The Supreme Court has declined to hear oral arguments in the GPS tracker case John Doe v. Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve.
The justices released a lengthy order list on Monday, the same day the court begins its new term.
They did not give a reason for the rejection.
SEPTEMBER 29, 2025:
The Supreme Court is meeting to consider whether to hear arguments in the John Doe GPS tracker case against Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve.
The justices will hear the details of the case on Monday to decide whether to accept the case in full.
Last month, lawyers appealed to the Supreme Court to keep John Doe's identity secret in the ongoing GPS tracker case.
In April, the Nevada Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling that the First Amendment does not protect “John Doe” in this case.
Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve filed a lawsuit in December 2022 seeking damages from private investigator David McNeely for invasion of privacy after a mechanic alerted her to a secret GPS tracking device in her car.
APRIL 23, 2025:
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of the city of Sparks after a private investigator claimed its constitutional amendments were violated.
On November 20, 2023, David McNeely filed a federal lawsuit alleging that the City of Sparks and certain officers of the Sparks Police Department (SPD) violated his First and Fourth Amendment rights and intentionally subjected him to emotional distress under state law when his name was used during an investigation into a possible stalking case in a GPS tracking case involving Reno Mayor, Hillary Schieve, was identified.
A district judge granted the city's motion to dismiss the case in May 2024.
McNeely then appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and that appeals court affirmed the previous grant of dismissal in a memorandum disposition dated April 22, 2025. (read below)
The Ninth Circuit agreed that McNeely “has not asserted any discernible legal theory that the First Amendment affords him a right to privacy in the context of this case,” and found that there was no “causal connection between any retaliation by.” [the City] and his alleged injuries.”
The City of Sparks says the court concluded that the alleged facts did not support a Fourth Amendment violation or a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress under Nevada law, and affirmed that any amendment to the complaint would have been futile.
Update, April 10:
The Nevada Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the First Amendment does not protect “John Doe” in the GPS tracking case.
March 8th:
The Nevada Supreme Court will hear oral arguments next month in a case involving Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve.
The person who allegedly hired a private investigator to place a GPS tracker on the mayor's car is still trying to keep his identity secret.
We have been following this case since 2022.
According to court documents, the client continues to argue First Amendment protections while Schieve claims privacy violations.
Last year we reported that judges had sided with a district court and said the private investigator had to reveal his client's name.
Arguments are scheduled for April 8.
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