 2026Brief amici curiae of Lawyers’ Committee For Civil Rights Under Law, et al. filed.Jan 9, 2026Amicus brief of National Security Leaders for America not accepted for filing. (To be corrected - January 13, 2026)
Jan 9, 2026Brief amicus curiae of National Security Leaders for America filed. (Corrected)Jan 9, 2026Brief amicus curiae of Society For The Rule Of Law Institute filed.Jan 9, 2026Brief amici curiae of Individuals and Organizations Representing Military and Overseas Voters filed.Jan 29, 2026Motion for divided argument filed by respondents Vet Voice Foundation, et al. in support of petitioner.Jan 30, 2026SET FOR ARGUMENT on Monday, March 23, 2026.
Feb 3, 2026Record requested from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Feb 6, 2026Opposition of petitioner to motion of Vet Voice Foundation, et al. for divided argument filed.Feb 9, 2026Brief of respondents Republican National Committee, et al. filed.Feb 9, 2026Brief of respondent Libertarian Party of Mississippi filed.Feb 13, 2026Brief amici curiae of Members of Congress, et al. filed.Feb 17, 2026Brief amicus curiae of United States filed.Feb 17, 2026Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed.Feb 17, 2026Brief amici curiae of Citizens United, et al. filed.Feb 17, 2026Brief amici curiae of Citizens for New Jersey Election Integrity, et al. filed.Feb 17, 2026Brief amici curiae of Montana, et al. filed.Feb 17, 2026Brief amici curiae of National Republican Congressional Committee, et al. filed.Feb 17, 2026Brief amici curiae of Center for Election Confidence, Inc., et al. filed.Feb 17, 2026Brief amicus curiae of Claremont Institute's Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence filed.Feb 17, 2026Brief amici curiae of Wisconsin Voter Alliance, et al. filed.Feb 17, 2026Brief amici curiae of Nancy Landry, Louisiana Secretary of State, et al. filed.Feb 17, 2026Brief amici curiae of Public Interest Legal Foundation, et al. filed.Feb 17, 2026Motion for divided argument filed by respondents.Feb 18, 2026Record received from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. The record is electronic and is available on PACER.
Feb 23, 2026Response to motion of respondents for divided argument from petitioner Michael Watson filed.Feb 25, 2026CIRCULATED
Mar 2, 2026Motion for divided argument filed by Vet Voice Foundation, et al. DENIED.
Mar 2, 2026Motion for divided argument filed by respondents DENIED.
Mar 2, 2026Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument GRANTED.
Mar 6, 2026Record received from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. The record is electronic and is available on PACER.
Mar 11, 2026Reply of petitioner Michael Watson filed. (Distributed)Mar 11, 2026Reply of respondents Vet Voice Foundation, et al. in support of petitioner filed. (Distributed)Mar 23, 2026Argued. For petitioner: Scott G. Stewart, Solicitor General, Jackson, Miss. For respondents: Paul D. Clement, Alexandria, Va.; and D. John Sauer, Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. (for United States, as amicus curiae.)
Recommended Citation: Watson v. Republican National Committee (Election Law), SCOTUSblog, https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/watson-v-republican-national-committee/