Federal Circuit Court

Afternoon Briefs: Trump signs policing order; rogue worker tweets from court’s Twitter account

Trump signs executive order encouraging chokehold limits President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday that encourages better policing practices. The order allocates discretionary grants to police departments that seek credentials from organizations certified by the U.S. attorney general. The organizations would review police department practices, confirm that the departments…

Jun 16, 2020 3:33 PM CDT

Journalist blinded in Minneapolis protests sues law enforcement citing First Amendment violation

A freelance journalist who was blinded in one eye while covering recent protests in Minneapolis is suing the city and state and local law enforcement for using excessive force and violating her First Amendment rights.

Jun 11, 2020 1:05 PM CDT

Judge blocks ICE courthouse arrests in New York, stresses need for ‘fully functioning state courts’

A federal judge ruled Wednesday that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests at courthouses in New York are illegal.

Jun 11, 2020 10:13 AM CDT

Federal judge orders mental health review of Guantanamo Bay prisoner

A federal judge has ordered a panel of American and foreign doctors to evaluate the mental health of a prisoner at Guantánamo Bay, the first time such a mixed medical commission has been used.

Mar 9, 2020 2:03 PM CDT

Federal judge questions Barr’s credibility and orders review of Mueller report redactions

A federal judge said on Thursday he had "grave concerns about the objectivity" of Attorney General William Barr and his handling of the Muller report's release last year.

Mar 6, 2020 10:30 AM CST

Indiana AG may face license suspension, despite dismissal of sexual misconduct suit

A federal judge dismissed Monday a lawsuit brought against Indiana’s attorney general by four women who accused him of groping them at a 2018 party. The judge said the allegations against Curtis Hill are “disgraceful” but don’t violate any federal laws.

Mar 3, 2020 1:32 PM CST

Apple agrees to pay up to $500 million in settlement over slow phones

Apple has agreed to pay up to $500 million to settle a class action lawsuit that accuses the multinational technology company of slowing down older iPhones to induce owners to buy new models.

Mar 3, 2020 10:50 AM CST

Judge blocks ‘extensive and burdensome’ state law on ballot initiatives

A federal judge in South Dakota ruled Thursday that a new law requiring people who circulate ballot petitions to provide the state with their personal information is unconstitutional.

Jan 10, 2020 4:03 PM CST

As federal anti-hacking law turns 35, its meaning, reach and effectiveness are still murky

What had started as a pre-internet computer crime law affecting national security and finance has become a statute that prosecutors, plaintiff attorneys and defense counsels agree isn’t right for its time, and maybe never was. Even with broad agreement on the problem, however, the solution is less clear.

Aug 19, 2019 6:00 AM CDT

In patent cases, imposing attorney fees will ‘hamper equal access to justice,’ ABA says

In an amicus brief filed with the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday, the ABA says: “Imposing governmental attorneys’ fees on patent applicants who choose civil actions under [the law] will hamper equal access to justice and chill the assertion of meritorious claims.” The Supreme Court is considering in Peter v.…

Jul 23, 2019 12:52 PM CDT

Judge faces obstruction of justice charges; ICE says she helped immigrant evade courthouse arrest

A Newton District Court judge and a state court officer are facing criminal charges for allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant evade U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the courthouse in April 2018.

Apr 25, 2019 3:35 PM CDT

Federal judge sides with female inmates who filed class action suit over widespread sleep deprivation

No more 2:30 a.m. pill calls, 4 a.m. breakfasts or noisy overnight maintenance in jails in one San Francisco Bay Area county, a federal judge ruled Monday. In a preliminary injunction order, District Judge James Donato of the Northern District of California ruled in favor of a group of female…

Apr 24, 2019 12:32 PM CDT

Army reservist, ACLU drop lawsuit over gun range’s anti-Muslim sign

A U.S. Army reservist dropped his federal lawsuit against an eastern Oklahoma gun range on Tuesday after it agreed to remove its “Muslim-free establishment” sign.

Apr 24, 2019 10:47 AM CDT

Former NFL players fail to move painkillers lawsuit forward

In the latest ruling regarding the NFL’s alleged “return-to-play” scheme, a federal judge held that retired players failed to prove that the league was responsible for handing out painkillers and pushing the players back onto the field. U.S. District Judge William Alsup of the Northern District of California said in…

Apr 22, 2019 4:09 PM CDT

Trump sues House committee chairman to block investigation into finances

President Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, to block a subpoena sent last week seeking information about his finances.

Apr 22, 2019 11:43 AM CDT