Court Documents: Julian Raven appeals dismissal of lawsuit over his pro-Trump painting
Court records from U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
This page hosts a notice of appeal in Julian Raven v. John G. Roberts Jr. et al., filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
The lawsuit, filed July 14, 2025, stems from the Smithsonian’s repeated rejection of a portrait of President Donald Trump submitted by Raven, an artist who argued the decision reflected political bias and institutional misconduct.
Raven named Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III, the Board of Regents, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. in his role as chancellor, as well as Trump, the U.S. Congress and the United States as defendants.
The case was dismissed in January 2026 after the court found Raven lacked standing, ruling that his claims amounted to generalized grievances rather than a concrete, personal injury.
Read the story: Artist appeals dismissal of lawsuit targeting Smithsonian over his pro-Trump painting
Artist appeals dismissal of lawsuit targeting the Smithsonian
An artist has appealed the dismissal of his lawsuit accusing the Smithsonian of partisanship after his pro-Trump portrait was rejected.
Adam Schrader
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