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Supreme Court Case TrackerThe Court, in plain English

Glossary

Administrative stay

Definition

An administrative stay is a short pause of a lower court's order that gives the Court time to consider an emergency application. It is not a ruling on the application.

Why it matters

Even a short pause matters: until it ends, the lower court's order cannot take effect.

In practice

When time is short, the justice who first receives the application can enter one soon after it is filed. It usually lasts until that justice or the full Court rules on the application.

Treat an administrative stay as a timeout, not a hint about the outcome, and watch for the order that follows.

Common confusion

An administrative stay is not a stay pending appeal. It only holds things in place until the Court decides whether to grant the stay that was asked for.

Examples

GrantedRates for political adsFederal Communications Commission v. Sherrod BrownThe Federal Communications Commission asks the Supreme Court to pause a Fourth Circuit order requiring the agency to take regulatory action by Oct. 9. The FCC says the dispute concerns the lowest-unit-charge requirement, which governs rates broadcasters charge for political ads. The excerpt does not specify what action the order requires.Administrative stay entered26A476GrantedWhite House ballroom constructionNational Park Service v. National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United StatesThe federal government asks the Supreme Court to pause an injunction from a Washington, D.C., federal court while it seeks review. The injunction restricts above-ground work on a project to replace the White House East Wing, including a ballroom and underground military installation. The Trust challenges the project; the government says the Trust lacks the legal right to sue and that law authorizes the project.Administrative stay entered26A203DeniedApp store payment feesApple Inc. v. Epic Games, Inc.Apple Inc. asks the Supreme Court to pause further proceedings in its dispute with Epic Games, Inc. The request follows an Aug. 11, 2026, order from the federal district court in Northern California turning down Apple's request to pause those proceedings. Apple seeks the pause while the Supreme Court considers a contempt issue; the application excerpt does not explain what that issue concerns.Administrative stay entered26A194

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