Tag: Federal Courts
-
President Biden has appointed the most federal judges through August 1 of a president’s first year
President Joe Biden (D) has appointed and the Senate has confirmed eight Article III federal judges through August 1 of his first year in office. This is the largest number of Article III judicial appointments through this point in all presidencies going back to President Ronald Reagan (R). The Senate had confirmed five of President…
-
Ballotpedia releases federal judicial vacancy count for July 2021
In this month’s federal judicial vacancy count, Ballotpedia tracked nominations, confirmations, and vacancies in Article III courts from July 2 to Aug. 1. Ballotpedia publishes the federal judicial vacancy count at the start of each month. HIGHLIGHTS Vacancies: There have been two new judicial vacancies since the June 2021 report. There are 80 vacancies out…
-
Redistricting review: Federal court rejects Alabama’s attempt to force early release of Census Bureau redistricting data
In this week’s Redistricting Review, we cover news out of Alabama and Colorado. Alabama: On June 29, a three-judge panel of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama rejected an attempt by Alabama state officials to force the U.S. Census Bureau to release redistricting data in advance of August 16, the date…
-
President Biden nominates six to Article III courts; two to D.C. local courts
President Joe Biden (D) nominated six individuals to Article III judgeships with lifetime terms on June 15: • Myrna Pérez, to the United States Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit • Jia Cobb, to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia • Sarah A.L. Merriam, to the United States District Court…
-
Federal judge rules California’s ban on assault weapons is unconstitutional
Federal District Court Judge Roger Benitez ruled on June 4 that California’s Assault Weapons Control Act of 1989, which banned all assault weapons in California, violates the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and unlawfully restricts the kinds of firearms protected under previous U.S. Supreme Court rulings. He wrote, “Like the Swiss Army Knife, the…
-
Ballotpedia releases federal judicial vacancy count for May 2021
In this month’s federal judicial vacancy count, Ballotpedia tracked nominations, confirmations, and vacancies in Article III courts from May 1 to June 1. Ballotpedia publishes the federal judicial vacancy count at the start of each month. HIGHLIGHTS • Vacancies: There have been six new judicial vacancies since the April 2021 report. There are 82 vacancies…
-
Supreme Court accepts case regarding copyright infringement for next term
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) released orders on June 1 emanating from its May 27 conference, granting one new case for argument during the upcoming 2021-2022 term. Unicolors, Inc. v. H&M Hennes & Mauritz, LP originated from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit and concerns copyright infringement claims involving…
-
Redistricting review: Sixth Circuit rules Ohio has standing to sue Census Bureau over delayed data
On May 18, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled that Ohio has standing to sue Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo over the U.S. Census Bureau’s plan to release redistricting data to the states by September 30 instead of the April 1 deadline set forth in federal statutes.…
-
Union Station: A breakdown of public-sector union litigation in the federal courts
Today’s newsletter marks the third anniversary of Union Station. Our first edition launched in May 2018 in anticipation of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Janus v. AFSCME. Thank you for joining us as we’ve followed developments in public-sector union policy, litigation, and national debate since then. A breakdown of public-sector union litigation in the federal…
-
Ballotpedia releases federal judicial vacancy count for April 2021
In this month’s federal judicial vacancy count, Ballotpedia tracked nominations, confirmations, and vacancies to all United States Article III federal courts from April 1 to May 1, 2021. Ballotpedia publishes the federal judicial vacancy count at the start of each month. HIGHLIGHTS Vacancies: There have been six new judicial vacancies since the March 2021 report.…