Todd Ruger

January 21, 2014 | National Law Journal

A round-up of legal news from ALM publication and news outlets around the country: Former Sen. Jon Kyl supports proposed changes to the federal discovery rules, a federal appeals court judge's retirement ends travel cost investigation, and a town starts a kindness campaign.

By Todd Ruger

1 minute read

January 21, 2014 | New York Law Journal

Congress gave final approval last week to a bipartisan appropriations bill that will provide the federal courts an increase of $316 million in discretionary spending for the 2014 fiscal year, almost erasing the cuts to the judiciary in March as part of sequestration.

By Todd Ruger

7 minute read

January 17, 2014 | Law.com

Lawmakers, civil rights advocates and tech companies shared a basic response to President Barack Obama's surveillance reforms: Good first step, but there's more to be done.

By Todd Ruger

4 minute read

January 17, 2014 | Law.com

President Barack Obama today announced reforms to the nation's surveillance programs in an effort to give federal judges greater oversight and to give the public more information and participation in the process.

By Todd Ruger

4 minute read

January 16, 2014 | New Jersey Law Journal

A bipartisan group of lawmakers proposed legislation on Thursday to repair and expand the Voting Rights Act of 1965, in response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision last year that gutted one of the nation's most powerful tools to fight voter discrimination.

By Todd Ruger

3 minute read

January 16, 2014 | Law.com

The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced 29 judicial nominees to the full Senate in a meeting devoid of the partisanship that accompanied the confirmation process in recent months. The five circuit court and 24 district court nominees included Covington & Burling partner Christopher “Casey” Cooper for a spot on the federal trial court in Washington, and Munger, Tolles & Olson partners John Owens and Michelle Friedland for spots on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

By Todd Ruger

3 minute read

January 15, 2014 | National Law Journal

The nation's legal aid providers stand to get back funding this year under Congress' latest budget plan.

By Todd Ruger

2 minute read

January 14, 2014 | National Law Journal

Congress is planning to give some relief to the federal judiciary after last year's budget cuts.

By Todd Ruger

4 minute read

January 14, 2014 | The Legal Intelligencer

The Obama administration said Jan. 10 it will recognize hundreds of same-sex marriages in Utah that were performed after a federal judge struck down the state's ban but before the U.S. Supreme Court blocked the judge's decision pending appeal.

By Todd Ruger

2 minute read

January 13, 2014 | National Law Journal

The Senate today confirmed Robert Wilkins to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, marking the final step in an aggressive push from the White House and Senate Democrats to leave a mark on a key federal appeals court.

By Todd Ruger

3 minute read