pstrongFederal

Federal Court Mandates Redistricting in Alabama: A Win for Black Voter Representation in Montgomery

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A federal court has directed state lawmakers to redraw Alabama’s Senate district lines, citing violations of the Voting Rights Act that undermined the representation of Black voters near the state capital. U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco issued an order prohibiting the use of the current district map in the upcoming 2026 elections, mandating the creation of a new district in Montgomery where Black voters either hold a voting-age majority or come close to achieving that status. In her comprehensive 261-page ruling, Manasco emphasized that the redistricting plan must provide either an additional … Read more

Federal Circuit Reverses Jury’s Infringement Ruling in LabCorp vs. Qiagen, Citing Claim Construction Errors

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The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C., has overturned a previous ruling by a district court in a significant patent infringement case involving Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings (LabCorp) and Qiagen Sciences, LLC. The appellate court found that the jury’s conclusions regarding patent infringement were not backed by adequate evidence and that the district court had improperly allowed the jury to make determinations on claim construction. LabCorp possesses two patents focused on methods for preparing DNA samples for sequencing, aiming to enhance whole-genome sequencing techniques. The dispute arose when LabCorp … Read more

Federal Judge Blocks DOJ’s Attempt to Unseal Epstein Case Grand Jury Transcripts, Citing Victim Privacy Concerns

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NEW YORK — A federal judge has blocked the Department of Justice’s attempt to unseal grand jury transcripts linked to the sex trafficking case of the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. U.S. District Judge Richard Berman made the ruling in Manhattan on Wednesday, echoing a previous decision regarding documents from Ghislaine Maxwell’s case that had also been denied. Maxwell, a British socialite and long-time associate of Epstein, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted for her role in facilitating Epstein’s sexual exploitation of minors and young women. Epstein, who was facing federal charges … Read more

Federal Court Blocks DHS from Using Medicaid Data for Immigration Enforcement, Safeguarding Patient Privacy in 20 States

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SAN FRANCISCO — A federal judge has issued a temporary ruling preventing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from utilizing Medicaid data from Washington and 19 additional states for immigration enforcement. The preliminary injunction, delivered by U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria, addresses a multistate lawsuit filed in Northern California, citing inadequate protocol by federal agencies regarding the sharing of sensitive health information. Judge Chhabria’s decision indicated a need for adherence to proper decision-making processes when altering policies tied to personal health data. As a result of the injunction, the U.S. Department of Health and Human … Read more