D.C. Circuit Court

Judge to Hold Senior DOJ Lawyers in Contempt in Sen. Stevens Case

In the latest chapter of an ongoing saga of embarrassment for the U.S. Department of Justice, a federal judge angrily said he will hold four of its prosecutors in contempt for failing to comply with a post-trial court order to turn over documents in the case of former Sen. Ted…

Feb 13, 2009 8:40 PM CST

D.C. Circuit Won’t Review Enemy Combatant Status of Gitmo Detainees

About 175 cases filed by Guantanamo detainees seeking a review of their enemy combatant designations won’t get a federal appeals court hearing under a decision today by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The appeals court ruled it no longer has jurisdiction to hear challenges to enemy…

Jan 9, 2009 5:10 PM CST

Prosecutor Seeks More Charges in Case of Murdered D.C. Area Attorney

New evidence tampering charges are being sought against three men already facing obstruction charges in the death of a Washington, D.C.-area lawyer, including an Arent Fox partner on paid leave from his firm. Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenn Kirschner says his office is seeking additional grand jury indictments against Arent Fox…

Dec 22, 2008 6:26 PM CST

Yale Sued by Peru Over Inca Artifacts

Upping the ante in negotiations over the potential return to the Republic of Peru of Inca artifacts obtained by an explorer affiliated with Yale University almost 100 years ago, the country has now sued the renowned educational institution in federal court. Although general counsel Dorothy Robinson says Yale is eager…

Dec 9, 2008 9:09 PM CST

Appeals Court Bars Sketch Art at Gitmo Argument

We know that courts have been shy to accept cameras in the courtroom. But apparently even the quiet-as-a-church-mouse sketch artist isn’t welcome, at least at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Veteran courtroom sketch artist Bill Hennessy Jr., with his portfolio and tackle box of art supplies,…

Dec 3, 2008 5:39 PM CST

5 Gitmo Detainees Held Unlawfully, Federal Judge Says

Ruling from the bench, a federal judge has found that five Algerian men were held unlawfully for nearly seven years at the U.S. military facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and ordered that they be released “forthwith.” U.S. District Judge Richard Leon also urged the government not to appeal his decision,…

Nov 20, 2008 7:30 PM CST

Ex-Navy Commander Accused of Faking 9/11 Injury at Pentagon

A retired U.S. Navy commander has been criminally charged with allegedly faking a serious injury from the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the Pentagon. Charles Coughlin, 49, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Friday, along with his wife, for allegedly overstating the extent of his injuries on…

Nov 4, 2008 9:46 PM CST

DOJ Ordered to Turn Over Papers on Gitmo Detainee’s Treatment

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has ordered prosecutors to turn over documents shedding light on a Guantanamo detainee’s claims of torture in a case that troubled the British High Court. Ruling in the case of Binyam Mohamed, U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan ordered the Justice Department to turn over…

Oct 31, 2008 4:23 PM CDT

Judge Adopts Definition of Enemy Combatant that Matches the Pentagon’s

A federal judge’s definition of the term “enemy combatant” matches that used by the Pentagon in 2004 and more than 550 tribunals that reviewed the status of detainees at Guantanamo Bay. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon of Washington, D.C., will use the definition as he decides an estimated two dozen…

Oct 28, 2008 2:22 PM CDT

Deliberating Jurors Spot Error in Sen. Stevens Indictment

Oops. Jurors deliberating in the high-profile corruption trial of Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens spotted an error today in his indictment. “Among the seven charges in the indictment, prosecutors said that Stevens checked ‘no’ on financial documents when asked whether he received any gifts in 2001. Actually, he checked ‘yes,’ and…

Oct 27, 2008 7:21 PM CDT

Appeals Court Blocks Release of Chinese Muslims From Gitmo

The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has halted the release of 17 Chinese Muslims from the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay. The three-judge panel wants the release blocked until it hears more legal arguments Nov. 24, the Washington Post reports. On Oct. 7, U.S.…

Oct 21, 2008 6:26 PM CDT

Tobacco Lawyer Hits Judge for Copying U.S. Arguments—Including Typos

A tobacco lawyer claims in an appellate brief that a federal judge who ordered cigarette makers to stop using “light” descriptions for cigarettes copied government language in her 2006 opinion—including two of its typographical errors. Arnold & Porter partner David Eggert claims in his brief that U.S. District Judge Gladys…

Oct 14, 2008 2:16 PM CDT

Appeals Court Blocks Release of 17 Guantanamo Detainees

A federal appeals court has blocked a judge’s order requiring the release of 17 Chinese Muslims at Guantanamo into the United States. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued a temporary stay yesterday, according to the New York Times and Washington Post. The Justice Department had opposed…

Oct 9, 2008 10:40 AM CDT

Judge Orders Release of 17 Gitmo Prisoners into the US

A federal judge has ruled that 17 Chinese Muslims at Guantanamo Bay who are no longer considered enemy combatants should be released into the United States by Friday. U.S. District Judge Ricardo Urbina of Washington, D.C., said the Constitution bars the government from holding the men indefinitely without cause, the…

Oct 7, 2008 5:06 PM CDT

Judge Considers Dismissing Stevens Indictment over Withheld FBI Records

Updated: A federal judge heard arguments Thursday on whether to dismiss the indictment or declare a mistrial in the prosecution of Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens. U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan suspended Stevens’ trial because of revelations the government did not disclose FBI records that could have helped Stevens’ defense, report…

Oct 2, 2008 4:11 PM CDT