D.C. Circuit Court

DOJ Contests Detainee Disclosures

The Justice Department is seeking en banc review of an appeals court ruling requiring disclosure of classified information about Guantanamo detainees. The government contends that disclosure could damage national security, the New York Times reports. Its filing says the vast time needed to gather the information would disrupt terrorism investigations,…

Sep 12, 2007 3:44 PM CDT

Alleged Madam Asks to Ditch Attorney

For a second time, alleged D.C. madam Deborah Jeane Palfrey is claiming she can’t get along with her criminal defense attorney. Palfrey told a Washington, D.C., federal judge in court papers that she and attorney Preston Burton have irreconcilable differences, the Washington Post reports. Burton apparently feels the same, having…

Aug 24, 2007 7:01 PM CDT

Court Allows Whole Foods Deal

A federal appeals court has refused to block Whole Foods Markets’ purchase of Wild Oats Markets. The Federal Trade Commission had sought a stay of a lower court’s ruling while it argues its case on appeal, the Wall Street Journal reports (sub. req.). A federal judge had refused to grant…

Aug 24, 2007 4:22 PM CDT

Whole Foods Deal on Hold

A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked Whole Foods’ $565 million purchase of Wild Oats. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued a stay yesterday, saying it needed time to consider the merits of a request for an injunction by the Federal Trade Commission, the Wall Street…

Aug 21, 2007 3:58 PM CDT

Ruling Thwarts Perjury Prosecutions

A federal appeals court ruling permitting grand jury witnesses to review their testimony is winning praise from criminal defense lawyers. The June ruling could help witnesses clear up misstatements that can lead to perjury charges, defense lawyers told Legal Times. But prosecutors worry that co-defendants will share their testimony with…

Aug 21, 2007 11:09 AM CDT

Judge Won’t Block Whole Foods Deal

A D.C. federal judge has refused to issue an injunction barring Whole Foods from buying competitor Wild Oats for $565 million. Judge Paul Friedman didn’t agree with government claims that the two chains dominated a distinct market for natural and organic foods, a lawyer who read his sealed opinion told…

Aug 17, 2007 12:51 PM CDT

Reporters Ordered to Reveal Sources

A federal judge has ordered five reporters to reveal their law enforcement sources in a lawsuit filed by a bioterrorism expert once identified as a person of interest in the 2001 anthrax attacks. Steven J. Hatfill claims the government violated the Privacy Act by leaking information about him. He has…

Aug 14, 2007 12:04 PM CDT

Fight Over Drug Access Continues

The founder of a group fighting for access to unapproved drugs vows to seek an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled in an 8-2 en banc opinion yesterday that there is no constitutional right of access to experimental drugs. (See…

Aug 8, 2007 1:14 PM CDT

No Right of Access to Drugs, Court Rules

An en banc federal appeals court ruled today that patients don’t have a constitutional right of access to experimental drugs that have passed limited safety trials. The ruling (PDF) by the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit found no due process right of access, How Appealing reports.…

Aug 7, 2007 3:50 PM CDT

Raid of Congressman’s Office Improper

A federal appeals court ruled today that the FBI must return privileged legislative documents seized in a raid of U.S. Rep. William Jefferson’s office last year. Jefferson was indicted after the raid on charges he solicited more than $500,000 in bribes. He has pleaded not guilty. The U.S. Court of…

Aug 3, 2007 4:31 PM CDT

Whole Foods Hearing to Begin

In a two-day hearing that begins tomorrow, a federal judge will consider whether Whole Foods Market Inc. may gobble up its competitor, Wild Oats Markets Inc. The Federal Trade Commission contends the two grocers will dominate the market for premium organic groceries if the merger proceeds. To defeat the merger,…

Jul 30, 2007 8:14 PM CDT

NRA Had High Court Misgivings

The National Rifle Association may be a reluctant Supreme Court suitor in a Washington, D.C., case that challenges the district’s handgun ban. The lawyer who won a federal appeals court ruling striking down the ban says the NRA has joined him “ever so grudgingly” in the case, Legal Times reports.…

Jul 30, 2007 1:12 PM CDT

IRS E-Mail Advice to Be Disclosed

A federal appeals court has ruled that the Internal Revenue Service must release e-mail advice prepared by the Office of Chief Counsel for field personnel. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit disagreed with the IRS, which contended that e-mails prepared in less than two hours…

Jul 25, 2007 7:52 PM CDT

Court Bars Longer Trucker Hours

A federal appeals court has struck down a rule that allowed truckers to drive 11 consecutive hours a day. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled yesterday that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration failed to provide an adequate explanation for the 2005 rule, the Associated Press…

Jul 25, 2007 2:32 PM CDT

Court to Review Classified Gitmo Evidence

A federal appeals court has ordered the government to disclose classified evidence against Guantanamo detainees to the court and the lawyers who are defending them. The ruling on Friday by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit indicates the court intends to conduct full reviews of…

Jul 23, 2007 2:31 PM CDT