Opinions

Opinions & Orders – July 12, 2023

This morning, the Federal Circuit released two opinions: a precedential opinion in a patent case addressing the patentability of reissue claims and a nonprecedential opinion addressing the Court of Federal Claims’ subject matter jurisdiction. The court also released two summary affirmances. Here are the introductions to the opinions and links to the summary affirmances.

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Opinions

Opinions & Orders – July 10, 2023

This morning, the Federal Circuit released a precedential opinion in a patent case. In it, the court vacated and remanded a Patent Trial and Appeal Board judgment that challenged claims were not unpatentable for obviousness. The court also released three nonprecedential orders, two dismissing appeals for untimeliness and one dismissing an appeal for failure to prosecute. Here is the introduction to the opinion, text from the dismissals for untimeliness, and a link to the dismissal for failure to prosecute.

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Court Week

Court Week – July 2023 – What You Need to Know

This week is Court Week at the Federal Circuit. In total, the court will convene seven panels to consider 36 cases. Of these 36 cases, the court will hear oral arguments in 27. The Federal Circuit is providing access to live audio of these arguments via the Federal Circuit’s YouTube channel. This month, two cases attracted amicus briefs. Here’s what you need to know about these two cases.

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Argument Preview

Argument Preview – Besanceney v. Department of Homeland Security

Two cases being argued in July at the Federal Circuit attracted amicus briefs. One of those cases is Besanceney v. Department of Homeland Security. In this case, the Federal Circuit will review a finding by the Merit Systems Protection Board that disclosures made by Besanceney, a criminal investigator for the Transportation Security Administration, were not protected under the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act. This is our argument preview.

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Opinions

Opinions & Orders – May 3, 2023

This morning, the Federal Circuit released three nonprecedential opinions, one summary affirmance, and four orders dismissing appeals. The nonprecedential opinions affirm a judgment of the Court of Federal Claims dismissing a pro se case for lack of jurisdiction, a judgment of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims affirming a dismissal by the Board of Veterans’ Appeals for lack of jurisdiction, and a judgment of the Merit Systems Protection Board dismissing an appeal for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Here are the introductions to the opinions and links to the summary affirmance and dismissals.

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Opinions

Opinions and Orders – March 21, 2023

Late yesterday and this morning, the Federal Circuit released one nonprecedential opinion and two nonprecedential orders. In the opinion, the court dismissed an appeal from the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. The Federal Circuit also issued two nonprecedential orders dismissing appeals. Here is the introduction to the opinion and links to the dismissals.

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Opinions

Opinions and Orders – February 22, 2023

This morning and late yesterday the Federal Circuit released one precedential opinion, two nonprecedential opinions, and three orders dismissing appeals. In the precedential opinion, the court affirmed a judgment of the Merit Systems Protection Board. In the first nonprecedential opinion, the court affirmed a judgment in a patent case appealed from Southern District of Texas that was dismissed for failure to state a claim. In the second nonprecedential opinion, the Federal Circuit affirmed a judgment in a patent case appealed from the Patent and Trademark Office. Here are the introductions to the opinions and link to the dismissals.

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Petitions / Supreme Court Activity

Recent Supreme Court Activity

Here is an update on recent activity at the Supreme Court in cases decided by the Federal Circuit. With respect to granted cases, the Court set a date for oral argument in Arellano v. McDonough, a veterans case raising questions about equitable tolling of a veterans benefits filing deadline. With respect to petition cases, two new petitions were filed in patent cases; a waiver of right to respond was filed in a veterans case; three amicus briefs were filed in another veterans case; and the Court denied two petitions, one in a patent case and one in a federal employment case. Here are the details.

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Petitions / Supreme Court Activity

Recent Supreme Court Activity

Here is an update on recent activity at the Supreme Court in cases decided by the Federal Circuit. With respect to cases with pending petitions, one new petition was filed by a pro se petitioner; the government filed a waiver of right to respond in another case submitted by a pro se petitioner; and another pro se petitioner submitted his reply brief. Finally, the government submitted the views of the United States in two patent cases: one raising questions about eligibility and another raising a question about standing. Here are the details.

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Opinions

Opinions & Orders – May 19, 2022

This morning the Federal Circuit released two precedential opinions. The first comes in a case appealed from the Merit Systems Protection Board; the second comes in a case appealed from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. The Federal Circuit also released a nonprecedential opinion in another patent case appealed from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Notably, in this case Judge Newman dissented without opinion. Finally, the court released an erratum. Here are the introductions to the opinions and a link to the erratum.

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