Category: Federal
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U.S. Supreme Court dismisses case about 2019 DHS immigration rule expanding definition of public charge
On March 9, 2021, the clerk of the U.S. Supreme Court granted a request from the Biden administration and the groups challenging a 2019 immigration rule to dismiss Department of Homeland Security v. New York. The case involved whether the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and federal immigration…
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Biden signs $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
On Thursday, March 11, President Joe Biden (D) signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Here’s a look at some of the provisions contained in the $1.9 trillion package: • The law provides for a third round of relief checks to eligible individuals and couples. Individuals and dependents earning up to $75,000 and married…
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Chief Judge Timothy Stanceu to assume senior status in April 2021
Chief Judge Timothy Stanceu of the United States Court of International Trade announced that he will assume senior status on April 5, 2021. Stanceu joined the court in 2003 after being nominated by President George W. Bush (R). He became the chief judge on July 1, 2014. Stanceu graduated from Colgate University with his bachelor’s…
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SCOTUS grants review in one case for its 2021-2022 term
On March 8, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) accepted one case for review during its 2021-2022 term. With the addition of this case, the court has granted review in a total of eight cases for the term, which is scheduled to begin on October 4, 2021. Thompson v. Clark concerns the Supreme…
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SCOTUS issues 8-1 opinion, Chief Justice Roberts dissents
On March 8, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued an opinion in the case Uzuegbunam v. Preczewski, which concerned nominal damages claims and whether they provide legal standing in federal cases. Nominal damages claims are when a judge finds in favor of one party in a lawsuit but concludes that no real…
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Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) will not seek re-election in 2022
Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) announced on March 8 that he would not run for re-election in 2022. First elected to the Senate in 2010, Blunt is the top Republican on the Committee on Rules and Administration and one of 20 members of Congress to sit on the Select Committee on Intelligence. He was last elected…
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Candy Christophe (D), Julia Letlow (R), and 10 other candidates running to represent Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District
Twelve candidates are running in a March 20 special primary election to represent Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District. The election was called to fill the vacancy left after Congressman-elect Luke Letlow (R) died in December 2020. The 12 candidates who filed for the seat include nine Republicans, two independents, and one Democrat. Heading into the election,…
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Federal Register weekly update: 60 new final rules
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 regulatory activity. From March 1 through March 5—the seventh week of the Biden administration—the Federal Register grew by 1,302 pages for a year-to-date total of…
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Early voting begins for Louisiana’s 2nd Congressional District
Early voting begins March 6 and is open until March 13 for Louisiana’s 2021 elections, including a special election in Louisiana’s 2nd Congressional District. The election takes place on March 20. Fifteen candidates are running to fill the seat left vacant when then President-elect Joe Biden (D) picked Cedric Richmond (D), who represented the district…