Category: Federal
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U.S. Supreme Court releases January 2021 argument calendar
The U.S. Supreme Court has released its January argument calendar for the 2020-2021 term. The court will hear five hours of oral argument in seven cases between January 11 and January 19. So far, the court has agreed to hear 46 cases during its 2020-2021 term. January 11, 2021 • Albence v. Guzman Chavez January…
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Republican and Democrat national party committees raised $467 million between October 15 and November 23
Six party committees raised a combined $467 million between October 15 and November 23 this year, according to post-general election campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission on December 3. One more campaign finance report is due this cycle, covering fundraising and spending through December 31. Democrats and Republicans each have three party…
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President Trump executive order outlines use of artificial intelligence by federal agencies
On December 3, Donald Trump signed an executive order that aims to promote the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by federal agencies while protecting public trust and upholding the law. The order directs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to post a roadmap for future policy guidance about AI consistent with the…
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Voter registration deadline for Georgia’s Senate runoff elections is Dec. 7
Dec. 7 is the deadline to register to vote in Georgia’s Jan. 5 runoff elections. Eligible voters may vote in the runoff even if they did not vote in the Nov. 3 general elections, as long as they are registered by the deadline. Georgia’s regular and special Senate runoffs will determine control of the next…
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Luke Letlow wins Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District race
Luke Letlow (R) defeated Lance Harris (R) in the general election for Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District on Dec. 5. With all precincts reporting, Letlow received 62% of the unofficial election night vote.
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Two judicial nominees confirmed to federal district courts
On December 1, 2020, the U.S. Senate confirmed two nominees to federal district court judgeships. Philip Calabrese was confirmed to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio by a vote of 58–35. Taylor McNeel was confirmed to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi by a vote…
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U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals rejects judicial deference to agency commentary that expanded sentencing guidelines
On December 1, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled unanimously in U.S. v. Malik Nasir that courts should reject judicial deference to United States Sentencing Commission commentary that expands federal sentencing guidelines. The case involves Malik Nasir’s marijuana conviction and the decision to sentence him as a career offender using definitions…
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Johnson, Beaton receive judicial commission as U.S. District Court judges
On December 1, 2020, Kristi Johnson received her judicial commission to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. On the same date, Benjamin Beaton received his judicial commission to the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. Johnson was nominated to the court by President Donald Trump (R)…
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Trump has appointed second-most federal judges through December 1 of a president’s fourth year
Donald Trump has appointed and the Senate has confirmed 227 Article III federal judges through December 1, 2020, his fourth year in office. This is the second-most Article III judicial appointments through this point in all presidencies since Jimmy Carter (D). The Senate had confirmed 260 of Carter’s appointees at this point in his term.…
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U.S. Supreme Court hears oral argument in case involving when people may challenge IRS regulations
On December 1, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in CIC Services v. Internal Revenue Service, which asks whether a law that blocks preemptive lawsuits against tax collection applies to potentially unlawful regulations issued by agencies that are not taxes. CIC Services, LLC argues citizens should be able to “challenge illegal regulations in court,…