In re: Elon Musk, in his official capacity

In re: Elon Musk, in his official capacity · United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit · July 11, 2025 · No. 25-5072

Summary

This unpublished per curiam order from the D.C. Circuit denies a petition for a writ of mandamus seeking to quash a district court's discovery order directed at Elon Musk. The court lifted a previously entered stay after respondents moved to vacate the discovery order in the district court, finding that the petitioners failed to demonstrate that mandamus relief was appropriate under the circumstances. The disposition notes that future mandamus petitions regarding subsequent discovery orders remain available.

Court
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
Writing for the Court
Millett; Pillard; Katsas
Jurisdiction
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
Decision date
July 11, 2025
Docket number
25-5072
Procedural posture
Petition for writ of mandamus denied; case returned to active docket
Precedential value
unpublished
Disposition
writ_denied

Topics

appellate procedurecivil procedurestandard of reviewappellate jurisdiction

Practice areas

civil procedure

Questions Presented

  1. Whether the petition for writ of mandamus should be granted to quash the district court's discovery order.

Holdings

  1. The mandamus petition is denied and the stay is lifted, returning the case to the active docket.

Key quotations

It is ORDERED that this case be returned to the court’s active docket.
It is FURTHER ORDERED that the stay entered on March 26, 2025, be lifted and the mandamus petition be denied.

Factual background

The government petitioned the D.C. Circuit for a writ of mandamus to vacate a discovery order issued by the district court on March 12, 2025. The district court had stayed the order, and respondents later asked the district court to vacate it pending further proceedings.

Procedural history

The district court entered a discovery order on March 12, 2025, which was stayed on March 26, 2025. The government sought a writ of mandamus to quash the order. The appellate court stayed the order, then lifted the stay and denied the mandamus petition, returning the case to the active docket.

Remand instructions

The case is returned to the court’s active docket.

Court Document

Open PDF
Loading document…