Bankruptcy judges, lawyers frustrated by ‘Stern’ ruling 
By:
David Frank and Kimberly Atkins
Published: December 30, 2011
Tags: Article III, Bankruptcy, Federal courts, Stern v. Marshall
U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Barbara J. Houser’s job is a lot harder than it used to be, and she is not afraid to admit it.
The problem for Houser and her colleagues, as well as practitioners across the country, is the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2011 Stern v. Marshall decision, which limited the ability of judges to hear and rule on claims that regularly arise outside the Bankruptcy Code.
Can federal court hear telemarketing abuse claims?
By:
Kimberly Atkins
Published: November 28, 2011
Tags: consumer protection, Federal courts, state courts, Telephone Consumer Protection Act
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Supreme Court tried to decipher the strange wording of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act on Monday to determine if plaintiffs can sue in federal court rather than state court.
More bankruptcy filers opt to skip lawyers, Courts say
Published: October 24, 2011
Tags: Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, bankruptcy filings, Federal courts
WASHINGTON – The number of people choosing to file for bankruptcy without the aid of an attorney has nearly tripled in the last five years – a rate of growth much higher than the overall growth of bankruptcy filings, according to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.
Headaches for lawyers averted with budget deal
Published: April 11, 2011
Tags: Congress, federal agencies, Federal courts, Obama, shutdown
WASHINGTON – Just hours before the U.S. government was set to shut down due to a lack of funding, Washington lawmakers agreed to a short-term budget plan Friday night, ensuring that courtrooms and agencies crucial to lawyers will remain open for business.
Government shutdown would halt systems critical to lawyers
By:
Kimberly Atkins
Published: April 8, 2011
Tags: FDA, federal agencies, Federal courts, FHA, government shutdown, Justice Department, NLRB, SBA
The budget impasse and resulting government shutdown would have widespread effects on systems critical to attorneys, slowing some courtroom and agency operations while bringing others to a screeching halt.
Senators renew push for cameras in the courtroom
By:
Kimberly Atkins
Published: February 28, 2011
Tags: cameras, Congress, Federal courts, Sunshine in the Courtroom Act
WASHINGTON – A bipartisan group of Senate lawmakers has introduced a bill to give federal trial and appellate judges the authority to allow cameras in the courtroom.
Consumer bankruptcies rise in 2010
By:
Kimberly Atkins
Published: January 6, 2011
Tags: Bankruptcy, Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act, consumer bankruptcy, Federal courts
WASHINGTON – Consumer bankruptcy filings rose 9 percent in 2010, according to a new report by the American Bankruptcy Institute.
Most supervised federal offenders avoid arrest
By:
Kimberly Atkins
Published: January 6, 2011
Tags: Criminal Law, Federal courts, recidivism, supervised release
WASHINGTON – More than 75 percent of federal offenders on supervised release remain arrest-free during their first three years after release, according to a study by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.
Roberts calls for end of confirmation gridlock
By:
Kimberly Atkins
Published: January 5, 2011
Tags: Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Federal courts, judicial nominations
WASHINGTON – In his year-end report on the state of the judiciary, Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. called on Senate lawmakers to stop stalling judicial nominees as a political maneuver.
Senate removes federal judge from office
By:
Kimberly Atkins
Published: December 10, 2010
Tags: Congress, Federal courts, impeachment, Thomas Porteous
WASHINGTON – For only the eighth time in history, the U.S. Senate convicted a federal judge of articles of impeachment, removing him from office.
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