“Inmate waiting 40 years finally gets appeal hearing. But COVID-19 may shut down court.” Michael Gordon of The Charlotte Observer has an article that begins, “More than halfway through an 80-year sentence for a rape he says he didn’t commit, Ronnie Long has received what may be his last best chance for freedom: a hearing before the full Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.”
You can access yesterday’s order of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit granting rehearing en banc at this link.
“Why We Should Abolish the Electoral College”: Online at The New York Times, law professor Josh Chafetz has this review of Jesse Wegman’s new book, “Let the People Pick the President: The Case for Abolishing the Electoral College.”
“Immigration courts are still operating despite the spread of coronavirus: ‘It is indefensible.'” Jeff Gammage of The Philadelphia Inquirer has this report.
“Did Biden realize his discriminatory pledge for his Supreme Court pick?” Law professor Jonathan Turley has this essay online at The Hill.
“The Supreme Court didn’t need to make this decision”: Online at CNN, Elie Honig has an essay that begins, “The Supreme Court got it half right, half wrong with its decision, announced Monday, to postpone oral arguments on several pending cases, including the dispute over President Donald Trump’s tax returns.”
“Federal Judiciary Confront Coronavirus Spread: Judicial Conference Acts on Court Administration Matters.” The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts issued this news release today.
“Coronavirus tests American democracy as planning begins for ‘worst case’ in November election”: Isaac Stanley-Becker and Amy Gardner of The Washington Post have this report.
And in today’s edition of The Washington Post, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) have an op-ed titled “Here’s how to guarantee coronavirus won’t disrupt our elections.”
“Coronavirus upends criminal proceedings as officials try to balance justice and public health”: Shayna Jacobs has this article in today’s edition of The Washington Post.
“Pa. Supreme Court refuses to reinstate $700K award to Cowboys fan who was beaten during Eagles game”: Matt Miller of The Patriot-News of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania has this report on an order that the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania issued yesterday.
“In Wisconsin Supreme Court race, Kelly and Karofsky draw clear distinctions”: Briana Reilly of The Cap Times of Madison, Wisconsin has this report.
“Overnight challenge to poll closing denied by Ohio Supreme Court”: Daniel Susco of The Dayton Daily News has this report.
“Annual Report and Judicial Business of 2019 Now Available”: The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts issued this news release today.
You can access the annual report at this link, while the underlying statistics can be accessed via this link (with the appellate-related stuff specifically here).
Update: Here are direct links to certain items that may be of particular interest: (1) number and percentage of cases decided with and without oral argument, by circuit; (2) number and percentage of cases decided by published or unpublished opinion or judgment order, by circuit; and (3) number of cases per circuit that have been under submission for three months or longer.
“Criminal Courts Can’t Pause for Pandemics; It’s relatively easy for the Supreme Court to suspend oral arguments; Criminal courts are entirely different”: Law professor Noah Feldman has this essay online at Bloomberg Opinion.
“After Janus ruling, worker asks Supreme Court for return of paid union dues”: James Varney of The Washington Times has this report.
“Joe Biden Says He’ll Nominate a Black Woman to the Supreme Court. Here Are 6 Options.” Jessica Mason Pieklo of Rewire.News has this report.
“Supreme Court Postpones Arguments Over Coronavirus; The court said it would reschedule two weeks of arguments that had been set to start March 23, including major cases on President Trump’s financial records”: Adam Liptak of The New York Times has this report.
Robert Barnes of The Washington Post reports that “Supreme Court to postpone arguments over coronavirus crisis, a first since 1918.”
David G. Savage of The Los Angeles Times reports that “Supreme Court calls off oral arguments in first postponement of its kind in 102 years.”
Richard Wolf of USA Today reports that “Supreme Court, for first time since 1918, postpones oral arguments.”
Alex Swoyer of The Washington Times reports that “Supreme Court postpones oral arguments for March, part of April.”
Andrew Chung of Reuters reports that “U.S. Supreme Court postpones arguments amid coronavirus worries.”
Greg Stohr and Chris Dolmetsch of Bloomberg News report that “Supreme Court Postpones Next Set of Arguments Amid Outbreak.”
Pete Williams of NBC News reports that “Supreme Court delays oral arguments, Trump tax case was set for this month; The justices will not be in the courtroom when they were to resume hearing cases next week and no date has been set for their return.”
Ariane de Vogue of CNN reports that “Supreme Court postpones March cases, including Trump’s bid to shield tax records.”
Tyler Olson of Fox News reports that “Supreme Court postpones March oral arguments over coronavirus concerns.”
Josh Gerstein of Politico reports that “Supreme Court postpones arguments due to coronavirus; Cases on access to Trump’s financial records are indefinitely postponed.”
John Kruzel of The Hill reports that “Supreme Court postpones oral arguments amid coronavirus pandemic.”
And on this evening’s broadcast of NPR’s “All Things Considered,” Nina Totenberg had an audio segment titled “Supreme Court Postpones Oral Arguments Originally Scheduled For Next Few Weeks.”
“One Change That Could Make American Criminal Justice Fairer: The system systematically favors prosecutors; Creating a position of defender general would be a step toward righting things.” Law professors Daniel Epps and William Ortman have this essay online at The Atlantic.
“Judge denies ex-legislators’ request to open Ga. Supreme Court election”: Amanda C. Coyne of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has this report.
