The Supreme Court’s emergency docket, also known as the shadow docket, consists of applications seeking immediate action from the court. Unlike the merits docket, these cases are handled on an expedited basis with limited briefing and no oral argument, and the court often resolves them in unsigned orders with little or no explanation. This page shows significant emergency applications that have been filed during the current term.
Applications involving the death penalty are shaded in gray. Applications involving all other topics are in white.
Decided applications are listed by decision date. View this list sorted by case name.
Docket | Case Page | Issue(s) |
---|---|---|
24A553 | Smith v. Ayers | Whether the Supreme Court should recall and stay the mandate of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit which held that a new expert report can restart the clock for filing a habeas petition that is otherwise untimely. |
Docket | Case Page | Issue(s) | Decision |
---|---|---|---|
24A463 | East Kentucky Power Cooperative v. Environmental Protection Agency | Whether the Supreme Court should stay the EPA's rule regarding the disposal of coal combustion residuals. | Emergency application for stay is denied on Dec. 11, 2024. |
24A475 | Hamilton v. U.S. | Whether the Supreme Court should stay the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit’s mandate to give Ruel Hamilton the opportunity to seek review of questions concerning his right to be free from double jeopardy. | Emergency application for stay is denied on Dec. 10, 2024. |
24A391 | Collings v. Vandergriff | Whether, given the Supreme Court's pending case on similar due process concerns in Glossip v. Oklahoma, the court should stay the execution of Christopher Collings. | Emergency application for stay of execution is denied on Dec. 2, 2024. |
24A419 | Davis v. Smith | Whether the Supreme Court should recall and stay the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit’s mandate ordering a new trial in an attempted-murder case. | Emergency application for stay and recall of mandate is denied on Nov. 22, 2024. |
24A498 | Grayson v. Hamm | Whether the Supreme Court should stay the execution of Carey Dale Grayson so that he may pursue his Eighth Amendment claims against Alabama’s novel use of nitrogen hypoxia for his execution. | Emergency application for stay of execution is denied on Nov. 21, 2024. |
24A440 | Stockton v. Ferguson | Whether the Supreme Court should issue an injunction to protect the public viewpoint speech of Washington licensed physicians, which has been characterized as "misinformation," from investigation, prosecution, and sanctioning by the state. | Emergency application for injunction is denied on Nov. 20, 2024. |
24A483 | Boima v. U.S. | Whether the Supreme Court should stay the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit’s mandate so that Samuel Boima may pursue his challenge to how the lower court determined what constitutes a “serious” crime warranting involuntary medication. | Emergency application for stay is withdrawn on Nov. 19, 2024 as the district court dismissed the criminal complaint against Boima. |
24A403 | Perez v. U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas | Whether the Supreme Court should stay the district court’s preliminary injunction of the federal government’s Keeping Families Together guidance granting parole “in place” to certain noncitizens who have been in the country for at least a decade, are married to or the stepchild of a U.S. citizen, and meet other criteria. | Emergency application for stay is denied as moot on Nov. 12, 2024. |
24A447 | Doe v. The Trustees of Indiana University | Whether the Supreme Court should stay the district court’s order directing John Doe to disclose his name within 14 days or have his Title IX case involuntarily dismissed. | Emergency application for stay is denied on Nov. 12, 2024. |
24A396 | Sheppard v. U.S. | Whether Eric Dean Sheppard should be issued bail pending appeal of his conviction for wire fraud, which raises the same question the court will hear in Kousisis v. United States. | Emergency application for bail is denied on Nov. 7, 2024. |
24A408 | Republican National Committee v. Genser | Whether the Supreme Court should stay the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s decision requiring election officials to count the provisional ballots of voters whose mail-in ballots were deemed invalid by a ballot-sorting machine. | Emergency application for stay is denied on Nov. 1, 2024. |
24A409 | Moore v. Stirling | Whether the Supreme Court should stay the execution of Richard Bernard Moore, who is Black and the last man on South Carolina’s death row convicted and sentenced by an all-white jury, so that the court can consider whether the state unconstitutionally struck two Black jurors from his jury because of their race. | Emergency application for stay of execution is denied on Oct. 31, 2024. |
24A427 | West v. Pennsylvania Department of State | Whether the Supreme Court should issue an injunction pending appeal directing the Pennsylvania Department of State to post information at all polling locations across Pennsylvania on Election Day to inform voters that they can write in Cornel West for president. | Emergency application for injunction is denied on Oct. 31, 2024. |
