FOIA Advisor

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Q&A: FOIA jury trial?

Q.   I would like to petition for a jury trial in my federal FOIA case.  How can I do that?

A.   Litigants in FOIA cases do not have the right to a jury trial.  See, e.g.Buckles v. Indian Health Serv./Belcourt Serv. Unit, 268. F. Supp. 2d 1101, 1102-1103 (D.N.D. 2003).   Nor am I aware of any FOIA case in which a court has granted a motion or demand for a jury trial.