Tag: Federal Courts

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

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    Image of the front of the United States Supreme Court building

    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…

  • Federal judge finds Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 orders unconstitutional

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    On September 14, 2020, Judge William Stickman IV, of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, struck down some of Penn. Gov. Tom Wolf’s (D) COVID-19 orders as violations of rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. Various Pennsylvania counties, businesses, and elected officials brought the lawsuit County of Butler v. Wolf, which…

  • No current U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals vacancies

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    Seventeen U.S. Court of Appeals judgeships were vacant when President Trump was inaugurated on January 20, 2017. Today, there are no U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals vacancies. According to the Administrative Office of U.S. Courts, no U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judges have announced their intent to leave active judicial status during the remainder of…

  • Class-action lawsuits over repaying public-sector union fees rejected

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    Third Circuit rejects class-action lawsuits over repaying public-sector union fees                    On Aug. 28, a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed two lower court rulings that public-sector unions cannot be held liable for repaying fees collected from non-members before Janus v. AFSCME. Who…

  • U.S. Senate confirms two U.S. District Court nominees

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    The U.S. Senate confirmed Christy Wiegand to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania and Brett Ludwig to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. The Western District of Pennsylvania and the Eastern District of Wisconsin are two of 94 U.S. District Courts. They are the general trial courts…