US judge dismisses DOJ lawsuit against pro-Palestinian protesters

October 3, 2026 at 08:53 AM2 min

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US District Judge Katharine Hayden dismissed a Justice Department lawsuit against pro-Palestinian organizations and protesters over a November 2024 protest at a New Jersey synagogue. The judge ruled the government's complaint did not adequately plead violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act. The claims were dismissed without prejudice, allowing the government to file an amended complaint within 30 days.

Key Facts

US District Judge Katharine Hayden dismissed the lawsuit without prejudice, giving the government 30 days to file an amended complaint.
The case was brought under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, a 1994 law prohibiting force or physical obstruction at reproductive health centers or houses of worship.
The Justice Department sued pro-Palestinian activists in September 2025 over a November 2024 protest at a synagogue in New Jersey.
The event promoted the sale of property in Israeli settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
The lawsuit alleged demonstrators physically assaulted some worshippers and used vuvuzelas to disrupt the event.

The Dismissal

Judge Katharine Hayden ruled the government's complaint did not adequately plead violations of the FACE Act. She dismissed the claims without prejudice, allowing the Justice Department to file an amended complaint within 30 days. The case was brought under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, a 1994 law that prohibits force and physical obstruction at reproductive health centers or houses of worship.

The Protest

In September 2025, the Justice Department sued pro-Palestinian activists over a November 2024 protest at a synagogue in New Jersey. The event was billed as a spiritual service and real estate fair promoting the sale of property in Israeli settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The lawsuit alleged the protest escalated into violence, with demonstrators physically assaulting some worshippers and using vuvuzelas to disrupt the event.

Legal Context

The case appeared to be the first time the FACE Act was used to allege interference with religious worship, according to Harmeet Dhillon, head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. The Trump administration has curtailed use of the FACE Act in abortion-related cases, but Dhillon said those restrictions do not apply to cases related to houses of worship. Last year, Trump pardoned several people prosecuted under the law.