FedCircuitBlog

Yesterday, the Clerk’s Office released guidance to clarify the criteria for allowable and unallowable scheduling conflicts with oral argument sessions. The guidance includes a non-dispositive and non-exhaustive list of allowable and unallowable scheduling conflicts. The guidance aims to provide helpful information regarding acceptable scheduling conflicts. Here is the text of the announcement.

Late yesterday evening, the Federal Circuit released an announcement addressing its operating status for February 13, 2024. Here is the full text of the announcement.

This morning the Committee on Judicial Conduct and Disability of the Judicial Conference of the United States released a memorandum of decision unanimously denying a petition filed by Judge Newman. That petition asked the Committee to review the order of the Federal Circuit’s Judicial Council that suspended Judge Newman for the period of at least one year. Today’s memorandum includes the following findings:

• “We find that the Chief Circuit Judge and the Federal Circuit Judicial Council did not abuse their discretion by declining to request a transfer”;
• “we find no error in the Judicial Council’s conclusion that, based on the evidence gathered by the Special Committee, there was a reasonable basis for requesting that Judge Newman undergo a medical evaluation;” and
• “[w]e find that the sanction is consistent with sanctions imposed in a variety of contexts under the Act, and a one-year suspension of cases is not grossly in excess of other suspensions imposed under the [Judicial Conduct and Disability] Act.”

Here is the introduction and a link to the memorandum.

Yesterday the Federal Circuit released two notices. One announced the court would be closed yesterday due to inclement weather, while the other announced the court would open today on time. Here is the text of the notices.

This morning the Federal Circuit announced that amendments to the Federal Circuit Rules go into effect today. As part of implementing various changes, the court updated its rules, forms, guides, and fee schedule. Here is the text of today’s announcement and links to various related documents.

This morning, the Federal Circuit unveiled an announcement that was first given to attendees of the Federal Circuit Bar Association’s Annual Dinner and Reception on Friday. The Court announced plans for the creation of a 2,400 square-foot learning center in Washington, DC that will focus primarily on providing unique learning opportunities focused on the intersection of law and technology to students in the local community. The center is currently planned to open in September 2024. Here is the full text of the announcement.

This morning, the Federal Circuit provided notice on its website of increased fees taking effect on December 1. The court says the new fees reflect inflationary increases to various miscellaneous court fees and additional increases to local fees. Here is the full text of the announcement.

Yesterday, the Federal Circuit released the following announcement on its website:

For Friday, November 10, 2023, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit is closed in observance of the federal holiday, pursuant to Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 26(a)(6). Our offices will reopen on Monday, November 13, 2023.

Accordingly, the Federal Circuit did not release any opinions or orders today.

This morning, the Federal Circuit announced that Chief Judge Moore will be revealing “a forthcoming new initiative at the court” at this year’s Federal Circuit Bar Association Annual Dinner & Reception. This event is scheduled for Friday, November 17 from 6:30 to 9:30 pm at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC. No details were provided regarding the initiative. Here is the full text of today’s announcement with a link providing more information on the logistics related to the event.

This morning, the Federal Circuit released an announcement that the Court will remain “open for business” and all filing deadlines will remain in effect in the event of a lapse in federal appropriations on Sunday, October 1. Here is the full text of and a link to this morning’s announcement.