6th Circuit Court

Bernice Donald is Confirmed to the 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals

A longtime federal judge in Memphis, Tenn., breezed through the U.S. Senate confirmation process today with bipartisan support for a seat on the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. After 30 minutes of debate, U.S. District Judge Bernice Donald was approved by a 96-2 vote, reports the Commercial Appeal. She…

Sep 7, 2011 12:11 AM CDT

As Hackers Steal Up to $1B Annually from Biz Bank Accounts, Victims May Have No Recourse

Some $43 million was stolen in conventional bricks-and-mortar robberies, heists and stickups of U.S. banks last year. Meanwhile, cybercrooks stole hundreds of millions in what is being called a national security threat. The exact amount isn’t known. But security experts say up to $1 billion annually is being taken by…

Aug 5, 2011 12:28 AM CDT

College Affirmative Action Could Be Back Before Supreme Court

Two federal appeals decisions this year involving affirmative action and college admissions could bring the issue back before the U.S. Supreme Court. The Washington Post takes a look at the two cases. In one, Fisher v. University of Texas, the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a…

Aug 2, 2011 10:30 AM CDT

Admitted Miley Cyrus Hacker Beats That Rap But Reportedly Pleads on 2 Other Charges

A 21-year-old who admittedly hacked into Miley Cyrus’ email and Myspace accounts and posted private images of the young singer hasn’t been charged with doing so. However, Josh Holly, also known online as “Trainreq,” pleaded guilty today in federal court in Nashville, Tenn., to other charges related to his possession…

Aug 1, 2011 11:19 PM CDT

As Federal Judge Blasts His ‘Ready, Fire, Aim’ Tactics, Embattled Lawyer Counts His Blessings

A federal judge arguably added to attorney Eric Deters’ troubles today by criticizing his “ready, fire, aim” approach to litigation and requiring him to get an independent lawyer, selected by Deters and OK’d by the court, to review his law firm operations. But Deters, a flamboyant trial lawyer and radio…

Jul 13, 2011 10:48 PM CDT

Prominent Lawyer Gets 8 Months as Her Attorney Husband Urges Court to Blame Him in Tax Case

A third-generation lawyer in a prominent Michigan legal family was sentenced to eight months yesterday in a federal tax case. Nancy Dilley, who pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor of failing to file a 2007 tax return, must also serve a year of supervised release after she completes her prison term…

Jul 7, 2011 4:54 PM CDT

6th Circuit Upholds Health Care Law’s Insurance Mandate

A federal appeals court has upheld the insurance mandate in the Obama administration’s health care law. In a 2-1 opinion (PDF), the Cincinnati-based 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a requirement for individuals to buy health insurance or to pay a tax penalty. The plaintiffs challenging the law—the Thomas…

Jun 29, 2011 5:04 PM CDT

City Settles Suit, Ex-City Attorney’s Law License Is Suspended re Court Sex During Plea Negotiations

The city of Holland, Mich., and a former deputy city attorney have settled on undisclosed terms a federal lawsuit filed by a defendant in a drunken-driving case who said she was raped by the lawyer, Carl Gabrielse, in a jury room bathroom during plea negotiations in a Holland District Court…

Jun 21, 2011 5:23 PM CDT

Jury Deadlocks in Real Estate Attorney’s Mortgage Fraud Trial

A federal jury has deadlocked in the mortgage fraud trial of an Iowa attorney accused of participating in a scheme to trick lenders into approving inflated loans that included kickbacks paid to home buyers. The buyers also reportedly misrepresented their income on loan applications, because they lacked the income to…

Jun 16, 2011 6:25 PM CDT

Detroit Seeks $10M from Ex-Partner of Venable, Says She Didn’t Do Job Due to Relationship with Mayor

An ongoing dispute over $10 million paid by the city of Detroit to a former partner of Venable and Saul Ewing who served as independent police monitor for more than five years has now moved to federal court. The city has also upped the ante against attorney Sheryl Robinson Wood…

Jun 15, 2011 10:40 PM CDT

Daughter’s Face Pasted Onto Woman’s Body Isn’t Child Porn, Calif. Court Says

A California court ordered a Santa Clara country judge to resentence Joseph Gerber, who was convicted in 2009 of possessing child pornography after pasting photos of his 13-year-old daughter’s head onto bodies of women in graphic poses. California’s child porn ban “requires a real child to have actually engaged in…

Jun 10, 2011 8:59 PM CDT

6th Circuit Reinstates Tennessee Inmate’s Religious Freedom Claim

A federal appeals court has resurrected a Tennessee inmate’s claim that he should be allowed to receive hate-filled white supremacist material in prison because it is part of his religion. The Cincinnati-based 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled (PDF) Wednesday that the inmate’s claim had been improperly dismissed by…

Jun 3, 2011 9:46 PM CDT

A Second, ‘Arguably’ Less Friendly Appeals Panel Considers Health Care Law

A plaintiff challenging the new health care law could derail a federal appellate ruling on its constitutionality because she bought health insurance from her employer last October. Arguing on Wednesday before the Cincinnati-based 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, U.S. Solicitor General Neal Katyal said the case should be dismissed…

Jun 2, 2011 1:15 PM CDT

Honigman Settles with Ex-Assistant Who Said She Injured Her Back While Wearing Required High Heels

A Detroit-based law firm has settled on undisclosed terms a federal discrimination lawsuit brought by a former executive assistant who alleged that she injured her back while wearing high heels Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn required of female employees, reports Crain’s Detroit Business. Denise Fitzhenry sued both the firm and…

Jun 1, 2011 9:35 PM CDT

ABA on Blind Applicant’s Suit: LSAT Isn’t Required; Law Schools Decide How to Weigh Any Test

In a written public statement responding to a federal lawsuit filed last week that accuses the American Bar Association of discriminating against those with visual impairments by requiring law school applicants to take an admission test that includes questions requiring the ability to diagram and demonstrate visual reasoning skills, the…

Jun 1, 2011 10:00 AM CDT