New Civil Liberties Alliance v. SEC — D.C. Cir. (argued September 8, 2026)
The D.C. Circuit reviews a Freedom of Information Act dispute over an SEC control deficiency that allowed enforcement staff to access adjudication memoranda. The New Civil Liberties Alliance says the agency's Vaughn index and declarations did not justify withholding forensic records or employee names, or show foreseeable harm from disclosure. The SEC says releasing the names could expose staff to stigma and harassment, while the forensic material is protected attorney work product. The district court granted summary judgment to the SEC; the alliance asks the court to reverse.
New Civil Liberties Alliance v. SEC (No. 25-5383) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, argued September 8, 2026.
Sources
Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105):https://media.cadc.uscourts.gov/recordings/docs/2026/09/25-5383.mp3
Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit:https://media.cadc.uscourts.gov/recordings/bydate/2026/9
SEC statement on the adjudication control deficiency — U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission:https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/speeches-statements/commission-statement-relating-certain-administrative-adjudications
Brief for appellant — New Civil Liberties Alliance:https://nclalegal.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/FILING_NCLA-v.-SEC_Brief-for-Plaintiff-Appellant_02172026.pdf
District court opinion — U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (PDF via Justia):https://cases.justia.com/federal/district-courts/district-of-columbia/dcdce/1%3A2022cv03567/249607/28/0.pdf
Appellate docket — Justia:https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/cadc/25-5383
Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552 — Office of the Law Revision Counsel:https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=%28title%3A5+section%3A552+edition%3Aprelim%29
- 0:00Introduction
- 0:58Advocate — Matthew D. Hardin
- 9:47FOIA withholding rules
- 11:38Vaughn index
- 18:04Advocate — Mary Alexandra Verdi