Federal Courts
186 Articles
Second Circuit Gets Civil Forfeiture under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act Wrong
Are foreign states and their property immune from civil forfeiture suits brought by the U.S.? In a case involving a Manhattan skyscraper controlled by Iran, the Second Circuit…
Democratic Debates Round 2: Time to Ask About America’s Courts
When the Democratic U.S. presidential candidates face off in Detroit for their second debates July 30-31, they or the moderators should raise what will be one of the most pressing…
The September 11 Military Commissions Trudge On
Nearly two decades after the September 11 attacks, we are still waiting for justice to be administered to the majority of the Al Qaeda suspects being held at Guantanamo—including…
Trump Investigations and the RICO vs Conspiracy Puzzle
Twitter debates erupted this week on a surprising topic: What are the relative advantages of charging racketeering versus conspiracy when considering wide-ranging criminal conduct…
Liberian War Crimes Claims Survive in Alien Tort Statute Case
Victims of human rights abuses abroad scored a win recently, when the U.S. District Court for Eastern Pennsylvania ruled in Jane W. et al. v. Thomas that claims involving war crimes…
Questioning Michael Cohen: An Advanced Course in Congressional Investigations
Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump’s former lawyer, has announced his willingness to testify before the House Oversight and Reform Committee and the House and Senate intelligence…
Trump’s Bookkeeper: How Prosecutors Could Easily Prove Tax Crimes for Hush Money Reimbursements
Federal and state prosecutors' textbook strategy looks likely to prove tax crimes based on SDNY's court filings in Michael Cohen's sentencing .
The Huawei Arrest: How It Likely Happened and What Comes Next
The arrest and possible extradition of an executive of Chinese tech giant Huawei raises important questions about foreign policy cases and Justice Department autonomy.
Immigrants’ First Amendment Rights at Stake as the Second Circuit Hears Ragbir Case
Are federal immigration officers free to retaliate against immigrant activists who exercise their First Amendment rights? That is the question the Second Circuit will confront…
What Happened at the Court: The Hasbajrami Oral Argument on Section 702 of FISA and the Fourth Amendment
On August 27, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit heard argument in United States v. Hasbajrami, a case that raises several challenges to the constitutionality of…
Brett Kavanaugh and the Risk of a Return to Torture
Brett Kavanaugh, holds a stark view of the role of international law, which could threaten the protection of fundamental human rights, including the right not to be tortured.
Can You Sue International Organizations? The Supreme Court Decides to Weigh In
Last week, the Supreme Court granted certiorari in Jam v. the International Finance Corporation, that may pare back immunities from lawsuits for international organizations. The…