Tag: Federal Courts

  • Number of Republican-majority federal circuit courts has doubled in Trump administration

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    Since Donald Trump (R) took office in January 2017, he has appointed 52 judges to the 13 federal circuit courts. At the time of his inauguration, a majority of members on four of those courts were appointed by Republican presidents. Before the 2020 election, a majority of members on eight of those courts were appointed…

  • Trump has appointed second-most federal judges through November 1 of a president’s fourth year

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    Donald Trump has appointed and the Senate has confirmed 220 Article III federal judges through November 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.…

  • Ohio state government employee asks SCOTUS to consider class-action lawsuit over refunds for previously paid union fees

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    Ohio state government employee asks SCOTUS to consider class-action lawsuit over refunds for previously paid union fees            On Oct. 8, attorneys for an Ohio state employee petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to take up his class-action lawsuit, in which he is seeking refunds for the dues he and other non-member employees were required to…

  • Federal court rules public-sector worker not entitled to refund for previously paid dues

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    Third Circuit: Penn. public-sector worker not entitled to refund for previously paid dues          On Oct. 7, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled that a former public-sector union member in Pennsylvania is not entitled to a refund for dues she paid before withdrawing from…

  • SCOTUS grants review in seven cases for 2020-2021 term

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    On October 2, 2020, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) granted review in seven cases for a total of four hours of oral argument during its October Term for 2020-2021. The cases have not yet been scheduled for argument. FCC v. Prometheus Radio Project (Consolidated with National Association of Broadcasters v. Prometheus Radio…

  • President Trump announces judicial nominee

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    On October 1, President Donald Trump (R) announced the nomination of Joseph Dawson to the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, which is an Article III federal judicial position. Article III judges are appointed by the president, confirmed by the Senate, and serve for life. Since assuming office in January 2017, Trump…

  • Seventh Circuit considers whether public-sector unions can refuse to represent non-members

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    Seventh Circuit considers whether public-sector unions can refuse to represent non-members          On Sept. 29, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit heard arguments in Sweeney v. Raoul, a challenge to an Illinois state law requiring public-sector unions to represent all employees within a bargaining unit, both members and non-members.…

  • U.S. Senate confirms Hinderaker to federal district court judgeship

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    The U.S. Senate confirmed John Hinderaker to the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona by a 70-27 vote. The U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona is one of 94 U.S. District Courts. They are the general trial courts of the United States federal courts. After Hinderaker receives his federal judicial commission…

  • Judicial nominee confirmed to U.S. Court of Federal Claims

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    On September 22, 2020, the United States Senate confirmed the nomination of Edward Meyers to a federal judgeship on the United States Court of Federal Claims by a 66-27 vote. Meyers will join the court upon receiving his judicial commission and taking his judicial oath.  Meyers was originally nominated to the seat by President Donald…

  • SEIU settles class-action lawsuit over dues deductions for home healthcare workers

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    SEIU settles class-action lawsuit over dues deductions for home healthcare workers                    Earlier this month, the Service Employees  International Union, Healthcare Illinois and Indiana agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit over dues deduction practices as applied to home healthcare workers. Who were the parties to the suit?   The plaintiff was Hydie…