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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January 24, 2025 | National Law Journal

‘Ripe for SCOTUS’: Ruling Creates Circuit Split on NLRB’s Expanded Monetary Remedies

On Tuesday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld an NLRB order directing Macy’s to pay union members for "direct or foreseeable pecuniary harms” stemming from an unlawful lockout of workers after a strike, pursuant to the board’s 2022 Thryv v. NLRB opinion.

By Avalon Zoppo

5 minute read

January 24, 2025 | National Law Journal

Who Are the Judges Assigned to Challenges to Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Order?

It only took a few hours for challenges to Trump’s birthright citizenship executive order to hit the courts.

By Avalon Zoppo

5 minute read

January 23, 2025 | National Law Journal

‘Undermines the Rule of Law’: Retired US Judges Condemn Trump’s Jan. 6 Pardons

"He pardoned people because they were doing his bidding, which was to break the law," said former federal appeals court Judge Thomas Vanaskie. "That's an abuse of the pardon power in my judgment. I think it really undermines the rule of law.”

By Avalon Zoppo

4 minute read

January 22, 2025 | National Law Journal

Senator Plans to Reintroduce Bill to Split 9th Circuit

Proponents have long argued that the circuit covers too much territory and too many people and its docket is unmanageable; critics say the current system isn’t broken and motivations for the split are merely political.

By Avalon Zoppo

5 minute read

January 21, 2025 | National Law Journal

Is 1st Circuit the New Center for Trump Policy Challenges?

Just hours after President Donald Trump signed an order attempting to end birthright citizenship, the first legal challenge against the policy was brought in a federal trial court in New Hampshire.

By Avalon Zoppo

7 minute read

January 17, 2025 | National Law Journal

DC Circuit Rejects Jan. 6 Defendants’ Claim That Pepper Spray Isn't Dangerous Weapon

The D.C. Circuit said the federal government had shown that pepper spray can cause "serious bodily injury" and that the three men used it that way, therefore an enhancement was properly applied to the charges against them.

By Avalon Zoppo

3 minute read

January 16, 2025 | National Law Journal

DC Bar’s Proposed Anti-Discrimination, Harassment Conduct Rule Sees More Pushback

Several legal groups that have backed major conservative victories in the courts—including First Liberty Institute and the New Civil Liberties Alliance—told the D.C. Court of Appeals that the proposal threatens the First Amendment rights of lawyers.

By Avalon Zoppo

5 minute read

January 16, 2025 | National Law Journal

Full 8th Circuit Hears First Amendment Challenge to School District’s ‘Equity Training’

The lawsuit alleges the Springfield, Missouri, School District both compelled the employees to speak as directed and chilled dissenting speech through the required training.

By Avalon Zoppo

4 minute read

January 14, 2025 | National Law Journal

Insurance Policies Don’t Cover Home Depot's Data Breach Costs, 6th Circuit Says

The appellate court's decision noted that the commercial general liability policies precluded coverage of “damages arising out of the loss of, loss of use of, damage to, corruption of, inability to access, or inability to manipulate electronic data.”

By Avalon Zoppo

3 minute read

January 10, 2025 | National Law Journal

Standing Spat: Split 2nd Circuit Lets Challenge to Pfizer Diversity Program Proceed

The appellate panel remanded the case to the district court to decide whether the nonprofit Do No Harm has sufficient evidence of standing, overturning a previous decision upholding the case’s dismissal because anonymous members who alleged injury refused to give their names to the trial court.

By Avalon Zoppo

3 minute read


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