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

1,757 decisions
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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Aug 6 2024
United States Court… 23-7033 Per Curiam

HENRY SEARCY, JR v. DEMAURICE FITZGERALD SMITH

The D.C. Circuit held that Section 301 of the Labor Management Relations Act does not completely preempt a prospective agent's state law claims against the NFLPA, thereby stripping the District Court of federal question jurisdiction. The court remanded the case with instructions to dismiss the claims for lack of subject matter jurisdiction rather than for failure to state a claim.

Civil Labor
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Aug 1 2024
9th Cir. 2:22-cv-00509-SRB Per Curiam

Mi Familia Vota v. Fontes

The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit vacated a partial stay order issued by a motions panel, ruling that the district court's injunction barring enforcement of a specific Arizona statute shall remain in effect pending appeal.

Civil Civil Rights - Voting
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Jul 30 2024
United States Court… 21-7127 Panel Decision

Exxon Mobil Corporation v. Corporación CIMEX, S.A. (Cuba), Corporación CIMEX, S.A. (Panama), and Unión Cuba-Petróleo

The D.C. Circuit held that the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act does not independently strip foreign sovereigns of immunity, leaving the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act as the exclusive basis for jurisdiction. The court vacated the district court's ruling and remanded for further fact-finding on whether the defendants' current commercial operations in the United States satisfy the FSIA's commercial-activity exception.

Civil Consumer Protection
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Jul 23 2024
United States Court… 22-5273 Panel Decision

JO SPENCE v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND DENIS MCDONOUGH

The D.C. Circuit held that the liberal pleading standards typically afforded to pro se litigants do not automatically apply when the litigant is a licensed attorney. The court affirmed the district court's dismissal of most claims and its grant of summary judgment, ruling that the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying leniency to the pro se lawyer.

Civil Civil Rights - Employment Summary Judgment
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Jul 15 2024
9th Cir. 4:23-cv-05829- Published

Defense for Children International-Palestine v. Biden

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit challenging U.S. military aid to Israel, ruling that the claims present nonjusticiable political questions. The court held that adjudicating the dispute would improperly intrude upon the Executive Branch's exclusive constitutional prerogatives over foreign policy and national security.

Civil Civil Rights - Education
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May 31 2024
9th Cir. 3:23-cv-01097-CL Published

Betschart v. State of Oregon

The Ninth Circuit affirmed a preliminary injunction requiring Oregon to provide counsel to indigent criminal defendants within seven days of their initial appearance or release them from custody. The court held that the systemic failure to provide counsel constitutes an extraordinary circumstance that overrides the Younger abstention doctrine and justifies federal intervention to protect Sixth Amendment rights.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - General (28 USC 2241) Preliminary Injunction
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May 14 2024
United States Court… 23-5074 Panel Decision

MOHAMMED JIBRIL v. ALEJANDRO N. MAYORKAS

The D.C. Circuit affirmed the dismissal of the Jibril family's lawsuit, holding they lacked Article III standing to seek prospective injunctive relief. The court ruled that without evidence of current watchlist status or a substantial risk of future injury, the plaintiffs could not demonstrate the concrete injury required for judicial review.

Constitutional Fifth Amendment - Due Process Standing
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Apr 26 2024
United States Court… 24-7078 Panel Decision

Walton v. First Merchants Bank

The D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court's sua sponte dismissal of Deborah Walton's complaint, holding that she lacks standing to bring a qui tam action under the False Claims Act. The court further ruled that her retaliation claim fails because she is not an employee or agent of the defendants, and that she forfeited other federal claims by failing to adequately brief them.

Civil Civil Rights - Employment
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