And Kate Brumback of The Associated Press has a report headlined “Judge: Cancellation of high court election was legal.”
“Georgia Republicans’ constitutionally dubious attempt to cancel a state election, explained; It’s far from clear what happens if they succeed”: Online at Vox, Ian Millhiser has an essay that begins, “Georgia Supreme Court Justice Keith Blackwell’s six-year term expires at the end of this year, and the state is supposed to hold an election in May to choose his replacement.”
“Joe Biden’s pledge could change the look of the Supreme Court”: Joan Biskupic of CNN has this report.
And online at Vox, Ian Millhiser has a post titled “Biden says he’ll name a black woman to the Supreme Court; Here are five names he could pick; Only two African Americans, and no black women, have served on the nation’s highest court.”
“McConnell Has a Request for Veteran Federal Judges: Please Quit; The Senate majority leader has encouraged judges thinking about stepping down to do so soon to ensure that Republicans confirm their replacements this year.” Carl Hulse of The New York Times has this report.
“Supreme Court postpones arguments because of virus outbreak”: Mark Sherman of The Associated Press has this report on a news release that the U.S. Supreme Court issued this morning.
“How coronavirus could change the Supreme Court”: Ariane de Vogue of CNN has this report.
“Holding oral arguments during the coronavirus pandemic”: Tom Goldstein has this post at “SCOTUSblog.”
“Man blinded in Schererville bar parking lot fight not entitled to sue, Supreme Court rules”: Dan Carden of The Times of Munster, Indiana has this report.
Charles Boothe of The Bluefield (W. Va.) Daily Telegraph has an article headlined “Porterfield loses lawsuit: Ind. Supreme Court rules bar fight that blinded delegate a ‘parking lot brawl.’”
Lacie Pierson of The Charleston (W. Va.) Gazette-Mail reports that “Indiana Supreme Court dismisses Porterfield lawsuit, saying there was no way bar owners could foresee fight that took his vision.”
Brad McElhinny of West Virginia’s MetroNews reports that “Delegate Porterfield loses case over his blinding before Indiana Supreme Court.”
And Katie Stancombe of The Indiana Lawyer has a post titled “Split justices rule for bar after fight left patron blind.”
You can access this recent 3-to-2 ruling of the Supreme Court of Indiana at this link.
“Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court justices are dining on your dime, but they won’t tell you where, or why”: Paula Knudsen and Brad Bumsted of The Caucus have this article (registration required for access) online at LNP.
“Justice Dept. Religious Freedom Training Spurs Concern Among Lawyers; Some department lawyers expressed worries that the workshops were held to teach ways to limit civil rights protections for gay and transgender people”: Katie Benner has this article in today’s edition of The New York Times.
“Greenwood Village family whose house was destroyed by police takes case to U.S. Supreme Court; Nineteen-hour SWAT operation left gaping holes in the home”: Elise Schmelzer of The Denver Post has this report.
“Judge attacking conservatives spotlights bias in court system”: Law professor Jonathan Turley has this essay online at The Hill.
“A Conservative Agenda Unleashed on the Federal Courts; President Trump’s imprint on the nation’s appeals courts has been swift and historic; He has named judges with records on a range of issues important to Republicans — and to his re-election”: Rebecca R. Ruiz, Robert Gebeloff, Steve Eder, and Ben Protess of The New York Times have this report. The article begins with #AppellateTwitter’s own @JusticeWillett.
“Full Appeals Court to Decide Whether Congress Can Sue Executive Branch; The court took up disputes over funding for President Trump’s border wall and a subpoena to Donald F. McGahn II, his former White House counsel”: Charlie Savage of The New York Times has this report.
Spencer S. Hsu of The Washington Post reports that “Full appeals court to rehear Donald McGahn subpoena and Trump border wall cases.”
Brent Kendall of The Wall Street Journal reports that “Appeals Court to Reconsider if Ex-Trump Counsel Must Comply With House Subpoena; Court vacated earlier ruling that Don McGahn didn’t have to testify.”
Alex Swoyer of The Washington Times reports that “Full appeals court to hear challenges over border wall funds and Don McGahn testimony.”
Jan Wolfe of Reuters reports that “U.S. court to rehear House bid for testimony from ex-White House counsel McGahn.”
Erik Larson of Bloomberg News reports that “Trump Victory Over Congressional Oversight Is in Doubt.”
Katelyn Polantz of CNN reports that “Full DC federal appeals court to hear McGahn and border wall cases in major separation-of-powers showdown.”
And John Kruzel of The Hill reports that “Full appeals court to rehear case over McGahn subpoena.”
“Mitch McConnell takes jab at Democratic leader for Supreme Court attacks”: Phillip M. Bailey of The Louisville Courier Journal has a report that begins, “Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell led a conservative chorus on Friday that warned about liberal threats to the U.S. judiciary during a special event in Louisville attended by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.”
And Fox affiliate WDRB in Louisville reports that “Mitch McConnell, Brett Kavanaugh attend federal judge’s swearing-in ceremony in Louisville.”
“Progressive groups push Supreme Court to livestream arguments during coronavirus shutdown”: Harper Neidig of The Hill has this report.
“Contentious State Supreme Court Debate Focuses On Fitness For Office; Candidates Trade Barbs Over Integrity, Recusals”: Corrinne Hess of Wisconsin Public Radio has this report.
“Supreme Court petitioned on police officers’ legal immunity”: Matthew Barakat of The Associated Press has this report.
