Monthly Archives: March 2026

Split Fourth Circuit Panel Holds That There Was No Injury Fairly Traceable to Maryland State Officials Under the Federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, and Thus No Article III Standing by Servicemembers to Enforce the Act

In Rouse v. Fader, No. 25-1004 (4th Cir. Mar. 24, 2026), a 2-1 panel of the Fourth Circuit holds that the plaintiffs—“three married couples, each with one spouse who was an active-duty servicemember”—lacked Article III standing to enforce the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, 50 U.S.C. § 3902, because no injury was fairly traceable to theContinue reading “Split Fourth Circuit Panel Holds That There Was No Injury Fairly Traceable to Maryland State Officials Under the Federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, and Thus No Article III Standing by Servicemembers to Enforce the Act”

Fifth Circuit Clears Up Intracircuit Conflict, Holding That Video Recordings of Depositions Are Taxable as Costs Under Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(d)(1) and 28 U.S.C. § 1920

In Clouse v. Southern Methodist Univ., No. 24-10860 (5th Cir. Mar. 16, 2026), the Fifth Circuit resolves a split among the circuit’s district courts by holding that ordering both video and printed depositions are chargeable as costs under Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(d)(1) and  28 U.S.C. § 1920. The panel thus affirms a total $184,033.11Continue reading “Fifth Circuit Clears Up Intracircuit Conflict, Holding That Video Recordings of Depositions Are Taxable as Costs Under Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(d)(1) and 28 U.S.C. § 1920”

Seventh Circuit Splits Over Whether to Vacate a District Court Order Against Federal Immigration Agencies Upon a Fed. R. App. P. 42(b)(2) Voluntary Motion to Dismiss

In Chicago Headline Club v. Noem, No. 25-3023 (7th Cir. Mar. 5, 2026) (per curiam), a Seventh Circuit panel issues a 2-1 decision ordering that, as part of granting the government’s voluntary dismissal of its appeal under Fed. R. App. P. 42(b), the underlying order on appeal be vacated. The case arose from the surgeContinue reading “Seventh Circuit Splits Over Whether to Vacate a District Court Order Against Federal Immigration Agencies Upon a Fed. R. App. P. 42(b)(2) Voluntary Motion to Dismiss”

Second Amendment Claim Against State Court Judge Properly Dismissed for Lack of Adversity Under Article III, Holds Second Circuit

In Kellogg v. Nichols, No. 23-8093 (2d Cir. Mar. 5, 2026), the Second Circuit affirms dismissal of a gun-rights case filed against a state court judge who serves as a statutory firearms licensing officer, both on absolute immunity and Article III grounds. The plaintiffs sued “New York state court Judge Jonathan D. Nichols,” in hisContinue reading “Second Amendment Claim Against State Court Judge Properly Dismissed for Lack of Adversity Under Article III, Holds Second Circuit”

Sixth Circuit Reverses a District Court for Exercising Supplemental Jurisdiction and Granting Summary Judgment on a Novel Michigan State-Constitutional Claim

In Williams v. Addison Cmty. Schs., No. 25-1205 (6th Cir. Mar. 2, 2026), the Sixth Circuit issues a rare published opinion reversing a district court for exercising supplemental jurisdiction (28 U.S.C. § 1367(a)), here over a Michigan state-law claim that raised issues of first impression. Plaintiff Williams was removed as President of the Addison CommunityContinue reading “Sixth Circuit Reverses a District Court for Exercising Supplemental Jurisdiction and Granting Summary Judgment on a Novel Michigan State-Constitutional Claim”