federal Case Commentaries

“Citizen Speech” in the Courthouse: Second Circuit Holds a Court-Clerk’s Aid to a Judicial Misconduct Probe Is Potentially Protected by the First Amendment

Date: Aug 1, 2025

“Citizen Speech” in the Courthouse: Second Circuit Holds a Court-Clerk’s Aid to a Judicial Misconduct Probe Is Potentially Protected by the First Amendment Introduction In Long v. Byrne, No. 24-3080...

Second Circuit Re-Defines the Boundaries of De-Novo Resentencing Discretion After § 924(c) Vacatur When the Habeas Judge Has Recently Ruled on a § 3582(c)(1)(A) Motion

Date: Aug 1, 2025

Second Circuit Re-Defines the Boundaries of De-Novo Resentencing Discretion After § 924(c) Vacatur When the Habeas Judge Has Recently Ruled on a § 3582(c)(1)(A) Motion Introduction United States...

“From Contract to Courtroom: The Second Circuit Confirms that Forum-Selection Clauses May Tip the Intel Scales in § 1782 Discovery Disputes”

Date: Aug 1, 2025

From Contract to Courtroom: The Second Circuit Confirms that Forum-Selection Clauses May Tip the Intel Scales in § 1782 Discovery Disputes 1. Introduction In Banoka S.à.r.l. v. Elliott Management...

Commercial-Value Limitation on Confidential Information as “Property” Under § 1343 – Comment on United States v. Chastain (2d Cir. 2025)

Date: Aug 1, 2025

Commercial-Value Limitation on Confidential Information as “Property” Under § 1343: Commentary on United States v. Chastain, No. 23-7038 (2d Cir. July 31 2025) 1. Introduction United States v....

Reinforcing the Contingency-Agreement “Polestar”: Arnold v. Bisignano and the Duty to Explain Reductions of § 406(b) Social-Security Attorney’s Fees

Date: Aug 1, 2025

Reinforcing the Contingency-Agreement “Polestar”: Christian Arnold v. Frank Bisignano (7th Cir. 2025) Introduction Christian Arnold v. Frank Bisignano, decided by the United States Court of Appeals...

United States v. Edwards: Seventh Circuit Re-Defines the Boundaries of Appeal-Waiver Exceptions

Date: Aug 1, 2025

United States v. Edwards: Seventh Circuit Re-Defines the Boundaries of Appeal-Waiver Exceptions 1. Introduction On 31 July 2025 the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit decided...

The Edwards Rule: Appeal Waivers Bar Sixth-Amendment and Breach Claims Unrelated to Plea Validity

Date: Aug 1, 2025

The Edwards Rule: Appeal Waivers Bar Sixth-Amendment and Breach Claims Unrelated to Plea Validity 1. Introduction United States v. Kenin Edwards, Nos. 24-2355 & 24-2401, decided July 31 2025 by the...

The Strict Forfeiture Rule for Vocational-Expert Testimony: Commentary on Thorpe v. Bisignano (7th Cir. 2025)

Date: Aug 1, 2025

The Strict Forfeiture Rule for Vocational-Expert Testimony: Commentary on Thorpe v. Bisignano (7th Cir. 2025) 1. Introduction Thorpe v. Bisignano, No. 24-2214, decided by the United States Court of...

“Modify or Terminate” Letters as Effective CBA-Termination Notices: Central States Pension Fund v. Univar Solutions (7th Cir. 2025)

Date: Aug 1, 2025

“Modify or Terminate” Letters as Effective CBA-Termination Notices: Central States Pension Fund v. Univar Solutions (7th Cir. 2025) Introduction The Seventh Circuit’s decision in Central States,...

“No Policy, No Problem” – Schneiter v. Carr and the Seventh Circuit’s Expansion of Public-Employer Latitude over Employee Social-Media Speech

Date: Aug 1, 2025

“No Policy, No Problem” – Schneiter v. Carr and the Seventh Circuit’s Expansion of Public-Employer Latitude over Employee Social-Media Speech 1. Introduction Richard S. Schneiter, a 40-year veteran...

