The City of New York v. Whitaker

Background

The parties’ filing concerned challenges to conditions attached to Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant funding for fiscal years 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. The opinion states that the challenged conditions were immigration-related. It also states that the court previously entered partial summary judgment for the plaintiffs on the 2017 conditions, but the Second Circuit reversed that decision on February 26, 2020. Challenges involving the 2018 conditions remained pending before the district court, and stipulations concerning the 2018, 2019, and 2020 funding remained in effect.

The parties later stipulated to dismissal of petitions asking the Supreme Court to review the Second Circuit proceedings. The Second Circuit then directed the parties to explain why its mandate should not issue. In response, all parties jointly asked the district court to hold the proceedings in abeyance—temporarily pause them—for 30 days after the Second Circuit issued its mandate.

Parties’ position and requested relief

The parties said that a 30-day pause would give the Department of Justice additional time to review the grant conditions. They also argued that the pause would maintain the status quo and conserve judicial and party resources. The request was presented jointly by the federal defendants, the state plaintiffs, and the City of New York.

Ruling

Judge Edgardo Ramos granted the request to stay the case for 30 days. The order did not resolve the merits of the challenges to the grant conditions, dismiss any claims, or enter judgment. It was an ancillary case-management ruling that temporarily paused the proceedings.

Classification basis

This is a procedural order because the court granted a temporary stay rather than deciding the underlying legality of the funding conditions.