8th Circuit Court

Boycotting law clerks to pressure schools might ‘cross an important line,’ 8th Circuit chief judge says

A federal judge who boycotted the hiring of Columbia University graduates as law clerks won’t have to face a misconduct complaint, even though his actions raise a substantial ethical issue, according to the chief judge of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at St. Louis.

Jun 3, 2025 8:48 AM CDT

8th Circuit blocks ‘backup theory’ for enforcing Voting Rights Act, leaving private plaintiffs without recourse

A federal appeals court in St. Louis has blocked an alternate path for private plaintiffs in seven states to sue to enforce racial-discrimination protections in Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

May 19, 2025 11:48 AM CDT

Some student loan repayment plans have been suspended; here’s what to know

An 8th Circuit decision from February has far-reaching implications for student-loan repayment plans and has left borrowers scrambling for answers. Here’s what borrowers need to know.

Mar 4, 2025 4:30 PM CST

8th Circuit injunction leaves only the most expensive student-loan-repayment options available

A court order expanding an injunction to block President Joe Biden’s student loan repayment plan is wreaking havoc on the entire federal student loan portfolio as borrowers are left with only the most expensive repayment options.

Feb 28, 2025 8:56 AM CST

5th Circuit overrules itself, finds law banning handgun sales to adults younger than age 21 unconstitutional

After reexamining its precedent, a federal appeals court has ruled that a federal ban on handgun sales to youths ages 18 to 20 violates the Second Amendment.

Feb 4, 2025 11:23 AM CST

Iowa immigration law making illegal reentry a misdemeanor blocked by 8th Circuit

Iowa can’t enforce a law making it a crime for immigrants to be in the state if they reentered the country illegally after formerly being denied entry or ordered deported, a federal appeals court has ruled.

Jan 29, 2025 9:35 AM CST

Who may be on Trump’s Supreme Court short list? Senate win aids judicial picks

President-elect Donald Trump could get a chance to appoint two U.S. Supreme Court justices if Justice Clarence Thomas, 76, and Justice Samuel Alito, 74, decide to retire.

Nov 6, 2024 3:12 PM CST

School district’s ‘equity training’ didn’t constitute First Amendment injury, appeals court says

A public school district can’t be sued for violating the First Amendment rights of two employees who stopped speaking or pretended to agree with presenters during required “equity training,” a federal appeals court has ruled.

Sep 17, 2024 12:24 PM CDT

Trump-appointed appeals judges are ‘superstars’ based on 3 measures, study says

Are federal appeals judges appointed by former President Donald Trump disproportionately “superstars in a tournament of judges”? The answer is yes, a new study says, based on three measures used in the past by the study authors.

Sep 12, 2024 3:01 PM CDT

Supreme Court refuses to allow Biden’s student loan repayment plan—for now

The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to immediately clear the way for the Biden administration’s new student loan relief and repayment plan, adding to uncertainty about the future of a program that would affect millions of borrowers and has become part of the sharp political debate over who is responsible for hefty tuition debt.

Aug 29, 2024 9:15 AM CDT

8th Circuit decision is setback for ‘constitutional sheriffs’ movement, says gun-safety group

A federal appeals court has ruled for the U.S. Department of Justice in a challenge to a Missouri law that banned state and local officials from helping enforce some federal gun regulations.

Aug 27, 2024 10:17 AM CDT

8th Circuit allows Iowa book ban to take effect but rules for challengers on First Amendment issue

A federal appeals court on Friday allowed an Iowa law to take effect that polices books in school libraries, saying a federal judge who blocked the law erred in his analysis.

Aug 14, 2024 3:32 PM CDT

Guardians ad litem have absolute immunity in suit alleging wrongful conduct, appeals court says

Lawyers representing a child as guardians ad litem are absolutely immune for acts happening within their court-appointed duties, even for acts alleged to be “wrongful and illegal,” a federal appeals court has ruled.

Aug 12, 2024 9:16 AM CDT

GEICO doesn’t have to pay for STD contracted during car sex, despite policy punctuation, 8th Circuit says

A woman who contracted human papillomavirus after car sex isn’t entitled to damages from her sexual partner’s auto insurance policy, a federal appeals court has ruled.

Aug 5, 2024 11:40 AM CDT

Minnesota’s age restriction to carry handguns is unconstitutional, 8th Circuit rules

A federal appeals court ruled on Tuesday that Minnesota’s ban preventing residents ages 18 to 20 from carrying handguns in public is unconstitutional, upholding a district-court decision that said the Second Amendment right to bear arms should apply to all adults in the state.

Jul 17, 2024 8:36 AM CDT