Emergency application
Greg Abbott v. League of United Latin American Citizens
What did the Court do?
The Court granted the request on December 4, 2025: the lower court's ruling is on hold while the appeal continues.
Emergency rulings are temporary and do not decide the underlying case. Justice Kagan, Justice Sotomayor, and Justice Jackson would have ruled the other way.
What's being asked
A private party asks the Supreme Court to pause (stay) a lower-court ruling from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas while the appeal continues. The case is Greg Abbott v. League of United Latin American Citizens.
What the Court did
[See Detached <a href = 'https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25a608_7khn.pdf#page=4'>Opinion</a> for full order language.] The application for stay presented to Justice Alito and by him referred to the Court is granted. The November 18, 2025 order entered by the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, case No. 3:21–cv–259, is stayed pending the timely filing of an appeal in this Court. Should a notice of appeal and jurisdictional statement be timely filed, this order shall remain in effect pending this Court’s action on the appeal. If the appeal is dismissed, or the judgment is affirmed, this order will terminate automatically. In the event that jurisdiction is noted or postponed, this order will remain in effect pending the sending down of the judgment of this Court. Justice Alito, with whom Justice Thomas and Justice Gorsuch join, concurs. (Detached <a href = 'https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25a608_7khn.pdf#page=4'>>Opinion</a>) Justice Kagan, with whom Justice Sotomayor and Justice Jackson join, dissents. (Detached <a href = 'https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25a608_7khn.pdf#page=4'>>Opinion</a>)
- Concurring · 3agreed with the result, wrote separately
- Dissenting · 3recorded against the Court's order
What it means
This is a temporary order about what happens while the case is decided, not a ruling on who is right. The case continues in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas.
Separate writings
Justice Alito, joined by Justice Gorsuch and Justice Thomas, concurring
- Read (PDF)
Justice Kagan, joined by Justice Jackson and Justice Sotomayor, dissenting
Sources
Facts on this page come from the Supreme Court docket, orders, and opinions for No. 25A608. The answers restate that record in plain words; explainer copy is written from the record and the filings only.