“One Frame, One Image” – The Eleventh Circuit’s New Rule for Calculating § 2G2.2(b)(7) Enhancements in United States v. Karl Patrick Kluge

Date: Aug 1, 2025

“One Frame, One Image” – The Eleventh Circuit’s New Rule for Calculating § 2G2.2(b)(7) Enhancements in United States v. Kluge I. Introduction In United States v. Karl Patrick Kluge, No. 23-10697...

“Fulton’s Direct Action Doctrine” – Eleventh Circuit Recognises a Self-Executing Cause of Action Under the Takings Clause

Date: Aug 1, 2025

“Fulton’s Direct Action Doctrine” – Eleventh Circuit Recognises a Self-Executing Cause of Action Under the Takings Clause 1. Introduction In Brandon Fulton v. Fulton County Board of Commissioners,...

Chavez-Suntaxi v. Bondi: Post-Loper Bright Continuity of the “One Central Reason” Standard and the Rigorous Abandonment Rule in Asylum Litigation

Date: Aug 1, 2025

Chavez-Suntaxi v. Bondi: Post-Loper Bright Continuity of the “One Central Reason” Standard and the Rigorous Abandonment Rule in Asylum Litigation 1. Introduction On 30 July 2025 the U.S. Court of...

“Waiver at the Immigration Judge Level Bars Re-Framing of Particular Social Groups on Appeal” ― A Commentary on Alvarez Carguachi v. Bondi (2d Cir. 2025)

Date: Aug 1, 2025

“Waiver at the Immigration Judge Level Bars Re-Framing of Particular Social Groups on Appeal” A Comprehensive Commentary on Alvarez Carguachi v. Bondi (2d Cir. 2025) 1. Introduction In Alvarez...

Due-Diligence Boundaries and Materiality under Rule 33: Commentary on United States v. Hild (2d Cir. 2025)

Date: Aug 1, 2025

Due-Diligence Boundaries and Materiality under Rule 33: Lessons from United States v. Hild (2d Cir. 2025) Introduction United States v. Hild is an appeal decided by the United States Court of Appeals...

Whitney v. Montefiore: Second Circuit Re-Affirms Limits of ADA Protection When Patient Safety and Professional Integrity Are Compromised

Date: Aug 1, 2025

Whitney v. Montefiore: Second Circuit Re-Affirms Limits of ADA Protection When Patient Safety and Professional Integrity Are Compromised Introduction Whitney v. Montefiore Medical Center, No....

Minott v. The Washington Law Firm PLLC: Re-affirming Broad District Court Discretion over Attorney Charging Liens and Lodestar Calculations

Date: Aug 1, 2025

Minott v. The Washington Law Firm PLLC: Re-affirming Broad District Court Discretion over Attorney Charging Liens and Lodestar Calculations Introduction In Minott v. The Washington Law Firm PLLC, the...

Contempt Beyond the Dock: Eleventh Circuit Confirms District Courts May Dismiss LHWCA Claims for Willful Non-Compliance and Declares Rule 5.1 Inapplicable to Federal Regulations

Date: Aug 1, 2025

Contempt Beyond the Dock: Eleventh Circuit Confirms District Courts May Dismiss LHWCA Claims for Willful Non-Compliance and Declares Rule 5.1 Inapplicable to Federal Regulations Introduction In...

Eleventh Circuit in Wright v. Commissioner: No Innocent-Spouse Relief Where Deficiency Stems from the Petitioner's Own Income & Strict “Compensable-Harm” Standard for Removal-Power Challenges

Date: Aug 1, 2025

Eleventh Circuit in Wright v. Commissioner: No Innocent-Spouse Relief Where Deficiency Stems from the Petitioner’s Own Income & Strict “Compensable-Harm” Standard for Removal-Power Challenges 1....

Ambiguous Lien Language, Entireties Accounts, and Constructive Fraudulent Transfer: The Eleventh Circuit’s Guidance in UBS v. Esteva

Date: Aug 1, 2025

Ambiguous Lien Language, Entireties Accounts, and Constructive Fraudulent Transfer: Eleventh Circuit Clarifies Summary-Judgment Standards in Bankruptcy Disputes (UBS v. Esteva) 1. Introduction The...

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