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Avalon Zoppo

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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August 13, 2024 | National Law Journal

Supreme Court Term Limits Are Doable By Statute, Retired Federal Judge Says

"I'm not saying it wouldn't be a difficult political slog if somebody thought that there was some disadvantage to their side," Judge Diane Wood said. "But I frankly see no constitutional barrier."

By Avalon Zoppo

4 minute read

August 12, 2024 | National Law Journal

Budding Circuit Consensus: SPAC Investors Can't Sue Over Acquired Company's Pre-Merger Misstatements

"At the time of [Lucid's] alleged misrepresentations, CCIV and Lucid were two entirely separate companies," the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held. "Lucid's alleged misrepresentations made about itself cannot be imputed to another company that later acquired it."

By Avalon Zoppo

4 minute read

August 12, 2024 | National Law Journal

Split 9th Circuit Rejects Anti-Vaccine Group's Suit Alleging Censorship on Facebook

Children's Health Defense, founded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., failed to allege the government coerced the social media platform's owner to censor the group's message, the appeals court said.

By Avalon Zoppo

4 minute read

August 09, 2024 | Law.com

Judge Says Supreme Court's Gun Ruling Doesn't Demystify 2nd Amendment Test

"Bruen has proven to be a labyrinth for lower courts, including our own, with only the one-dimensional history-and-tradition test as a compass," wrote Chief Judge Albert Diaz of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, adding that Rahimi has provided "little" clarity.

By Avalon Zoppo

5 minute read

August 07, 2024 | National Law Journal

Should Courts Use Sister Circuit Consensus in Police Immunity Analysis? 2 Judges Say Yes

"The robust consensus doctrine would open up the door a little bit to plaintiffs whose rights have been violated [by law enforcement] being able to get some sort of recovery," said UNC School of Law professor Andrew Hessick.

By Avalon Zoppo

5 minute read

August 06, 2024 | National Law Journal

'Serious Error': Dozens of Law Firms Urge 6th Circuit to Shield Internal Investigation Docs

"[D]ocuments and communications generated in an internal investigation are protected by the attorney-client privilege as long as they were intended to further the provision of legal advice from counsel," the 39 law firms wrote.

By Avalon Zoppo

4 minute read

August 05, 2024 | National Law Journal

Judicial Council Upholds Dismissal of Complaint Against Judges Who Vowed Not to Hire Columbia Law Clerks

"The subject judges have chosen to boycott the hiring of future graduates of the university as a means to implement their hiring discretion," wrote Priscilla Richman, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. "While reasonable jurists may disagree about the effectiveness of their method and whether it is justified, the judges have not engaged in misconduct."

By Avalon Zoppo

4 minute read

August 01, 2024 | National Law Journal

Senate Panel Advances Nomination of Labor Lawyer Karla Campbell to 6th Circuit

The Judiciary Committee also sent to the Senate floor nominees for the First Circuit and district court judgeships in Eastern Pennsylvania, Northern California, Vermont and Minnesota.

By Avalon Zoppo

3 minute read

July 31, 2024 | National Law Journal

Sen. Tillis Doubles Down on Objection to Biden's 4th Circuit Pick Ryan Park

"Instead of spending the last two and a half months trying to find a consensus nominee … the White House chose to move forward on a nomination that I have successfully secured the votes to block on the floor," said Sen. Thom Tillis, R-North Carolina.

By Avalon Zoppo

5 minute read

July 30, 2024 | National Law Journal

GAO Calls for Improved Data Collection on Judiciary Workplace Misconduct

The judiciary may be undercounting the number of incidents or not fully understanding the problem, the nonpartisan agency stated in a 72-page report.

By Avalon Zoppo

7 minute read