Federal

Federal Judge Strikes Down Iowa’s Gender Balance Law on Judicial Nominating Commission

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DES MOINES, Iowa — A federal judge has ruled that a decades-old Iowa law requiring gender balance on the state’s top judicial nominating commission is no longer constitutional and cannot be enforced. The law, which was implemented in the 1980s, mandates that the commission recommending candidates to fill vacancies on Iowa’s appellate courts must have an equal number of male and female members. The decision came as a result of a lawsuit filed by attorneys from the Pacific Legal Foundation challenging the law, arguing that it violated the equal protection guarantees of the 14th Amendment. … Read more

St. Johns County Commissioner Files Federal Lawsuit Against Fellow Commissioners Over Alleged Unlawful Campaigning

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ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – A St. Johns County commissioner has filed a federal lawsuit against her fellow commissioners, alleging that they wrongly accused her of campaigning during a public meeting. The commissioner in question, Krista Joseph, raised concerns about unchecked development and distributed a flyer about the upcoming county primary, which would involve three of her fellow commissioners. While Joseph argued that she was making a public service announcement, two commissioners interrupted her, claiming she was campaigning. After the incident, the county’s general counsel warned Joseph that she had crossed a line of decorum … Read more

Federal Judge Upholds $24 Million Verdict in Landmark Disability Discrimination Lawsuit against Clinical Testing Firm

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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS — A federal district court judge in Massachusetts has upheld a $24 million jury award for a former employee who sued her employer for retaliation and discrimination based on her social anxiety disorder. The employer, PPD Development, had requested the court to set aside or reduce the award, arguing that it was excessive and unsupported. However, U.S. District Judge Leo T. Sorokin rejected these requests and affirmed the jury’s verdict. In 2015, Lisa Menninger was hired as the executive director of the central labs at PPD, a clinical testing firm. She began working … Read more

California Judge Nominated for Federal Bench by Biden Withdraws Nomination, Raising Questions About Selection Process

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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A California judge who was selected by President Joe Biden for the federal bench has withdrawn her nomination amid bipartisan opposition. The withdrawal comes as an unexpected setback for the Biden administration’s efforts to fill vacancies in the judicial system. Judge Jennifer Parker, who currently sits on the California Court of Appeal, was nominated by Biden in January for a seat on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. However, her nomination faced criticism from both Democrats and Republicans, leading to mounting pressure for her to withdraw. The opposition to Parker’s … Read more