No. 25-1431October Term 2025Before Arguments
DTLD L.L.C., et al., Petitioners v. The Power Station Limited Partnership, et al.
from the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.
Case status
- Current stage
- Before Arguments
- Latest event
- Accepted by the Court
- Decision timing
- No window until argument is scheduled.
- What it's about
from the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.
Question presented
Whether the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment is violated when a court grants summary judgment for lack of “material” evidence with out first identifying the legal standard that determines what facts are material, where the court has simultaneously held that it lacks authority to articulate that standard.
- Case path
District of Columbia Court of Appeals / Accepted by the Court
- Area
Supreme Court case awaiting argument
Timing
Expected by late June 2026, if argued this term
The Court granted review but has not yet scheduled oral argument. Once argued, the median case reaches a decision in 94 days. Nearly all cases are decided by the end of the term in which they are argued.
Briefing
What it's about
DTLD has asked the Supreme Court to review a District of Columbia Court of Appeals decision about summary judgment (ending a case without a trial). The petition says due process is violated when a court says evidence is not "material" without first stating the legal rule that makes those facts matter, after also saying it lacks authority to state that rule.
Argument
DTLD has filed a petition asking the Supreme Court to hear the case, and oral argument has not been scheduled. DTLD argues that due process is violated when a court ends a case for lack of "material" evidence without first identifying the governing legal standard, after saying it lacks authority to state that standard.
Impact
If the Court takes the case, it could clarify how much explanation judges must give before ending civil cases without a trial. That could matter to a business, property owner, or other party whose case is dismissed because a judge says the evidence does not matter under a rule the court has not identified.
What is DTLD v. Power Station about?
DTLD says due process is violated when a court ends a case for lack of "material" evidence. It says the court must first state the legal rule that makes facts material.
Who could be affected if the Court takes this case?
Parties in civil cases could be affected, especially people or businesses facing summary judgment (a decision without a trial). Clearer rules could change when cases reach trial.
What happens next in DTLD v. Power Station?
The Supreme Court must decide whether to hear the case. No oral argument is scheduled, and no decision window is available yet.
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary materials plus reporting.
- Note
- Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 23, 2026
- Method
- Methodology