Aisha Johnson

Correspondent

Aisha Johnson

Federal courthouse correspondent, covers civil rights, employment discrimination, housing rights, and Second Amendment disputes.

Civil Rights & Constitutional

Decisions covered by Aisha Johnson

1,756 decisions
Sep 4 2024
United States Court… 24-5045 Panel Decision

Lettieri v. Federal Marshals

The D.C. Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a civil rights complaint because the plaintiff failed to provide a short, plain statement of the claim required by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a). The court further held that the district court correctly denied leave to amend the complaint, as the proposed changes would not have cured the original pleading deficiencies.

Civil Civil Rights - PLRA / Prisoner
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Sep 4 2024
9th Cir. 2:23-cv-01939- Published

X Corp. v. Bonta

The Ninth Circuit reversed the district court's denial of a preliminary injunction against California AB 587, holding that its Content Category Report provisions likely violate the First Amendment. The court ruled that the mandates compel non-commercial speech subject to strict scrutiny and are not narrowly tailored to serve the state's transparency goals.

Civil Civil Rights - Voting
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Sep 4 2024
2nd Cir. 23-1260 Panel Decision

Hachette Book Group, Inc. v. Internet Archive

The Second Circuit affirmed summary judgment for four major book publishers, ruling that Internet Archive's practice of scanning and lending entire copyrighted books violates the Copyright Act. The court held that this digital lending program fails the fair use test because it is not transformative and usurps the publishers' market for licensed eBooks.

Civil Civil Rights - Education
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Sep 3 2024
United States Court… 23-7057 Panel Decision

MARGDA PIERRE-NOEL, "MS. PIERRE," v. BRIDGES PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL AND DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION

The D.C. Circuit held that the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requires school districts to provide door-to-door assistance for a wheelchair-bound student to access school. The court reversed summary judgment, ruling that transporting a child from their apartment door to a school bus constitutes a mandatory transportation service under federal law.

Civil Civil Rights - Education Summary Judgment
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Sep 3 2024
2nd Cir. 23-1342 Panel Decision

In re Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001 In the United States Court of Appeals For the Second Circuit

The Second Circuit dismissed the Republic of Sudan's interlocutory appeal, holding that the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act's state-sponsored terrorism exception bars immediate appeals under the collateral-order doctrine. Sudan must now await a final judgment in the district court before challenging its immunity status.

Appellate Jurisdiction Civil Insurance
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Sep 3 2024
2nd Cir. 23-1298 Panel Decision

In re Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001

The Second Circuit dismissed the Republic of Sudan's interlocutory appeal, ruling that the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act's appellate bar precludes immediate review of immunity denials under the collateral-order doctrine. Sudan must now await a final judgment on the merits before challenging the district court's denial of sovereign immunity.

Appellate Jurisdiction Civil Insurance
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Sep 3 2024
2nd Cir. 23-1294 Panel Decision

In re Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001

The Second Circuit dismissed the Republic of Sudan's interlocutory appeal, holding that the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act's state-sponsored terrorism exception bars foreign states from using the collateral-order doctrine to bypass final judgment requirements. Consequently, Sudan must wait for a final district court judgment before challenging immunity rulings under non-§ 1605A exceptions.

Appellate Jurisdiction Civil Insurance
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Aug 16 2024
9th Cir. 5:22-cv-08861- Published

NETCHOICE, LLC, doing business as NetChoice v. ROB BONTA, Attorney General Of The State Of California

The Ninth Circuit affirmed a preliminary injunction blocking California's requirement that online businesses opine on and mitigate risks of children viewing harmful content, ruling it likely violates the First Amendment by compelling speech. However, the court vacated the broader injunction covering other provisions because the record was insufficient to determine if those sections are facially unconstitutional or severable from the invalid mandate.

Civil Civil Rights - Voting
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Aug 16 2024
United States Court… 23-7031 Panel Decision

NEXTERA ENERGY GLOBAL HOLDINGS B.V. AND NEXTERA ENERGY SPAIN HOLDINGS B.V v. KINGDOM OF SPAIN

The D.C. Circuit held that U.S. district courts have jurisdiction under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act to confirm arbitration awards against Spain, even as Spain argued EU law voided the underlying arbitration agreements. However, the court reversed the lower court's decision to enjoin Spain from seeking anti-suit relief in European courts, citing the sensitive nature of imposing such orders on a foreign sovereign.

Civil Civil Rights - Voting
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Aug 15 2024
9th Cir. 22-1910 Published

CLAUDE STEPHEN BENT v. MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General

The Ninth Circuit granted a petition for review and remanded to the Board of Immigration Appeals because the agency mischaracterized a California statute and misapplied equitable tolling standards. The court held that the state court vacated the petitioner's conviction due to a constitutional plea defect, not solely to mitigate immigration consequences.

Civil Immigration (Civil) Sixth Amendment - Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
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