24A407 | Beals v. Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights | Whether the Supreme Court should stay the district court's injunction and allow Virginia to continue its program aimed at removing noncitizens from the state voting rolls. | Emergency application for stay is granted on Oct. 30, 2024. Justices Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson would deny the application. |
24A399 | Kennedy v. Wisconsin Elections Commission | Whether the Wisconsin Election Commission should remove Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as a candidate for president, with a sticker covering his name, on the state's general election ballot. | Emergency application for injunction is denied on Oct. 29, 2024. |
24A405 | Kennedy v. Benson | Whether the Supreme Court should grant an emergency injunction ordering Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to remove Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s name from the state’s ballot. | Emergency application for injunction is denied on Oct. 29, 2024. Justice Gorsuch dissenting. |
24A287 | Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority v. National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association | Whether the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act’s enforcement provisions facially violate the private-nondelegation doctrine. | Emergency application for stay of mandate is granted on Oct. 28, 2024. |
24A325 | South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism v. Google LLC | Whether the Supreme Court should stay the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit's mandate that South Carolina's Attorney General had waived any immunity the state's Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism has. | Emergency application for stay of mandate is denied on Oct. 23, 2024. |
24A349 | Roberson v. Texas | Whether the Supreme Court should stay the execution of Robert Leslie Roberson III so that it can consider whether a state’s highest criminal court, in summarily finding a procedural bar to merits review, when that finding is contrary to both state law and the facts, and when the death-sentenced individual has adduced substantial evidence of actual innocence, violates the federal constitutional right to due process. | Emergency application for stay of execution is denied on Oct. 17, 2024. |
24A105 | Midwest Ozone Group v. Environmental Protection Agency | Whether the Supreme Court should temporarily block the Environmental Protection Agency from enforcing a rule aimed at curbing planet-warming emissions from power plants. | Emergency application for stay is denied on Oct. 16, 2024. Justice Thomas would grant the applications for stay. Justice Alito took no part in the consideration or decision of these applications. |
24A117 | Ohio v. Environmental Protection Agency | Whether the Supreme Court should temporarily block the Environmental Protection Agency from enforcing a rule aimed at curbing planet-warming emissions from power plants. | Emergency application for stay is denied on Oct. 16, 2024. Justice Thomas would grant the applications for stay. Justice Alito took no part in the consideration or decision of these applications. |
24A95 | West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency | Whether the Supreme Court should temporarily block the Environmental Protection Agency from enforcing a rule aimed at curbing planet-warming emissions from power plants. | Emergency application for stay is denied on Oct. 16, 2024. Justice Thomas would grant the applications for stay. Justice Alito took no part in the consideration or decision of these applications. |
24A106 | Electric Generators For A Sensible Transition v. Environmental Protection Agency | Whether the Supreme Court should temporarily block the Environmental Protection Agency from enforcing a rule aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions from new and existing electric generating units. | Emergency application for stay is denied on Oct. 16, 2024. Justice Thomas would grant the applications for stay. Justice Alito took no part in the consideration or decision of these applications. |
24A116 | Edison Electric Institute v. Environmental Protection Agency | Whether the Supreme Court should temporarily block the Environmental Protection Agency from enforcing a rule aimed at curbing planet-warming emissions from power plants. | Emergency application for stay is denied on Oct. 16, 2024. Justice Thomas would grant the applications for stay. Justice Alito took no part in the consideration or decision of these applications. |
24A96 | National Rural Electric Cooperative v. Environmental Protection Agency | Whether the Supreme Court should temporarily block the Environmental Protection Agency from enforcing a rule aimed at curbing planet-warming emissions from power plants. | Emergency application for stay is denied on Oct. 16, 2024. Justice Thomas would grant the applications for stay. Justice Alito took no part in the consideration or decision of these applications. |
