9th Circuit Court

Judiciary employees filed 17 complaints against federal judges over 3-year period, new report says

Judiciary employees filed 161 complaints alleging wrongful conduct over three fiscal years beginning in 2020, and 17 of those complaints concerned judges, according to a report by the Government Accountability Office released Tuesday.

Jul 31, 2024 11:17 AM CDT

Punishing first grader for ‘Black Lives Mater’ drawing violates First Amendment, appeal argues

A California school district violated the First Amendment when it punished a first grader who drew a picture for her friend with the phrases “Black Lives Mater" and "any life” written on it, the Pacific Legal Foundation has argued in an appellate brief.

Jul 25, 2024 2:31 PM CDT

Federal judge who abruptly resigned had been referred for possible impeachment recommendation

A federal judge in Alaska abruptly announced his resignation last week after a determination that he had “no filter” in conversations with his law clerks, had “no hesitation” in using inappropriate language, and had a “sexualized relationship” with a law clerk.

Jul 9, 2024 2:30 PM CDT

Citing ‘Sixth Amendment nightmare,’ 9th Circuit allows pretrial release of defendants without lawyers

A federal appeals court upheld an injunction Friday that requires Oregon to release pretrial defendants from custody if they have not received a lawyer within seven days.

Jun 4, 2024 2:06 PM CDT

9th Circuit ‘all but ignored’ aggravating factors in death-penalty case, Supreme Court says

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 Thursday against an Arizona death row inmate’s quest to change the sentence that he received by presenting additional mitigating evidence about his psychological problems and childhood abuse.

May 30, 2024 1:01 PM CDT

Litigation continues in federal actions alleging fraud with LDS tithings

Updated: The complaint states that between 1993 and 2017, Huntsman donated 10% of his annual income to the church, which amounted to millions, and was misled to think the money would not be used to finance commercial projects.

May 23, 2024 1:42 PM CDT

Ban on gun possession by felons is unconstitutional as applied to some offenders, 9th Circuit rules

In a 2-1 decision, the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals court said the federal ban on gun possession is unconstitutional as applied to a nonviolent offender who had served his prison time.

May 13, 2024 3:15 PM CDT

Federal judge reprimanded for handcuffing teen spectator in scared-straight approach

A federal judge who ordered a defendant’s daughter handcuffed to warn her about the consequences of drug use has been reprimanded by the judicial council of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at San Francisco.

May 2, 2024 10:58 AM CDT

10 temporary federal judgeships would become permanent under Senate bill approved on voice vote

The U.S. Senate on Saturday approved by voice vote a bipartisan bill that would make permanent 10 temporary federal district court judgeships.

Apr 23, 2024 9:36 AM CDT

Supreme Court divided over homeless ban and rights of the unhoused

Supreme Court justices expressed concern on Monday about punishing homeless people for sleeping outside when they have nowhere else to go, while also struggling with how to ensure local and state leaders have flexibility to deal with the growing number of unhoused individuals nationwide.

Apr 22, 2024 2:35 PM CDT

Supreme Court will consider whether criminalizing homelessness violates Eighth Amendment

Few doubt that the court’s decision in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson will be consequential for the nation’s homeless population and for those trying to help. “This case is really about whether the Constitution protects unhoused people against punishment when there is no shelter or housing available to them.”

Apr 18, 2024 1:00 PM CDT

Chemerinsky: Will SCOTUS consider it cruel and unusual punishment to prosecute homeless people for sleeping in public?

Can a city make it a crime for unhoused people to sleep in public if there are no other places for them to go? On April 22, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on this issue in City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson, a case of enormous interest to the many cities that are struggling with burgeoning populations of unhoused people.

Apr 15, 2024 9:00 AM CDT

Judiciary employees filed 17 complaints against federal judges over 3-year period, new report says

Punishing first grader for ‘Black Lives Mater’ drawing violates First Amendment, appeal argues

Federal judge who abruptly resigned had been referred for possible impeachment recommendation

Citing ‘Sixth Amendment nightmare,’ 9th Circuit allows pretrial release of defendants without lawyers

9th Circuit ‘all but ignored’ aggravating factors in death-penalty case, Supreme Court says

Litigation continues in federal actions alleging fraud with LDS tithings

Ban on gun possession by felons is unconstitutional as applied to some offenders, 9th Circuit rules

Federal judge reprimanded for handcuffing teen spectator in scared-straight approach

10 temporary federal judgeships would become permanent under Senate bill approved on voice vote

Supreme Court divided over homeless ban and rights of the unhoused

Supreme Court will consider whether criminalizing homelessness violates Eighth Amendment

Chemerinsky: Will SCOTUS consider it cruel and unusual punishment to prosecute homeless people for sleeping in public?

9th Circuit revives suit to register racehorse as ‘Malpractice Meuser,’ thought to be lawyer jab

Qualified immunity shield may depend on size and publication rate of federal appeals court, new report says

Do state abortion bans conflict with federal Medicare funding law? Delegates take a position

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