Dallas v. L.J.

Issue: (1) Whether a court misapplies the flexible standard demanded by Rule 60(b)(5) when it subordinates "sensitive federalism concerns" implicated by a long-running institutional-reform decree to the court's insistence that its previous decisions must be "dead wrong" before a state may obtain relief based on changes in the governing law; and (2) whether a federal court lacks power to enter and enforce a wide-ranging injunction based on a single state-plan element of the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980, which makes federal funding conditional on a requirement that the state plan include certain elements to "gain the approval of" the Secretary of the federal Department of Health and Human Services.

Briefs and Documents

Certiorari-stage documents

• Opinion below (4th Cir.)
• Petition for certiorari
• Brief in opposition
• Petitioners' reply