Judge blocks ADL subpoenas in Arizona State University protest lawsuit

In the ongoing litigation over a pro-Palestine protest at Arizona State University, a district judge denied the plaintiffs’ attempts to compel the Anti-Defamation League and its chief executive, Jonathan Greenblatt, to produce documents and testify. The decision highlighted that non-party subpoenas must be narrowly tailored and justified, and the court was unconvinced that the ADL’s internal emails would shed light on the university’s actions.

Plaintiffs contend that the ADL’s “Campus Antisemitism Report Card” and related communications demonstrate a motive to curb dissent, but the judge noted that similar information has already been disclosed by the university. The ruling underscores the limits of discovery against third parties in First Amendment cases. The ADL is defended by lawyers David J. Bodney and Matthew E. Kelley of Ballard Spahr LLP.