Opinions

Opinions & Orders – June 9, 2025

Late Friday, the Federal Circuit released a nonprecedential order dismissing an appeal. This morning, the Federal Circuit released two precedential opinions, nine nonprecedential opinions, and four Rule 36 judgments. The precedential opinions come in a patent case and a case involving a claim under the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Act of 1976. The nonprecedential opinions come in various patent, veterans, and federal personnel cases. Here are the introductions to the opinions and links to the judgments and dismissals.

Read More
Featured / Supreme Court Activity

Recent Activity at the Supreme Court

Here is an update on recent activity at the Supreme Court in cases decided by the Federal Circuit. With respect to granted petitions, as we noted last week the Supreme Court recently held held oral argument in one case decided by the Federal Circuit and issued an opinion in another. With respect to pending petitions, the Court granted two petitions, vacated the judgments, and remanded the cases in light of the Court’s holding in a case originally decided by the Merit Systems Protection Board. Also, a new petition was filed in a patent case raising a question related to the ability of a court of appeals to revive a waived argument; a brief in opposition and a reply brief were filed in another patent case raising questions related to patent eligibility and Federal Circuit Rule 36; and a brief in opposition was filed in yet another patent case raising questions concerning so-called skinny labels. Finally, the Court denied two petitions, one raising questions related to ripeness of takings claims and the other raising a question related to the on-sale bar to patentability. Here are the details.

Read More
Opinions

Opinions & Orders – March 10, 2025

This morning, the Federal Circuit released three precedential opinions, seven nonprecedential opinions, one nonprecedential order, and one summary affirmance under Rule 36. Of the precedential opinions, two come in patent cases on appeal from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, while the third comes in a veterans case on appeal from the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. Of the nonprecedential opinions, three come in appeals from the Merit Systems Protection Board, two come in appeals from the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, and two come in appeals from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. The lone nonprecedential order dismisses an appeal. Here are the introductions to the opinions and order and a link to the summary affirmance.

Read More
Opinions

Opinions & Orders – November 15, 2024

This morning the Federal Circuit released one nonprecedential opinion and three nonprecedential orders. The opinion affirms a decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board, which denied an application for disability retirement benefits. The first order denies a petition for a writ of mandamus seeking to order the Eastern District of Texas to vacate an order denying transfer and to transfer the case. The last two orders were both dismissals. Here are the introductions to the opinion and first order, as well as links to the dismissals.

Read More
Opinions

Opinions & Orders – October 15, 2024

This morning the Federal Circuit released three nonprecedential opinions, four Rule 36 judgments, and one nonprecedential order. The first nonprecedential opinion affirms a judgment in a patent case appealed from the District of Maryland. The second and third affirm judgments of the Merit Systems Protection Board. The order is a dismissal. Here are the introductions to the opinions, links to the Rule 36 judgments, and a link to the dismissal.

Read More
Opinions

Opinions & Orders – September 19, 2024

This morning the Federal Circuit released one nonprecedential opinion and six nonprecedential orders. The nonprecedential opinion affirms a final decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board, which denied a request for corrective action under the Whistleblower Protection Act. The nonprecedential orders are all dismissals. Here is the introduction to the opinion and links to the dismissals.

Read More
Opinions

Opinions & Orders – August 21, 2024

This morning the Federal Circuit released one nonprecedential opinion and nine nonprecedential orders. The opinion upheld a decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board. Notably, one of the orders denies a petition for a writ of mandamus seeking to order the Western District of Texas to transfer a patent case to the Northern District of California. Here are the introductions to the opinions and orders.

Read More
Opinions

Opinions & Orders – July 30, 2024

This morning the Federal Circuit released two nonprecedential opinions and four nonprecedential orders. Both opinions affirm judgments of the Merit Systems Protection Board. The first order remands a case to the Central District of California. The second transfers a case to the Southern District of Ohio. The last two orders are both dismissals. Here are the introductions to the opinions and first two orders and links to the remaining orders.

Read More
Opinions

Opinions & Orders – July 25, 2024

This morning the Federal Circuit released one nonprecedential opinion and six nonprecedential orders. The opinion affirms a judgment from the Western District Court of Pennsylvania in a patent case. The first order reinstates an appeal and vacates a previous judgment while also affirming a decision from the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. All the other orders are dismissals. Here is the introduction to the opinion and links to the orders.

Read More
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, we are still waiting on the Supreme Court to issue opinion in one case. With respect to petitions, one new petition was filed with the Court in a patent case, one new waiver of the right to respond was filed in a pro se case, three new replies were filed in separate Merit Systems Protection Board cases all presenting the same question for review, and the Court denied two petitions in a pro se case and in a patent case. Here are the details.

Read More