Unified United States Common Law Grand Jury v. NYS Legislators

Background

On September 18, 2024, the plaintiffs requested that the Clerk of Court issue summonses to the defendants. On October 10, 2024, the court issued an order requiring the plaintiff identified as the Unified United States Common Law Grand Jury (the “Grand Jury”) to obtain counsel. The order also required Grand Jury Foreman (the “Foreman”) to file a motion asking to proceed under a pseudonym—a name that hides the person’s identity—or to amend the complaint to include the Foreman’s name.

The court warned that failing to make these corrections would prevent summonses from issuing and could result in dismissal of the Grand Jury from the action. The deadline was November 8, 2024. The opinion states that no plaintiff took action by that time.

Rulings

The court stated that the Grand Jury could not proceed because it had failed to retain an attorney to represent it. The court therefore dismissed the Grand Jury’s claims without prejudice, meaning the dismissal did not bar refiling those claims.

The court did not dismiss the Foreman’s claims in this order. Instead, it ordered the plaintiffs to amend the complaint by January 3, 2025, either to include the Foreman’s name or to show why the Foreman should be permitted to proceed under a pseudonym. The order states that the Foreman could otherwise be dismissed from the action. Judge Kenneth M. Karas also directed the Clerk of Court to mail the order to the plaintiffs.