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May 10 2024
United States Court… 22-5150 Panel Decision

Maria Esparraguera v. Department of the Army, et al.

The D.C. Circuit reversed the district court's dismissal of a federal employee's due process claim, holding that career appointees in the Senior Executive Service possess a protected property interest in their tenure after completing their probationary period. The court reasoned that because the Civil Service Reform Act limits removals to specific causes for tenured SES employees, they are entitled to constitutional procedural protections before being removed.

Civil Labor
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Apr 30 2024
United States Court… 22-1101 Panel Decision

Alabama Municipal Distributors Group v. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

The D.C. Circuit denied petitions challenging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's certification of the Evangeline Pass Expansion Project, ruling that the agency reasonably applied the National Environmental Policy Act. The court also upheld FERC's decision to deny windfall profit credits to existing pipeline customers who would not use the new capacity.

Administrative / Agency Review Civil
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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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Apr 24 2024
9th Cir. 22-1969 Published

NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD v. SIREN RETAIL CORPORATION DBA STARBUCKS ---------------------------------------- WORKERS UNITED: NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD v. SIREN RETAIL CORPORATION DBA STARBUCKS —————————————- WORKERS UNITED

The Ninth Circuit enforced the National Labor Relations Board's order requiring Starbucks to bargain with Workers United, rejecting the company's arguments regarding election procedures and court jurisdiction. The panel held that the Regional Director properly ordered a mail-ballot election during the pandemic and that the Board's order was final and reviewable despite severing a potential compensatory remedy.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Apr 23 2024
9th Cir. 9:23-cv-00101- Published

Flathead-Lolo-Bitterroot Citizen Task Force; WildEarth Guardians v. State of Montana; Lesley Robinson; Greg Gianforte

The Ninth Circuit affirmed a preliminary injunction banning wolf trapping in Montana during grizzly bear denning season but vacated the order's geographic scope and prohibition on research trapping. The court held that while plaintiffs raised serious questions regarding unlawful grizzly bear take under the Endangered Species Act, the district court's injunction was overbroad in its application to areas outside the occupied grizzly range and to state research activities.

Civil Civil Rights - Voting
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Apr 19 2024
2nd Cir. 22-2895-pr Panel Decision

JOE BALTAS v. DAVID MAIGA, In his Individual and Official Capacities, ROLLIN COOK, In his Individual and Official Capacities, ANGEL QUIROS In his Individual and Official Capacit...: JOE BALTAS v. DAVID MAIGA, In his Individual and Official Capacities, ROLLIN COOK, In his Individual and Official Capacities, ANGEL QUIROS In his Individual and Official Capacit…

The Second Circuit held that periodic reviews of a Connecticut prisoner's administrative segregation status satisfied due process even while he was incarcerated in Virginia. However, the court found a genuine dispute of material fact regarding whether Virginia Department of Corrections administrative remedies were available to the plaintiff, rendering summary judgment on his First, Sixth, and Eighth Amendment claims inappropriate.

Civil Rights - PLRA / Prisoner Civil Rights - Section 1983 Criminal Prison Offenses
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Mar 22 2024
9th Cir. 22-211 Published

AJAY PAL SINGH v. MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General

The Ninth Circuit held that the Board of Immigration Appeals erred by failing to apply the presumption of past persecution and shifting the burden to the government regarding internal relocation for an asylum seeker from India. The court remanded the case for a reasoned, individualized analysis of whether the petitioner could safely relocate within India given his continued political advocacy, while affirming the denial of Convention Against Torture relief.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Mar 19 2024
9th Cir. 22-970 Published

SILVIA TAPIA CORIA v. MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General

The Ninth Circuit dismissed a petition for review of a denial of motions for remand and administrative closure, holding that the criminal alien bar precludes judicial review of factual challenges to removal orders for aliens with covered convictions. The court ruled that the Supreme Court's decision in Nasrallah v. Barr abrogates the Ninth Circuit's prior 'on the merits' exception, which previously allowed review of factual findings when relief was denied on grounds other than the conviction itself.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Mar 12 2024
2nd Cir. 22-1426-cr Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. GHISLAINE MAXWELL

The Second Circuit affirmed Ghislaine Maxwell's conviction and sentence for sex trafficking and related offenses involving minors. The court rejected Maxwell's arguments that a prior non-prosecution agreement barred her prosecution, that the indictment was untimely, and that jury misconduct or improper instructions warranted a new trial.

Criminal Fifth Amendment - Double Jeopardy Sentencing Guidelines Sex Offenses
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