D.C. Circuit Court

Appeals court upholds temporary block on Alien Enemies Act deportations

A federal appeals panel on Wednesday refused to allow the Trump administration to summarily deport migrants under a rarely invoked wartime power while litigation on the matter continues.

Mar 27, 2025 9:50 AM CDT

Trump administration invokes state secrets privilege for deportation flights, disputes Nazi analogy

Government lawyers are arguing that the state secrets privilege protects the Trump administration from divulging details about deportation flights to El Salvador in Central America, and that the Venezuelans aboard weren’t entitled to notice that would give them time for a hearing.

Mar 25, 2025 11:02 AM CDT

Art generated solely by AI can’t be copyrighted, federal appeals court says

A federal appeals court has ruled against a computer scientist who sought to copyright a work of art made by his artificial intelligence system, the “Creativity Machine.”

Mar 19, 2025 11:05 AM CDT

Trump calls to impeach US judge, drawing rebuke from Roberts

President Donald Trump called Tuesday for the impeachment of a federal judge who had ruled against him, prompting the chief justice of the United States to issue a stern statement rejecting the idea and asserting the independence of the judiciary.

Mar 18, 2025 12:15 PM CDT

DC Circuit allows federal watchdog’s removal pending expedited appeal; US argued he had gone ‘rogue’

Updated: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Wednesday allowed the Trump administration to remove the leader of the Office of Special Counsel when it granted an emergency government request to stay a federal judge’s order pending appeal.

Mar 6, 2025 11:15 AM CST

DOJ files complaint against federal judge for alleged hostility against government lawyer

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a misconduct complaint Friday for alleged “hostile and egregious misconduct” by a federal judge presiding in a challenge to an executive order that says gender dysphoria conflicts with military troop readiness.

Feb 24, 2025 12:27 PM CST

Federal appeals judge, 97, loses bid to unseal documents about her suspension

Federal law does not permit a 97-year-old federal appeals judge to unseal documents about her suspension absent consent of the chief judge of her circuit, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled Monday.

Feb 4, 2025 9:30 AM CST

Interim US attorney conducts late-Friday firings of more than two dozen Jan. 6 prosecutors

Interim D.C. U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. on Friday dismissed about 30 federal prosecutors who have worked on Capitol riot cases over the past four years, undertaking a housecleaning of the top prosecutors office in Washington, D.C., while preparing to extend the office’s scrutiny to top Democratic leaders and former Justice Department officials, people close to Martin said.

Jan 31, 2025 6:54 PM CST

DC Circuit blocks accused 9/11 plotter’s plea after US balks

A federal court has blocked Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the accused mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, from entering a plea deal Friday, granting an 11th-hour Biden administration request and ensuring the case continues into the incoming Trump administration.

Jan 10, 2025 10:45 AM CST

Appeals court upholds nationwide TikTok ban-or-sale law

A Washington federal appeals court has turned away a challenge to a fast-approaching nationwide ban of short-video app TikTok unless it divests from Chinese ownership by Jan. 19, affirming the law as constitutional.

Dec 6, 2024 12:48 PM CST

Federal judge suspends deadlines in Trump criminal case

The judge overseeing Donald Trump’s election-interference case in D.C. federal court suspended all remaining deadlines Friday—the latest sign that the federal prosecutions of the president-elect are winding down.

Nov 8, 2024 1:00 PM 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

DC Circuit allows trespassing charge used to prosecute more than 1,400 Jan. 6 defendants

Prosecutors don’t have to show that a Jan. 6, 2021, trespassing defendant was aware that the U.S. Capitol grounds were restricted because of the presence of then-Vice President Mike Pence, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday.

Oct 23, 2024 1:39 PM CDT

Supreme Court clears way for Biden’s plan to cut power plant emissions

The Supreme Court cleared the way Wednesday for a Biden administration plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions from power plants burning fossil fuels, denying an emergency appeal by more than two dozen Republican-led states, utilities and others.

Oct 17, 2024 10:30 AM CDT

Rudy Giuliani disbarred in DC for his role in election 2020 subversion

The D.C. Court of Appeals on Thursday revoked Rudy Giuliani’s ability to practice law in the District after an attorney discipline board found the former New York mayor and personal attorney for Donald Trump violated the terms of his license while challenging the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Sep 26, 2024 12:21 PM CDT