Avalon Zoppo

Avalon Zoppo is an appellate courts reporter for The National Law Journal. Contact her at [email protected]. On Twitter: @AvalonZoppo.

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September 01, 2022 | National Law Journal

DC Circuit Panel Picked to Hear Challenge Over Equal Rights Amendment

Judges Michelle Childs, Robert Wilkins and Neomi Rao will hear the case, which seeks to have the ERA recognized as the 28th amendment of the Constitution.

By Avalon Zoppo

2 minute read

August 30, 2022 | National Law Journal

Honeywell Can't Be Forced to Pay $35M in False Claims Case

At the heart of the case was whether Honeywell can be held liable for damages that were already paid by other companies that were also part of the supply chain.

By Avalon Zoppo

4 minute read

August 29, 2022 | The Recorder

Judges Seem Doubtful of Reddit's Liability in Child Porn Lawsuit

The plaintiffs, victims of child pornography, argue Reddit isn't protected by Section 230 due to an exception to the law passed by Congress in 2018.

By Avalon Zoppo

5 minute read

August 26, 2022 | Daily Report Online

Appeals Court Narrows Injunction Blocking Vaccine Mandate for Federal Contractors

The judges said U.S. District Judge R. Stan Baker was "stretching logic" when he issued the injunction nationwide.

By Avalon Zoppo

3 minute read

August 26, 2022 | National Law Journal

Will Judicial Polarization Lead to More Strategic 'Unpublished' Opinions?

Because unpublished opinions aren't precedential and don't typically get reviewed by full courts, some court watchers worry that panels could use them to get their desired outcome in a particular case without making changes to the law.

By Avalon Zoppo

6 minute read

August 25, 2022 | Law.com

Bench Report: Should Judges Have a Mandatory Retirement Age? Plus, Weaponizing Unpublished Opinions.

This week we heard from an outgoing circuit judge on her thoughts on mandatory retirement ages for judges. Spoiler alert, she supports them.

By Brad Kutner | Avalon Zoppo

9 minute read

August 25, 2022 | National Law Journal

'A Haunting Reminder': Judge Recalls His Experience With Racism in Opposing Jim Crow-Era Voting Law

In his dissent, Judge James Graves Jr. recounted a cross being burned on the lawn of his grandmother's home in Mississippi in 1963.

By Avalon Zoppo

5 minute read

August 25, 2022 | National Law Journal

GOP Lawmakers Cast Doubt on Special Committee Probing Judges' Controversial Law Clerk Hiring

One ethics expert dismissed the lawmakers' assertions that the Judicial Conference committee didn't have the authority to reopen the investigation into the two judges who hired a law clerk who allegedly sent racist messages.

By Avalon Zoppo

7 minute read