9th Circuit Court

Afternoon Briefs: $75M verdict for exonerated half brothers; surprise at high-profile lawyer’s disbarment

Jurors award $75M to exonerated half brothers Jurors in Raleigh, North Carolina, awarded $75 million Friday to two half brothers exonerated in the rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl after DNA evidence pointed to a convicted murderer as the perpetrator. The brothers, Henry McCollum and Leon Brown, had spent…

May 17, 2021 3:12 PM CDT

Maker of Snapchat can be sued for speed filter used by youths before fatal crash, 9th Circuit rules

A federal appeals court has ruled that Snapchat isn’t protected from liability by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act in a case alleging that three youths died in a car crash after using the app’s speed filter.

May 6, 2021 9:46 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

Detainee’s quest for information on secret CIA interrogation site will get Supreme Court review

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to decide whether the state-secrets privilege protects information about a secret CIA jail in Poland in a lawsuit by a suspected terrorist.

Apr 26, 2021 3:10 PM CDT

Threats of sham lawsuit against well-known singer constitute a crime, 9th Circuit says

Threats of baseless litigation can amount to extortion under the Hobbs Act, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at San Francisco ruled Tuesday.

Apr 16, 2021 11:56 AM CDT

Woman is eligible for asylum because domestic abusers persecuted her for feminist opinions, 9th Circuit says

A woman who was persecuted by domestic abusers because of a feminist political opinion is eligible for asylum in the United States, a federal appeals court ruled Monday.

Apr 6, 2021 2:47 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: No-mask lawyer’s lawsuit tossed; suit alleges 60-plus mistaken-identity arrests

Judge tosses case for lawyer’s refusal to wear mask Judge Lawrence Knipel of New York City has tossed a car-crash lawsuit because of a lawyer’s refusal to wear a face mask during jury selection. The lawyer representing the plaintiff, Howard Greenwald, wore a face shield but no mask. Greenwald, 68,…

Mar 29, 2021 4:39 PM CDT

As madness moves through March, SCOTUS considers NCAA case over athlete compensation

Just days before the March Madness tournament crowns a champion, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in a high-stakes battle between the National Collegiate Athletic Association and a legal class of student-athletes from the top revenue-producing sports of football and men’s and women’s basketball.

Mar 25, 2021 2:01 PM 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 judiciary seeks 79 new judgeships, money to improve courthouse security

The Judicial Conference of the United States on Tuesday recommended that Congress create 79 new judgeships, including two on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at San Francisco.

Mar 17, 2021 9:56 AM CDT

9th Circuit upholds part of federal anti-riot law in case against white supremacists

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at San Francisco on Thursday revived the prosecution of four white supremacists under a federal anti-riot law, even as it struck down some parts of the law for infringing protected speech.

Mar 5, 2021 10:44 AM CST

Afternoon Briefs: BigLaw firm offers gifts on top of bonuses; second state adopts consumer privacy law

Associates at this BigLaw firm get pricey gifts Associates at Davis Polk & Wardwell are getting a choice of gifts as a thanks for their hard work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gift choices include an outdoor adventure excursion for two, a $1,000 Marriott gift card along with a Tumi suitcase,…

Mar 4, 2021 4:30 PM CST

9th Circuit revives Oregon lawyers’ freedom-of-association challenge to mandatory bar membership

The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has revived a First Amendment challenge to the Oregon State Bar's mandatory membership requirement.

Mar 1, 2021 3:00 PM CST

Chemerinsky: Voting rights cases before SCOTUS could have profound effects on future elections

On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in important cases concerning the meaning of the Voting Rights Act of 1965: Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee and Arizona Republican Party v. Democratic National Committee. The cases involve Section 2 of the act, which prohibits voting practices or procedures that discriminate on the basis of race, color or language.

Feb 25, 2021 1:03 PM CST

Judges tell of case delays, high caseloads as House committee considers expanding judgeships

Three federal judges told a House subcommittee Wednesday about case delays and high workloads as lawmakers considered whether to expand the number of federal judgeships.

Feb 25, 2021 12:08 PM CST