# 119-hr-6816: Shadow Docket Sunlight Act of 2025

119-hr-6816, Shadow Docket Sunlight Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2] (D-NC); status introduced (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6816
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-6816
- Congress: 119
- Title: Shadow Docket Sunlight Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-12-17
- Sponsor: Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2] (D-NC)
- Cosponsors: 5
- Policy area: Law
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**Transparency** for the Supreme Court's emergency orders. This bill would require the Court to publish written explanations and show how each participating justice voted when it decides preliminary injunctive relief or stays in appeals. - Families, litigants, and the public would get written explanations that evaluate four criteria for injunction decisions: likelihood of merit, irreparable harm, balance of equities, and public interest. For stays the explanation must assess likelihood of merit, irreparable injury, potential harm to other parties, and public interest. - Court procedures and justices would have to record each participating justice's vote. Explanations may be issued in one or more opinions representing a majority of participating justices, and the rule applies to cases under Chapter 5 or 7 of Title 5 while excluding administrative or scheduling orders and certain certiorari petitions. - Congress would receive compliance reports from the Director of the Federal Judicial Center every two years, starting the first April 1 that is more than 180 days after enactment, with an option for the Director to request more time for the initial report.

## Cosponsors (5)

- Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8] (D-MD), 2025-12-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4] (D-GA), 2025-12-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5] (D-PA), 2025-12-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46] (D-CA), 2025-12-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6] (D-GA), 2026-01-13T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Supreme Court would explain injunction decisions: benefit, low. If enacted, the Supreme Court would have to publish written reasons when it grants, denies, or vacates a preliminary injunction, or a stay of such relief, in cases on appeal. The Court would also show how each participating justice voted. For injunctions, the explanation would cover chance of winni…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-5361: George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2025
- 119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act
- 119-hr-2086: Rights for the TSA Workforce Act
- 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act
- 119-hr-4669: FEMA Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-6816 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/6816)

## Related
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-5361: George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5361)
- [119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-51)
- [119-hr-2086: Rights for the TSA Workforce Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2086)
- [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977)
- [119-hr-4669: FEMA Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4669)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6816 (as of 2026-04-21).