Cheney v. United States District Court

Case Overview

Cheney v. United States District Court, 542 U.S. 367 (2004), arose from Vice President Dick Cheney's energy-policy task force. Judicial Watch and the Sierra Club sued under the Federal Advisory Committee Act to learn who served on and shaped the National Energy Policy Development Group, and the district court authorized broad discovery into its membership and operations. Cheney sought a writ of mandamus to block that discovery without first having to formally assert executive privilege, arguing it intruded on the Executive Branch.

Legal Issues