No. 19-307October Term 2019Decided Jan 21, 2020Updated Jan 21, 2020
McKeever v. Barr
This case asks whether federal district courts may release secret grand jury materials in rare situations not specifically listed in Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 6(e), such as for historically significant matters where secrecy no longer serves much purpose.
Case status
Decided · January 21, 2020
Read the opinion (PDF)- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Jan 21, 2020
- What it's about
This case asks whether federal district courts may release secret grand jury materials in rare situations not specifically listed in Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 6(e), such as for historically significant matters where secrecy no longer serves much purpose. The D.C. Circuit said courts do not have that inherent authority, creating a conflict with other federal appeals courts.
Question presented
Whether district courts have inherent authority to release grand jury materials in extraordinary circumstances, such as when the case is historically significant and the public interest strongly favors disclosure.
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit / Decision released Jan 21, 2020
- Area
Decided Supreme Court case
Timing
Decided January 21, 2020
The Court released its decision on January 21, 2020 without hearing oral argument.
Documents
Activity
Docket activity2
Opinion added: Opinion
Jan 21, 2020 | Court records
Brief added: Petition
Sep 5, 2019 | Court records
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 25, 2026
- Method
- Methodology