T.M. v. University of Maryland Medical System Corporation — SCOTUS (argued April 20, 2026)
The Supreme Court considers whether the Rooker-Feldman doctrine applies before state appeals are over. The doctrine prevents federal trial courts from acting as appellate courts over state judgments. T.M. challenged a Maryland consent order that conditioned her release from involuntary psychiatric care, while her state appeal remained pending. She then asked a federal court to declare the order unconstitutional and void. The Court later affirmed, holding five to four that Rooker-Feldman also applies to state judgments still subject to appeal.
T.M. v. University of Maryland Medical System Corporation (No. 25-197) — Supreme Court of the United States, argued April 20, 2026.
Sources
Argument audio — Supreme Court of the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/media/audio/mp3files/25-197.mp3
Argument transcript — Supreme Court of the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/25-197_6j37.pdf
Case docket — Supreme Court of the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/25-197.html
Brief for T.M.:https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/25/25-197/391713/20260114130929641_25-197_petbr.pdf
Brief for the medical system:https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/25/25-197/396216/20260213112320341_TM%20v.%20UMM%20Merits%20Brief.pdf
Decision — Supreme Court of the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25-197_new_4g15.pdf
Elizabeth B. Prelogar — Cooley:https://www.cooley.com/people/elizabeth-prelogar
Elizabeth B. Prelogar — U.S. Department of Justice:https://www.justice.gov/osg/bio/solicitor-general-elizabeth-b-prelogar
Lisa S. Blatt — Williams & Connolly:https://www.wc.com/Attorneys/Lisa-S-Blatt
Ab initio — Third Circuit:https://www2.ca3.uscourts.gov/opinarch/213307np.pdf
Ab initio — Cornell Legal Information Institute:https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/ab_initio
- 0:00Introduction
- 0:46Elizabeth B. Prelogar
- 4:23Ab Initio
- 42:00Lisa S. Blatt