The D. C. Circuit published two opinions last week in cases that were argued last term. Mennonite Church USA v. DHS, No. 25-5209, which was heard in February of this year, involved a challenge to the Trump Administration’s policy of pursuing immigration-enforcement operations at houses of worship. Prior to 2025, the federal government largely maintained […]
The week of Constitution Day is circled on the calendars of state and federal judges because we are often called on by schools and civic groups to speak at events to tout the virtues of the Constitution. Last week, an unusual Constitution Day celebration was held at the Washington National Cathedral. Dallin Oaks, leader of […]
I’ve written before about the D. C. Circuit practice that a judge who has failed to circulate to the panel more than two of his assigned opinions from the term by August 15 may not hear cases in the new term that begins in September until they have been circulated. For that reason, typically there […]
The D.C. Circuit held its Bench and Bar Judicial Conference in Colonial Williamsburg on June 23-26. In addition to the obligatory session on AI (led by Stanford’s Dan Ho), a review of the Supreme Court term (with Irv Gornstein, Kelsi Corkran, Roman Martinez, and Jeff Wall), and moving tributes to recently departed judges (Judge Urbina […]
Last week, the D.C. Circuit issued two opinions summarized below but also heard oral argument in the much-discussed dispute between AI developer Anthropic and the Defense/War Department. Let’s start with the oral argument. A panel of the D.C. Circuit comprised of Judges Henderson, Katsas, and Rao heard oral argument in Anthropic PBC v. U.S. Department […]
It’s spring and hope springs eternal. We are playing baseball again, Bryce Harper is emerging from a slump, the Nats are only 2 games out of first place (of course, they’ve played only 15 games), and the D.C. Circuit handed down five decisions this week in which there was only a single dissent! The partisans among […]
In Centro de Trabajadores Unidos, et al. v. Scott Bessent, in his capacity as Secretary of the Treasury, et al., No. 25-5181, ICE asked the IRS for addresses to assist in nontax criminal investigations. Plaintiffs sought to block the IRS from providing the addresses but lost in the district court. The D.C. Circuit affirmed the […]
There are weeks in which the D.C. Circuit announces decisions that justify its reputation as an appellate court that tackles some of the thorniest and most consequential legal matters. And then there are weeks like last week. The D.C. Circuit handed down three opinions. Maryland Office of People’s Counsel v. FERC, No. 24-1353 involved the […]
The Supreme Court hears oral argument today in Trump v. Slaughter, (No. 25-332), to decide whether Humphrey’s Executor v. U.S., 295 U.S. 602 (1935), should be overruled. On Friday, the D. C. Circuit weighed in to the ongoing debate over Humphrey’s Executor just in time to add to the weekend reading of the justices’ law clerks. President Trump fired […]
In a week when the D. C. Circuit issued no opinions, we find ourselves with some time on our hands. Given the dire warnings that our addiction to screens is creating a post-literate society with its attendant personal and social pathologies, this may be a good time to read a book. My recommendation is Justice […]
Two cases in the D.C. Circuit last week continue the drama created by the Trump Administration’s muscular and maximalist views of Executive power. Another was less dramatic. Shira Perlmutter began serving as Register of Copyrights and Director of the U.S. Copyright Office, a position housed within the Library of Congress and appointed and supervised by […]
The D.C. Circuit prides itself on making its decisions public in a timely fashion. An internal rule helps make that happen. A judge who has failed to circulate to the panel more than two of his assigned opinions by August 15 will not be allowed to hear arguments until he has. At first glance, one […]
Back in the day, cases involving detainees at Guantanamo Bay were argued in the D.C. Circuit regularly and frequently. Lately, not so much, but this week in al-Baluchi v. Hegseth, No. 23-5251 the D.C. Circuit was back at it again, dismissing the appeal of a detainee from a decision of the district court that denied […]
Who would have guessed that the most hotly contested legal issue in the federal courts in the spring of 2025 would be the propriety of an administrative stay? The D.C. Circuit was once again involved in the multitude of challenges to the multitude of President Trump’s executive orders and, once again, the issue was over […]
All eyes were on the D.C. Circuit this week for J.G.G. v. Trump, No. 25-5067. The case arises from President Trump’s March 15, 2025 Proclamation invoking the Alien Enemies Act (“AEA”), ch. 66, 1 Stat. 577 (1798) (codified as amended at 50 U.S.C. §§ 21-24) to order deportation of Venezuelan nationals that the federal government alleges […]