Constitutional Law

News From The Bench

Big Changes On The Federal Circuit. Two-thirds of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit will be eligible for senior status within the next two years, according to Judge Kimberly Moore. Established in 1982, the Federal Circuit has nationwide jurisdiction in a variety of subject areas, including international trade, government contracts, patents, trademarks, claims against the federal government, federal personnel and veterans' benefits.

New York Judges Compensated Like It's 1999. Attorney Bernard Nussbaum will file suit on behalf of New York's judges whose pay has not been increased in nearly 10 years, arguing that state lawmakers breached the separation of powers doctrine by linking judicial pay to raises for legislators. New York state level judicial compensation ranks 49th in the nation, with full-time annual pay ranging from $108,800 to $136,700.

Courtroom to Classroom. New Mexico Magistrate Judge Daniel Hawkes brought his courtroom to local classrooms as part of an outreach program to show students the dangers of alcohol. 400 students watched as he sentenced Marlene Chavez to four days in jail and a $500 fine for a second drunken-driving offense.

Full post as published by ACS Blog on December 31, 1969 (boomark / email).