Here is a report on recent news and commentary related to the Federal Circuit and its cases. Today’s report highlights:
- an article about how a recent Federal Circuit investigative panel report found that Judge Newman “has committed ‘serious misconduct’”;
- an article about how a “special committee of Federal Circuit judges voted to sanction 96-year-old Judge Pauline Newman of the appeals court, over her refusal to cooperate with an investigation into her mental fitness”; and
- an article discussing “the top copyright and trademark cases to keep an eye on in the second half of 2023.”
Blake Brittain authored an article for Reuters about how a recent Federal Circuit investigative panel report found that Judge Newman “has committed ‘serious misconduct’ by refusing to cooperate with a mental fitness probe and should be suspended from hearing new cases for one year or until she submits to a court-ordered examination.” He highlights how the “report cited statements from ‘many different staff members describing memory loss, confusion, paranoia and angry rants’ by Newman.”
Michael Shapiro similarly authored an article for Bloomberg Law about how a “special committee of Federal Circuit judges voted to sanction 96-year-old Judge Pauline Newman of the appeals court, over her refusal to cooperate with an investigation into her mental fitness.” He mentions how a “three-judge panel unanimously recommended suspending Newman’s case assignments for a year ‘or at least until she ceases her misconduct and cooperates such that the Committee can complete its investigation.’”
Andrew Karpan wrote an article for Law 360 discussing “the top copyright and trademark cases to keep an eye on in the second half of 2023.” One case he highlights is Vidal v. Elster, a pending Supreme Court trademark case. He highlights how, in this case, for “at least the third time in less than a decade, the justices will be taking a look at the First Amendment rights of individuals registering trademarks.”