FedCircuitBlog

Here is an update on recent activity at the Supreme Court in cases decided by the Federal Circuit. With respect to the Supreme Court’s October 2021 term, the Court still has not granted any petitions in cases decided by the Federal Circuit. Since our last report, however, ten new petitions have been filed in patent, government contract, veterans, and pro se cases; briefs in opposition have been filed in three patent and veterans cases; replies in support of petitions have been filed in three patent cases; the Court requested a response to a petition in a patent case; and the Court denied petitions in three patent, trademark, and pro se cases. Here are the details.

This morning the Federal Circuit released two nonprecedential opinions affirming dismissals for lack of jurisdiction in pro se cases, along with a Rule 36 summary affirmance. Here are the introductions to the opinion and a link to the Rule 36 judgment.

This week is Court Week at the Federal Circuit, with hearings starting today. As it has for some time now, the Federal Circuit is providing access to live audio of each panel scheduled for argument via the Federal Circuit’s YouTube channel. In total, including a case set to be argued next week, the court will convene 15 panels to consider about 61 cases. Of these 61 cases, the court will hear oral arguments in 48. Of these argued cases, three attracted amicus briefs: two veterans cases and a benefits case. Here’s what you need to know about these three cases.

We are previewing three cases scheduled to be argued next week at the Federal Circuit that attracted amicus briefs. Today we highlight a veterans case, Wolfe v. McDonough. In this case, the Secretary asks the Federal Circuit to reverse a decision of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, which “granted a petition for a writ of mandamus filed by Ms. Wolfe on behalf of a class of claimants to invalidate 38 C.F.R. § 17.1005(a)(5) and require [the Department of Veterans Affairs] to readjudicate and grant claims for reimbursement of coinsurance and deductibles.” The government’s appeal attracted three amicus briefs, all arguing against the government’s position. This is our argument preview.

This morning the Federal Circuit released one precedential opinion and two nonprecedential opinions. The precedential opinion comes in a patent case appealed from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, and in it the court affirms the PTAB’s decision over a partial dissent by Judge Linn. The nonprecedential opinions come in a trademark case appealed from the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and a veterans case appealed from the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. Here are the introductions to the opinions.

This morning the Federal Circuit issued two nonprecedential opinions. The first opinion comes in a patent case appealed from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, and it addresses the Board’s determination that claims are invalid for obviousness. The second opinion comes in veterans case appealed from the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, and it addresses the Board of Veterans’ Appeals denial of compensation to a veteran. Here are the introductions to the opinions.

This morning the Federal Circuit issued a precedential opinion in a government contract case appealed from the Court of Federal Claims. The court also issued five nonprecedential opinions. The first comes in a government contract case appealed from the Court of Federal Claims. The second comes in a veterans case appealed from the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. The third and fourth come in employment cases appealed from the Merit Systems Protection Board. And the fifth comes in a patent case appealed from the Western District of North Carolina. Finally, the court issued a nonprecedential order denying a petition for a writ of mandamus against the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. Here are the introductions to the opinions and order.

This morning the Federal Circuit issued two nonprecedential opinions. The first comes in a patent case appealed from the District of Delaware. The second comes in a government contract case appealed from the Court of Federal Claims. The Federal Circuit also issued a nonprecedential order denying a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, a writ of mandamus, and a writ of quo warranto. Finally, the court issued three Rule 36 judgments. Here are the introductions to the opinions and orders and links to the Rule 36 judgments.

This morning the Federal Circuit issued a nonprecedential opinion reviewing a judgment of the District of Delaware holding patent claims invalid for lack of eligibility. The Federal Circuit also issued four nonprecedential orders. The first order dismisses a petition for a writ of mandamus after notification by the parties that mandamus relief is no longer necessary. The other three orders all grant petitions for writs of mandamus directing the the Western District of Texas to transfer patent cases to the Northern District of California. Finally, the court issued two Rule 36 judgments. Here are the introductions to the opinions and orders and links to the Rule 36 judgments.

This morning the Federal Circuit issued a precedential opinion in a patent case appealed from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board and two nonprecedential opinions in employment cases appealed from the Merit Systems Protection Board. The court also issued two nonprecedential orders. In the first order, the court denied a petition for a writ of mandamus seeking to vacate an order transferring a patent case from the District of Colorado to the Western District of Texas. In the second order, the court granted a petition for a writ of mandamus directing the Western District of Texas to transfer a patent case. Finally, the Federal Circuit released three Rule 36 judgments. Here are the introductions to the opinions and orders and links to the Rule 36 judgments.