9th Circuit Court

Afternoon Briefs: Police reform part of Breonna Taylor settlement; state chief justice dies

Louisville will pay $12M to family of Breonna Taylor The city of Louisville, Kentucky, has agreed to pay $12 million to settle a lawsuit by the family of Breonna Taylor, who was killed by police when her boyfriend fired at officers, thinking they were intruders, during a raid of her…

Sep 15, 2020 4:49 PM CDT

Additions to Trump’s SCOTUS short list include 3 GOP senators, 2 judges rated ‘not qualified’

Three Republican senators are among 20 lawyers added to President Donald Trump’s U.S. Supreme Court short list, which was released Wednesday.

Sep 10, 2020 10:58 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: 7th Circuit rules on jail’s COVID-19 safety measures; ABA asks FEMA to activate disaster legal services

7th Circuit weighs in on federal judge’s order to curb COVID-19 at Cook County Jail The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at Chicago affirmed Tuesday most of a federal judge’s order for the Cook County sheriff to enact measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the county jail,…

Sep 9, 2020 3:50 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Another firm trims salary cuts; lawyer is accused of writing $400K in bad checks

Kelley Drye trims some salary cuts Kelley Drye & Warren is reducing 10% pay cuts to 5% cuts for associates, special counsels and staff earning more than $100,000. Reductions in equity partner draws will stay in place for now. (Above the Law, Bloomberg Law) Las Vegas lawyer is accused of…

Sep 3, 2020 4:16 PM CDT

9th Circuit says surveillance program exposed by Snowden was illegal but upholds convictions

A federal appeals court said Wednesday the massive phone data collection program revealed by whistleblower Edward Snowden, who copied and leaked classified information from the National Security Agency in 2013 when he was a CIA employee and subcontractor, violated federal law and possibly the Fourth Amendment.

Sep 3, 2020 12:23 PM CDT

Chemerinsky: Will SCOTUS rulings help decide the 2020 presidential election?

There now have been six instances in which the U.S. Supreme Court has dealt with issues concerning COVID-19 and the election process. The court repeatedly has made clear that it does not want the federal courts changing the rules of an election, even when necessary to protect the right to vote in a pandemic.

Sep 2, 2020 10:18 AM CDT

Which appeals court is most likely to grant qualified immunity to police?

An analysis of qualified immunity cases in federal appeals courts shows significant disparities in grants of qualified immunity to police officers in excessive force cases.

Aug 25, 2020 12:17 PM CDT

4th Circuit strikes down part of federal anti-rioting law but upholds its use in Charlottesville case

The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at Richmond, Virginia, has struck down parts of a federal anti-rioting law while allowing the use of the remainder of the law against two protesters who committed violent acts at a 2017 rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Aug 25, 2020 10:49 AM CDT

California’s ban on high-capacity gun magazines violates Second Amendment, 9th Circuit rules

The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday overturned California’s ban on large-capacity gun magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition.

Aug 17, 2020 3:51 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: FBI lawyer accused of changing email; trial during pandemic surprisingly normal

FBI lawyer accused of altering email in Russia probe An information filed Friday accuses FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith of changing an email used in 2017 to justify continued surveillance of Carter Page, a former adviser to President Donald Trump. Clinesmith changed an email to indicate that Page was not a…

Aug 14, 2020 5:01 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Sheriff bans masks for deputies; judicial panel won’t centralize COVID-19 insurance suits

Florida sheriff bans masks for deputies, office visitors Marion County, Florida, Sheriff Billy Woods has banned face masks for his deputies and visitors to his offices. Woods made some exceptions for deputies at the courthouse, the jail, hospitals, schools and interacting with people suspected of infection with COVID-19. Deputies at…

Aug 13, 2020 4:33 PM CDT

Another ‘shadow docket’ decision? SCOTUS once again blocks relaxed election procedures

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed an injunction that would have made it easier to place a measure on the ballot seeking to reform Oregon’s redistricting process.

Aug 12, 2020 9:57 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: District attorney hints of broader Trump probe; ex-ABA president is new dean

DA may be investigating Trump for possible bank fraud A legal filing suggests that President Donald Trump and his company could be under investigation for possible bank and insurance fraud. Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance filed the memorandum of law Monday in Trump’s fight against a subpoena for financial records…

Aug 3, 2020 3:49 PM CDT

Divided Supreme Court refuses to block border wall construction

In a 5-4 vote Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to block President Donald Trump from spending military funds on the border wall as litigation continues.

Aug 3, 2020 9:55 AM CDT

Supreme Court will decide circuit split over Facebook’s use of text messages

The U.S. Supreme Court granted Facebook Inc.’s request Thursday to review a proposed class action that accuses the social media company of sending unwanted text messages.

Jul 10, 2020 9:49 AM CDT