Tag: Federal Courts

  • 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…

  • President Trump announces federal judicial nominee to Article I court

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    On September 2, 2020, President Donald Trump (R) announced his intent to nominate Stephen A. Kubiatowski to a seat on the United States Court of Federal Claims. Following nomination by the president, a federal judicial nominee completes a questionnaire that is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The committee then holds a hearing to question…

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

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    Donald Trump has appointed and the Senate has confirmed 203 Article III federal judges through September 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), and is tied with the presidency of Bill Clinton (D). The Senate had confirmed…

  • Federal court rejects challenge to Ohio exclusive representation law

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    Sixth Circuit rejects challenge to Ohio exclusive representation law                    On Aug. 25, a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit rejected a challenge to Ohio laws that allow unions to become exclusive bargaining agents for all public-sector employees within a bargaining unit. Who are…

  • Vegas police officer files union membership resignation policies lawsuit

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    Las Vegas police officer files federal lawsuit over union membership resignation policies   On Aug. 10, a Las Vegas police officer filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada against both her union and the police department, alleging the union’s membership resignation policies violate her First Amendment rights. Who are the…

  • U.S. Supreme Court releases November calendar

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    The U.S. Supreme Court has released its November argument calendar for the 2020-2021 term. The court will hear eight hours of oral argument in nine cases between November 2 and November 10. So far, the court has agreed to hear 31 cases during its 2020-2021 term. November 2, 2020 • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service…

  • Reclaim Idaho suspends signature drive after the U.S. Supreme Court rules in favor of Idaho state officials

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    On July 30, the U.S. Supreme Court put on hold a previous ruling allowing for electronic signatures and delaying a signature deadline. The court ruled in favor of Idaho Governor Brad Little (R) and Secretary of State Lawerence Denney (R) and granted an emergency stay on a lower court’s order until the appeal process is…