D.C. Circuit Court

Afternoon Briefs: Law school cuts John Marshall name because of slavery link; 2 appellate nominees advance

Following scholarship about John Marshall’s support for slavery, law school removes his name The name of John Marshall, a former U.S. Supreme Court chief justice who wrote seven majority opinions rejecting freedom for slaves, will be removed from a Chicago law school. The John Marshall Law School was a private,…

May 21, 2021 3:33 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Cops charged with selling crash info to lawyers; deal reached on McGahn testimony

Officers charged with selling crash info to lawyers A retired New York police officer and two current officers were charged Tuesday with taking kickbacks from towing companies. Heather Busch, Robert Hassett and Robert Smith are charged in a federal indictment with using interstate facilities to commit bribery. Smith and Hassett…

May 12, 2021 4:30 PM CDT

Judges aren’t persuaded by Capitol rioters’ claims that Trump asked them to do it

Judges are rejecting claims of U.S. Capitol rioters that they should be released before trial because they were following the direction of former President Donald Trump.

May 7, 2021 9:38 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: 3 men face hate crimes charges in Ahmaud Arbery’s death; federal appeals nominees grilled on clients

3 men face federal hate crimes charges in Ahmaud Arbery’s death Three Georgia men facing state charges of murder in the 2020 death of Black jogger Ahmaud Arbery have been indicted on federal hate crimes and attempted kidnapping charges. Two of the defendants, 35-year-old Travis McMichael and his father, 65-year-old…

Apr 29, 2021 4:17 PM CDT

Biden’s first judicial picks include DC Circuit nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, said to be SCOTUS contender

President Joe Biden announced 11 judicial nominees Tuesday, including three Black women nominated for federal appeals courts.

Mar 30, 2021 9:56 AM CDT

Gun owners have no unfettered right to carry their weapons in public, en banc appeals court says

The Second Amendment doesn’t protect an unfettered right to openly carry a gun or pistol in public, according to the en banc 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at San Francisco.

Mar 25, 2021 10:28 AM CDT

Federal appeals judge blasts landmark libel ruling, says it enhances power of overwhelmingly liberal media

A federal appeals judge on Friday called on the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the landmark libel ruling New York Times Co. v. Sullivan while chastising his colleagues for trying to stretch the decision’s actual malice standard “like a rubber band.”

Mar 22, 2021 10:42 AM CDT

Don’t use this typeface if you want to please the DC Circuit

Brief writers take note: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit doesn’t like the Garamond typeface.

Mar 18, 2021 10:21 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Garland confirmed as attorney general; lawyer charged in Capitol riot ready for steak dinner

Garland is confirmed as US attorney general The U.S. Senate on Wednesday confirmed Judge Merrick Garland as the next U.S. attorney general by a 70-30 vote. Garland, a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, was previously nominated for the U.S. Supreme Court, but…

Mar 10, 2021 2:10 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Another state plans remote bar exam in July; Texas AG sues electric company over huge bills

So far, 9 jurisdictions have plan for remote bar exam in July California’s July 2021 bar exam will be remote, the California Supreme Court announced Friday. The first testing day, on July 27, will consist of five one-hour essay questions and a 90-minute performance test, according to the administrative order.…

Mar 2, 2021 4:45 PM CST

‘I am not the president’s lawyer’: Garland says he wouldn’t be swayed by politics as attorney general

Judge Merrick Garland of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit pledged Monday to remain independent and restore integrity to the U.S. Department of Justice if he is confirmed as the next U.S. attorney general.

Feb 22, 2021 3:35 PM CST

This judge is getting mentioned as Merrick Garland’s likely replacement, possible future SCOTUS nominee

U.S. District Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson of Washington, D.C., is a leading contender to replace Judge Merrick Garland and a possible future nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court, according to a Washington Post commentary.

Feb 8, 2021 12:07 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Appeals court vacates ‘dirty power’ rule; court employee accused of online threats

DC Circuit Court vacates ‘dirty power’ rule The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit effectively ended the Trump administration’s plan to weaken climate change policies Tuesday when it vacated a “dirty power” rule. The appeals court said the rule, which relaxed restrictions on greenhouse gases, had…

Jan 20, 2021 4:36 PM CST

Courts discuss security after warning of potential protest threats

Courts across the country are discussing security after a news report said pro-Trump groups were considering storming courthouses.

Jan 14, 2021 9:49 AM CST

Judge Merrick Garland is Biden’s pick for attorney general; rule of law ‘is not just some lawyer’s turn of phrase’

Updated: President-elect Joe Biden has picked Judge Merrick Garland to be the next U.S. attorney general.

Jan 7, 2021 3:07 PM CST