Category: Federal
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SCOTUS grants review in capital case
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) on Sept. 8 accepted a capital case to its merits docket for the 2021-2022 term. The case, Ramirez v. Collier, originated from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, located in New Orleans. John Ramirez filed an emergency appeal with the court on Sept. 7…
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Biden withdraws Chipman from consideration for ATF director
President Joe Biden (D) announced on Sept. 9, 2021, that he was withdrawing David Chipman from consideration for director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Chipman, a former ATF agent and senior policy advisor at Giffords, had been nominated in April 2021. The Senate Judiciary Committee declined to report on Chipman’s…
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Federal appeals court rejects claim that Georgia requirement that voters pay postage for absentee/mail-in ballots amounts to a poll tax
On Aug. 27, 2021, a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit unanimously affirmed a lower court’s decision finding that a Georgia law requiring voters to pay the price of postage for returning absentee/mail-in ballots does not constitute an illegal poll tax. The plaintiffs had argued that requiring absentee/mail-in…
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Federal Register weekly update: More than 250 presidential documents issued so far in 2021
The Federal Register is a daily journal of federal government activity that includes presidential documents, proposed and final rules, and public notices. It is a common measure of an administration’s overall regulatory activity, accounting for both regulatory and deregulatory actions. From August 30 through September 3, the Federal Register grew by 1,608 pages for a…
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President Biden has appointed the most federal judges through September 1 of a president’s first year
President Joe Biden (D) has appointed and the Senate has confirmed nine Article III federal judges through Sept. 1 of his first year in office. This is the most Article III judicial appointments through this point in all presidencies going back to President Ronald Reagan (R). The Senate had confirmed six of President Donald Trump’s…
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Ballotpedia releases federal judicial vacancy count for August 2021
In this month’s federal judicial vacancy count, Ballotpedia tracked nominations, confirmations, and vacancies to all United States Article III federal courts from Aug. 2 to Sept. 1. Ballotpedia publishes the federal judicial vacancy count at the start of each month. HIGHLIGHTS Vacancies: There have been four new judicial vacancies since the July 2021 report. There…
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OIRA reviewed 37 significant rules in August
The White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) reviewed a total of 37 significant regulatory actions issued by federal agencies in August 2021. The agency approved one rule without changes and approved the intent of 33 rules while recommending changes to their content. Three rules were withdrawn from the review process. OIRA reviewed…
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Who’s raising the most money so far this year? We’ve got that data in eight states
Campaign finance requirements govern the raising and spending of money for political campaigns. While not the only factor in an election’s outcome, successful fundraising can provide a candidate with advantages, such as the ability to boost name recognition and promote a message. In addition, fundraising can indicate enthusiasm for candidates and parties. The articles below…
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Update: SCOTUS issues 5-4 ruling rejecting emergency appeal to Texas law banning abortions after six weeks of pregnancy
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued a 5-4 ruling on Sept. 1, denying a request to block enforcement of a Texas law banning abortion procedures after six weeks of pregnancy and authorizing private civil right of action related to violations of the law. The latter authorization allows private citizens to bring civil…
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SCOTUS declines to act in emergency appeal to Texas law banning abortions after six weeks of pregnancy
The Supreme Court of the United States on Aug. 31 did not respond to an emergency appeal filed by a group of abortion providers seeking to block enforcement of a Texas law banning abortion procedures after six weeks of pregnancy and authorizing private civil right of action related to violations of the law. The latter…