119-HR-6816 Journalist Public Summary

Public Summary: 119-HR-6816 — Shadow Docket Sunlight Act of 2025

1) Headline Summary: Make the Supreme Court explain emergency orders on preliminary injunctions and show how each justice voted.

2) What It Does: The bill would amend federal law (Title 28) to require the Supreme Court, when it grants, denies, or vacates preliminary injunctive relief—or grants, denies, or vacates a stay of such relief—to publish a written explanation and disclose each participating justice’s vote. Those explanations must address the standard factors courts use (likelihood of success, irreparable harm, balance of equities, and public interest). Routine administrative or scheduling orders and decisions on whether to take a case (certiorari) are excluded. The bill does not change the Court’s underlying legal standards or its jurisdiction. It also directs the Federal Judicial Center to deliver periodic reports to Congress on compliance, beginning after a short implementation window, and includes a severability clause.

3) Who’s For It:

• Primary sponsors: Reps. Deborah Ross (NC), Jamie Raskin (MD), Henry “Hank” Johnson Jr. (GA), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA), and Lou Correa (CA).
• Supporters say it would add transparency and accountability to high-impact emergency rulings, helping the public and lower courts understand why urgent orders are issued.

4) Who’s Against It:

• Formal opposition has not yet been recorded at this early stage.
• Potential critics may argue it intrudes on the Court’s internal processes, could slow urgent decision-making, or raises separation‑of‑powers concerns.

5) What’s Next: The bill was introduced on December 17, 2025 and referred to the House Judiciary Committee. Next steps typically include hearings and a committee vote (markup). If approved, it would head to the full House, then the Senate, and finally to the President. The bill is at the very beginning of this process.