High court will review EPA global warming rules
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court agreed Tuesday to decide whether to block key aspects of the Obama administration’s plan aimed at cutting power plant and factory emissions of gases blamed for global warming. The justices said they will review a unanimous federal appeals court ruling that upheld the government’s unprecedented regulation of carbon dioxide and […]
NLRB to seek cert on recess appointments
The National Labor Relations Board will seek direct U.S. Supreme Court review of a U.S. Court of Appeals ruling invalidating the recess appointments of three of the board’s members.
Court: Md. veteran can’t get gun after old conviction
WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court says a Maryland veteran can’t own a gun because of a misdemeanor assault conviction more than four decades ago. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia on Friday turned away an appeal from 68-year-old Navy veteran Jefferson Wayne Schrader, who sued after failing a 2008 background […]
Why I did not vote on Bell’s successor
I did not vote in The Daily Record’s recent poll on whom you think Gov. Martin O’Malley should name as the next Court of Appeals chief judge when Robert M. Bell retires...
Supreme Court hears case that could shut down tribal casino
WASHINGTON — Several Supreme Court justices seemed troubled Tuesday at the thought of letting a lawsuit move forward that aims to shut down an already opened tribal casino in southwestern Michigan. “It does seem that we may be wasting our time,” Justice Anthony Kennedy said. “I’m not suggesting that the … case is moot, but […]
Supreme Court allows new evidence in patents case
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court says federal judges can review unsubmitted patent evidence when inventors challenge their rejection by the Patent and Trademark Office. Gilbert Hyatt asked for patents relating to a “computerized display system for processing image information” in 1995. They were rejected and he sued in federal court. But Hyatt offered judges evidence […]
‘Fuvista’ defendant claims compliance
California businessman Mark T. Pappas might have avoided jail time once again for civil contempt of court on Friday when, just hours before a court deadline, he filed affidavits saying he was living up to the terms of the ruling against him in a copyright case. Pappas, CEO of Creative Pipe Inc., had until 2 […]
Editorial Advisory Board: To protect and serve, but please don’t observe?
Let us start out with the premise that all citizens have the right to shoot. No, this is not another Second Amendment debate. Rather, this conversation centers on a citizen’s right to “shoot” video and sound recordings. More specifically, the debate focuses on a citizen’s right to record police activity in a public setting. Should […]
4th Circuit upholds conviction for swindling
RICHMOND, Va. — A federal appeals court has upheld the conviction and 100-year prison sentence of a Miami businessman who swindled clients out of about $126 million to finance a lavish lifestyle that included luxury cars and a yacht he named after a woman he married in a $200,000 ceremony. A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court […]
Supreme Court weighs duty to disclose plea-deal offers
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court seemed reluctant Monday to allow criminals to ask for a previously offered plea bargain after they’ve been sentenced, despite the inmates’ claim of misconduct by their lawyers including neglecting to tell their clients that a deal had been offered. Asking judges to go back and figure out on appeal whether a […]
Supreme Court reinstates ‘shaken baby’ conviction
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court has again reinstated the conviction of a California woman for shaking her 7-week-old grandson to death, a final ruling that ends a protracted dispute with the federal appeals court in San Francisco. The justices voted 6-3 Monday to reverse the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling in favor of Shirley […]
4th Cir. says Catholic employer can’t be sued for firing
A Catholic nursing home could not be sued for discrimination by a former employee who claimed she was discharged because she wore the religious garb of another faith, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled. The court’s decision reverses the denial of the defendant’s motion for summary judgment by Magistrate Judge Paul W. […]