[5] A three-judge panel of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed the case in July 2019, ruling that the attorneys general lacked legal standing to sue.

[8][9] On May 14, 2020, the full Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the defense's attempt to have the case dismissed on the grounds of presidential immunity by a 9-to-6 majority, reviving the lawsuit.

[10] On January 25, 2021, five days after Trump left office, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a summary disposition ordering the Fourth Circuit to dismiss the case as moot.

[20][21][22][23] Days later the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals granted the DOJ's request for a stay, halting the subpoena of documents,[24][25] pending the outcome of a hearing scheduled for March 2019.

[26] At a hearing on March 18, 2019, a three-judge panel of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals was sharply skeptical of the legal basis of the suit,[27] and dismissed the case on July 10, 2019.

[8][9] On May 14, 2020, the full Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the panel decision and revived the lawsuit, rejecting (by 9-to-6 vote) the defense's attempt to have the case dismissed on the grounds of "presidential immunity".