24A97 | National Mining Association and America’s Power v. Environmental Protection Agency | Whether the Supreme Court should temporarily block the Environmental Protection Agency from enforcing a rule aimed at curbing planet-warming emissions from power plants. | Emergency application for stay is denied on Oct. 16, 2024. Justice Thomas would grant the applications for stay. Justice Alito took no part in the consideration or decision of these applications. |
24A98 | Nacco Natural Resources Corporation v. Environmental Protection Agency | Whether the Supreme Court should temporarily block the Environmental Protection Agency from enforcing a rule aimed at curbing planet-warming emissions from power plants. | Emergency application for stay is denied on Oct. 16, 2024. Justice Thomas would grant the applications for stay. Justice Alito took no part in the consideration or decision of these applications. |
24A348 | YAPP USA Automotive Systems v. National Labor Relations Board | Whether the Supreme Court should preliminarily enjoin the National Labor Relations Board from proceeding with administrative hearings against YAPP. | Emergency application for injunction is denied on Oct. 15, 2024. |
24A328 | Good Lawgic, LLC v. Merchan | Whether the Supreme Court should vacate the gag order imposed on former President Donald Trump by Judge Juan Merchan in Trump's criminal trial in New York. | Emergency application for stay is denied on Oct. 8, 2024. |
24A199 | America’s Power v. Environmental Protection Agency | Whether the Supreme Court should stay the EPA's May 7 hazardous air pollutants emissions standards rule. | Emergency application for stay is denied on Oct. 4, 2024. |
24A215 | Continental Resources v. Environmental Protection Agency | Whether the Supreme Court should stay Section 111(d) of the Environmental Protection Agency’s “Standards of Performance for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources and Emissions Guidelines for Existing Sources: Oil and Natural Gas Sector Climate Review” rule, aimed at cutting methane emissions from oil and gas operations. | Emergency application for stay is denied on Oct. 4, 2024. |
24A203 | National Rural Electric Cooperative Association v. Environmental Protection Agency | Whether the Supreme Court should stay the Environmental Protection Agency's May 7 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards rule setting national emission levels for listed hazardous air pollutants. | Emergency application for stay is denied on Oct. 4, 2024. |
24A213 | Oklahoma v. Environmental Protection Agency | Whether the Supreme Court should stay Section 111(d) of the Environmental Protection Agency’s “Standards of Performance for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources and Emissions Guidelines for Existing Sources: Oil and Natural Gas Sector Climate Review” rule, aimed at cutting methane emissions from oil and gas operations. | Emergency application for stay is denied on Oct. 4, 2024. |
24A179 | Westmoreland Mining Holdings LLC v. Environmental Protection Agency | Whether the Supreme Court should stay the Environmental Protection Agency's May 7 rule setting national emission levels for listed hazardous air pollutants. | Emergency application for stay is denied on Oct. 4, 2024. |
24A180 | North Dakota v. Environmental Protection Agency | Whether the Supreme Court should stay an Environmental Protection Agency rule which reduces the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards for coal-fired power plants by 66-70%, under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act. | Emergency application for stay is denied on Oct. 4, 2024. |
24A315 | B&L Productions v. Newsom | Whether the Supreme Court should recall and stay the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit's mandate finding that a ban on firearm “sales” at gun shows on state property, but not gun shows themselves, survives constitutional scrutiny. | Emergency application for a recall and stay of mandate is denied on Oct. 4, 2024. |
24A197 | Talen Montana v. Environmental Protection Agency | Whether the Supreme Court should stay the Environmental Protection Agency's May 7 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards rule setting national emission levels for listed hazardous air pollutants. | Emergency application for stay is denied on Oct. 4, 2024. |
24A186 | Midwest Ozone Group v. Environmental Protection Agency | Whether the Supreme Court should stay the Environmental Protection Agency's May 7 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards rule setting national emission levels for listed hazardous air pollutants. | Emergency application for stay is denied on Oct. 4, 2024. |
24A178 | NACCO Natural Resources Corporation v. Environmental Protection Agency | Whether the Supreme Court should stay the Environmental Protection Agency's May 7 rule setting national emission levels for listed hazardous air pollutants. | Emergency application for stay is denied on Oct. 4, 2024. |
24A302 | White v. Texas | Whether the Supreme Court should stay the execution of Garcia Glen White. | Emergency application for stay of execution is denied on Oct. 1, 2024. |
24A285 | Team Kennedy v. Berger | Whether the Supreme Court should order New York to include Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. on its ballot. | Emergency application for injunction is denied on Sept. 27, 2024. |
