Appellate Happenings

Appellate Happenings

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Appellate Happenings
Appellate Happenings
Last Week in Federal Appeals (No. 60)
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A weekly summary of and periodic articles about appellate decisions from the federal courts, litigation, and legal writing.
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Last Week in Federal Appeals

Last Week in Federal Appeals (No. 60)

Appellate decisions from the week of December 11, 2023.

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Antonia Gelorme
Dec 26, 2023
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Appellate Happenings
Appellate Happenings
Last Week in Federal Appeals (No. 60)
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Photo Credit: Tingey Injury Law Firm, Unsplash.com

“Lady Justice wears a blindfold because justice is supposed to be meted out evenhandedly. She holds scales because evidence is supposed to be weighed impartially. These ancient symbols of fairness and clear-sightedness—the very moral force underlying a just legal system—are mocked if one side can rig the game by calling its own balls and strikes.”

Judge Willet, Wilson v. Midland County

Decision Summaries

First Circuit

U.S. v. Cowette

The First Circuit reversed the district court and held that a defendant’s use of the phrase, “I guess,” before unequivocally invoking her right to representation under the Fifth Amendment did not undermine the defendant’s invocation.

Opinion

Second Circuit

Carpenter v. Allen

The Second Circuit held that the district court exceeded its discretion in granting a defendant’s motion for the return of financial documents seized under a warrant. In this case, the panel concluded, the government demonstrated a legitimate need to retain the property at issue to defend against the defendant’s pending motion collaterally attacking his convictions because the evidence may be used at a potential retrial should that motion succeed.

Opinion

Carroll v. Trump

In a case of first impression, the Second Circuit held that the defense of presidential immunity is waivable. Thus, the panel further held that President Trump waived presidential immunity by failing to raise it as an affirmative defense in his answer to the plaintiff’s complaint alleging defamation.

Opinion

Soule ex re. Stanescu v. Connecticut Association of Schools, Inc.

Without reaching the merits of the case, the Second Circuit held that the non-transgender plaintiffs established an injury redressable by monetary and injunctive relief in claiming that the state’s policy allowing transgender students to participate in track races violated Title IX.

Opinion

Fifth Circuit

Wilson v. Midland County

The Fifth Circuit held that a plaintiff seeking relief for the deprivation of her constitutional rights during her criminal proceedings was barred from bringing a civil claim without first showing that her conviction was reversed through the appellate process or habeas corpus. The panel agreed that the plaintiff suffered a lack of due process where a prosecutor served as a law clerk to the judge in her case, but ultimately affirmed the dismissal of her complaint because of the Fifth Circuit’s precedential bar.

Opinion

Ninth Circuit

Elden v. Nirvana, L.L.C.

The Ninth Circuit held that each republication of child pornography may constitute a new personal injury. Thus, the plaintiff’s complaint, which stems from a photograph taken of him as a baby for the cover of Nirvana’s album Nevermind, is not barred by the ten-year statute of limitations because the photo has been continuously reissued.

Opinion


Any opinions expressed here are our own. This article is not legal advice; if you have a legal issue, you should consult an attorney.

If you liked this article or have thoughts about it, please like or comment below (or email Ben at breese@flannerygeorgalis.com or Antonia at agelorme@flannerygeorgalis.com) and consider sharing it with your friends and network.

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Last Week in Federal Appeals (No. 60)
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Last Week in Federal Appeals (No. 48)
Appellate decisions from the week of September 11-15, 2023
Sep 24, 2023 • 
Ben Reese
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Last Week in Federal Appeals (No. 48)
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Open with a Flash, Not a Fizzle
Avoid the standard "now comes" introduction and start your briefs with a capsule summary, like some of the best appellate judges
May 20, 2021 • 
Ben Reese
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Last Week in Federal Appeals (No. 40)
Appellate decisions from the week of November 28 - December 2, 2022
Dec 6, 2022 • 
Ben Reese

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Last Week in Federal Appeals (No. 40)
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