Category: Federal
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Coronavirus daily update: April 8, 2020
As part of Ballotpedia’s coverage on the coronavirus pandemic, we are compiling a daily summary of major changes in the world of politics, government, and elections happening each day. Here is the summary of changes for April 8, 2020. Federal responses Read more: Political responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020 Dr. Anthony Fauci, the…
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Fauci says U.S. coronavirus deaths likely to be lower than first estimated
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that the number of deaths in the United States resulting from the coronavirus would be below his original projection of 100,000 to 200,000. Fauci said that forecast models updated with new data showed a positive effect, but he did not…
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SCOTUS issues opinions in two cases
On April 6, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued rulings in two cases argued during its October term 2019-2020: Babb v. Wilkie and Kansas v. Glover. The case Babb v. Wilkie came on a writ of certiorari to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit and was argued before SCOTUS…
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Grisham steps down as White House press secretary, rejoins Melania Trump’s staff
On April 7, first lady Melania Trump announced that White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham is leaving her post to become the first lady’s chief of staff. Grisham was first named as the successor to former press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders in June 2019. While serving as press secretary, Grisham held a concurrent role as…
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Coronavirus slows—but doesn’t stop—agency rulemaking and adjudication
Federal agencies are moving forward with rulemaking and adjudication during the coronavirus outbreak, despite calls from lawmakers, advocacy groups, and state and local governments to pause or delay proceedings. Federal agencies continue to take action, albeit with technological modifications and revised timelines in certain cases. *Rulemaking*: Agency rulemaking is continuing during the coronavirus outbreak. Pending…
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U.S. Supreme Court ruling makes it easier to challenge deportation decisions
On March 23, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 in Guerrero-Lasprilla v. Barr that lower courts may review how immigration agencies applied the law in certain deportation cases. The court consolidated this case with Ovalles v. Barr, which posed the same question. The court ruled that deciding whether a deportee diligently pursued immigration officials to…
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Coronavirus daily update: April 7, 2020
As part of Ballotpedia’s coverage on the coronavirus pandemic, we are compiling a daily summary of major changes in the world of politics, government, and elections happening each day. Here is the summary of changes for April 7, 2020. Federal responses Read more: Political responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020 President Donald Trump (R)…
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2,756 major party candidates filed for 2020 Congress elections
As of April 6, 2,756 major party candidates have filed to run for the Senate and House of Representatives in 2020. So far, 398 candidates are filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to run for U.S. Senate in 2020. Of those, 332—173 Democrats and 159 Republicans—are from one of the two major political parties.…
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Justin Walker nominated to U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
On April 3, President Donald Trump (R) announced that he would nominate Judge Justin Walker to the the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to succeed Judge Thomas Griffith. Griffith announced he would retire effective September 1. According to The Washington Post, Walker is the youngest nominee to the D.C. Circuit since 1983. Walker…
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Ballotpedia releases federal judicial vacancy count for March
In this month’s federal judicial vacancy count, Ballotpedia tracked nominations, confirmations, and vacancies from March 3, 2020, to April 2, 2020. Ballotpedia publishes the federal judicial vacancy count at the start of each month. HIGHLIGHTS Vacancies: There have been three new judicial vacancies since the February 2020 report. There are 75 vacancies out of 870 active Article III judicial…