Hampton Dellinger has withdrawn his lawsuit challenging his termination by President Trump, following a federal appeals court decision allowing the administration to proceed with his removal. Despite a lower court ruling deeming his termination "unlawful," Dellinger expressed concern that the appeals court's decision undermines the independence of the whistleblower agency he led. This development underscores the ongoing debate over the balance between executive authority and the protection of government watchdogs and whistleblowers.
Posts tagged as “The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal”
The Supreme Court has granted an emergency request from Mountain Valley Pipeline, allowing construction of the 303.5 mile natural gas pipeline to resume. The project, which will transport natural gas from West Virginia to Virginia, has been entangled in numerous legal challenges from environmental groups, but Congress recently stripped courts of authority to review approval of the pipeline. The project is expected to create thousands of jobs and provide an economic boost to the region, and is now expected to be completed by the end of 2021.
A federal appeals court has approved a deal granting immunity to the Sackler family, owners of Purdue Pharma, from civil claims related to the opioid crisis. The plan will see Purdue Pharma become a new company, Knoa, with profits going to a fund to prevent and treat addiction. The family will contribute $5.5-$6 billion in cash over time, or around half of their collective fortune. This settlement is the latest development in the opioid crisis, and is hoped to help fund much-needed addiction programs.
Former President Barack Obama has weighed in on the issue of gun ownership in America, calling it an "ideological" and "partisan" issue. The Supreme Court has declined to block a new law in Illinois that bans assault-style weapons, and a federal judge has blocked a similar law in Illinois. Obama has urged Congress to pass "common-sense gun safety laws" and called on Americans to come together to find common ground on the issue of gun violence.
A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans will hear arguments Wednesday in a case that could decide the future availability of the abortion pill mifepristone. Attorneys for the FDA and the drug's manufacturer will attempt to convince the panel not to roll back accessibility to the drug, which has been used by millions of women in the U.S. and around the world. The outcome of the case could have a major impact on the availability of the drug and could affect the lives of millions of women.
The Supreme Court has rejected Alabama's bid to execute death row inmate Kenneth Smith by lethal injection, leaving in place a lower court ruling that his preference for lethal gas is a viable alternative method. This marks the first time an inmate has been allowed to choose an execution method other than lethal injection, as the state has authorized nitrogen hypoxia as an alternative. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled for Smith in November, allowing him to choose nitrogen hypoxia as an alternative to lethal injection.
Federal prosecutors have requested a judge to stop former President Donald Trump from being deposed in a four-year-old civil lawsuit filed by two former FBI officials who allege they were wrongfully terminated. The Justice Department is seeking to protect Trump from being deposed in a civil case while they are still investigating him in a criminal case and have asked the lower court judge to reconsider their ruling. If not, they will appeal to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for Washington, D.C.
U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Denies Trump’s Appeal to Block Pence Testimony in Jan. 6 Investigation
U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Denies Trump’s Appeal to Block Pence Testimony in Jan. 6 Investigation
A federal appeals court has denied former President Donald Trump's attempt to block former Vice President Mike Pence from testifying before a grand jury investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. Pence's adviser had previously said he would not appeal the order for his testimony, and no court orders are in place preventing him from answering questions. The ruling is the latest development in the ongoing investigation, and it remains to be seen what impact, if any, Pence's testimony will have.