Environmental Law

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson writes first appellate opinion; she’s seen as a potential SCOTUS nominee

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has released the first opinion written by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, who is considered a potential U.S. Supreme Court nominee to replace retiring Justice Stephen G. Breyer.

Feb 2, 2022 10:40 AM CST

Troubled Waters

As interest in outdoor recreation has surged, more people are clashing with property owners over the right to be on the waterways. The conflict over the uses of—and even the definitions of—public and private space is a legal conundrum bedeviling locales across the country.

Feb 1, 2022 4:00 AM CST

Meet 12 ABA members who inspired us in 2021

The ABA Journal regularly profiles exceptional ABA members in its Members Who Inspire series. In the past year, we featured many in the legal field who are encouraging and energizing others with their good work, including advocating for inmates on death row, mentoring prospective law students of African descent and fighting to stop bullying in the workplace.

Dec 17, 2021 9:34 AM CST

Check out our 9 favorite Instagram posts from 2021

It's been quite a year in the legal industry and for coverage here at the ABA Journal, and it's hard to believe that 2022 is right around the corner.

Dec 13, 2021 10:16 AM CST

How I went from civil litigator to animal policy strategist

Nearly 40 years into my legal career, I own and manage the Animal Policy Group and am shoulder-deep in every issue involving pets in the United States, usually on behalf of the biggest players in the pet sector—from veterinary to pharmaceutical, nutrition to retail and even veterinary colleges.

Dec 1, 2021 2:20 AM CST

ABA observers will share their takeaways from the UN climate change conference in Glasgow

Next week, ABA members who attended and observed COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, will share their takeaways from the annual summit and ideas for how others can get involved.

Nov 24, 2021 8:59 AM CST

Officer who shot service dogs not entitled to qualified immunity, 8th Circuit says

A federal appeals court ruled Monday that a Minneapolis police officer was not entitled to qualified immunity in a lawsuit alleging that his shooting of two service dogs violated the constitutional rights of their owners.

Nov 16, 2021 11:06 AM CST

Weekly Briefs: Steven Bannon indicted for contempt of Congress; DC Circuit gives Trump initial records victory

Steve Bannon is indicted for contempt of Congress Steve Bannon, a former adviser to former President Donald Trump, was indicted Friday for contempt of Congress for failing to comply with a subpoena issued by the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Bannon is charged with…

Nov 12, 2021 3:43 PM CST

Imprisoned, disbarred lawyer who fought Chevron has been turned into an ‘environmental martyr’

Imprisoned, disbarred environmental lawyer Steven Donziger has become a cause celebre as he fights a six-month sentence for refusing to surrender his electronic devices in a lawsuit against him by the Chevron Corp.

Nov 8, 2021 2:06 PM CST

Weekly Briefs: ‘Copyright troll’ lawyer is suspended; law grad who married Japanese princess fails bar

‘Copyright troll’ lawyer is suspended in NY A New York appeals court has suspended a lawyer once deemed a “copyright troll” because of the large number of copyright complaints that he filed on behalf of photographers. The Appellate Division’s Second Judicial Department of the New York Supreme Court suspended lawyer…

Nov 5, 2021 3:16 PM CDT

SCOTUS accepts climate-change case on EPA authority to limit carbon emissions

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to consider the extent of the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to limit carbon emissions under a provision of the Clean Air Act.

Nov 1, 2021 12:35 PM CDT

Tree ordinance was an unconstitutional taking, 6th Circuit rules

A Michigan township’s ordinance requiring property owners to replace trees that they remove from their property or pay into a tree fund was an unconstitutional condition on their rights under the takings clause, a federal appeals court has ruled.

Oct 14, 2021 11:02 AM CDT

Disbarred lawyer who fought Chevron gets prison time for disobeying court orders

Disbarred environmental lawyer Steven Donziger was sentenced to six months in prison Friday for refusing to surrender his electronic devices and disobeying other court orders in a suit against him by the Chevron Corp.

Oct 4, 2021 11:16 AM CDT

As more courts use facility dogs, some defense lawyers object

In a justice system that can sometimes appear hostile, facility dogs can comfort child witnesses as they talk about the most traumatic experiences of their lives. Because the dogs lie at children’s feet in the witness box, jurors may never see them. But according to some defense lawyers, when judges say witnesses will be assisted by canines, that makes them appear more sympathetic or believable, violating the due process rights of their clients.

Oct 1, 2021 2:50 AM CDT

Comfort dogs can be used to assist witnesses testifying in criminal trials, top state court rules

Trial courts may allow comfort dogs for witnesses at criminal trials in appropriate circumstances, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ruled. The court on Wednesday affirmed the 2018 third-degree murder conviction of Sheron Jalen Purnell, ruling that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by allowing a comfort dog during the testimony of a minor with autism.

Sep 23, 2021 10:18 AM CDT