No. 25-5133

Alexander P. Bebris v. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

Lower Court: District of Columbia
Docketed: 2025-07-16
Status: Denied
Type: IFP
Response WaivedIFP
Tags: constitutional-interpretation federal-authority foia-applicability incorporation-status law-enforcement-powers statutory-mandate
Key Terms:
Privacy
Latest Conference: 2025-09-29
Question Presented (from Petition)

1. Does an entity, regardless of its method or location of its incorporation, become an "authority" of the United States when; (1) the majority of funding for said entity is provided by the federal government; (2) that entity is specifically named and directed by statute to perform particular functions and actions; and, (3) a subset of the directed statutory mandates include the exercise of power(s) [law enforcement] that have been reserved to the sovereign?

2. If an entity is found to be an "authority" of the United States in meeting question #1 in the affirmative, is that entity subject to the provisions of 5 USC 552 ("The Freedom of Information Act")?

3. Does an entity, regardless of how and where it is incorporated, become a "de facto" agency of the United States under Article II of the United States Constitution where that entity has been granted a special law enforcement authority by Congress?

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether an entity becomes a U.S. 'authority' based on federal funding, statutory directives, and law enforcement powers, and if so, whether such an entity is subject to the Freedom of Information Act

Docket Entries

2025-10-06
Petition DENIED.
2025-08-21
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/29/2025.
2025-08-01
Waiver of NCMEC of right to respond submitted.
2025-08-01
Waiver of right of respondent NCMEC to respond filed.
2025-05-30
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due August 15, 2025)
2025-03-25
Application (24A908) granted by The Chief Justice extending the time to file until June 5, 2025.
2025-03-13
Application (24A908) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from April 6, 2025 to June 5, 2025, submitted to The Chief Justice.

Attorneys

Alexander Bebris
Alexander P. Bebris — Petitioner
NCMEC
Barbara Anne SmithBryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP, Respondent