24A274 | Williams v. Missouri | Whether the Supreme Court should stay the execution of Marcellus Williams. | Emergency application for stay of execution is denied on Sept. 24, 2024. |
24A290 | Prosecuting Attorney, 21st Judicial Circuit, ex rel. Marcellus Williams v. Missouri | Whether the Supreme Court should stay the execution of Marcellus Williams to review issues of constitutional errors, racism, and bad faith at his trial. | Emergency application for stay of execution is denied on Sept. 24, 2024. Justices Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson would grant the application for stay. |
24A286 | Williams v. Vandergriff | Whether the Supreme Court should stay the execution of Marcellus Williams. | Emergency application for stay of execution is denied on Sept. 24, 2024. |
24A262 | Nevada Green Party v. Aguilar | Whether the Supreme Court should vacate the Nevada Supreme Court and the state district court's orders to exclude the Nevada Green Party from the 2024 ballot. | Emergency application to vacate orders is denied on Sept. 20, 2024. |
24A284 | Owens v. Stirling | Whether the Supreme Court should stay the execution of Freddie Eugene Owens so that he can pursue his procedural due process claim. | Emergency application for stay of execution is denied on Sept. 20, 2024. Justice Sotomayor would grant the application for stay. |
24A146 | Oklahoma v. Department of Health and Human Services | (1) Whether the Department of Health and Human Services is violating the Constitution's spending clause by imposing a funding condition — abortion referrals — that is not unambiguously required by Title X; and (2) whether HHS is violating the Weldon Amendment, which expressly protects health care organizations who decline to refer for abortions under Title X, by stripping Oklahoma's Health Department of millions of dollars for declining to refer for abortions under Title X. | Emergency application for injunction or stay is denied on Sept. 3, 2024. Justices Thomas, Alito, and Gorsuch would grant the application. |
24A181 | Saffarinia v. U.S. | Whether the Supreme Court should stay the lower court's decision, under 18 U.S.C. § 1519, to uphold Eghbal Saffarinia's conviction. | Emergency application for stay of mandate is denied on Sept. 3, 2024. |
24A202 | Cole v. Florida | Whether the Supreme Court should stay the execution of Loran Cole so that he may pursue his Eighth Amendment challenge to Florida's lethal injection procedure. | Emergency application for stay of execution is denied on Aug. 29, 2024. |
24A173 | Biden v. Missouri | Whether the Supreme Court should vacate the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit's injunction barring the Biden administration's student loan forgiveness rule. | Emergency application to vacate injunction is denied on Aug. 28, 2024. |
24A11 | Alaska v. Department of Education | Whether the Supreme Court should vacate the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit's stay of the district court's nationwide injunction of the Department of Education's SAVE Plan for student-loan repayment. | Emergency application for stay is denied on Aug. 28, 2024. |
24A164 | Republican National Committee v. Mi Familia Vota | Whether the Supreme Court should stay the district court's injunction of Arizona laws that require voter registration applicants to show documentary proof of citizenship and bar voters who have not provided documentary proof of citizenship from casting ballots for president or by mail. | Emergency application for stay is granted as to Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 16-121.01(C). The application is denied as to Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 16-121.01(E) and 16-127(A). |
24A78 | Department of Education v. Louisiana | Whether the Supreme Court should stay a preliminary injunction of the Department of Education's April 2024 rule making changes to existing Title IX regulations related to discrimination against transgender individuals. | Emergency application for a partial stay of injunction is denied on Aug. 16, 2024. |
24A79 | Cardona v. Tennessee | Whether the Supreme Court should stay a preliminary injunction of the Department of Education's April 2024 rule making changes to existing Title IX regulations related to discrimination against transgender individuals. | Emergency application for partial stay of injunction is denied on Aug. 16, 2024. |
24A124 | Burton v. Texas | Whether the Supreme Court should stay the execution of Arthur Lee Burton given strong evidence that he is intellectually disabled. | Emergency application for stay of execution is denied on Aug. 7, 2024. |
22O159 | Missouri v. New York | Whether Missouri may file a complaint against New York to stay New York's gag order and impending sentencing against former President Donald Trump during the 2024 election season. | Motion for leave to file bill of complaint is denied on Aug. 5, 2024. Justices Thomas and Alito would grant the motion for leave to file the bill of complaint but would not grant other relief. |
24A60 | Keith Gavin v. Alabama | Whether the Supreme Court should stay the execution of Keith Edmund Gavin. | Emergency application for stay of execution is denied on July 18, 2024. |