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Ethics

Senate Confirms Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to DC Circuit

The Senate on Monday voted to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the influential federal appeals court in Washington DC (access full article).

Jackson, a federal trial court judge in D.C. since 2013 and former district, circuit, and supreme court law clerk to Justice Stephen G. Breyer, is often mentioned as someone who could fulfill President Biden’s pledge to put the first Black woman on the supreme court.

Judicial Nominees Testify Before Senate Judiciary Committee

The Senate Judiciary Committee, holding its first judicial confirmation hearing since President Biden took office, heard from two nominees for federal appeals roles: Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, nominated for a prominent appeals court in Washington; and lawyer Candace Jackson-Akiwumi, tapped for a seat on the Chicago-based Seventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (access full article).

FBI Violated Hundreds of Americans' Constitutional Rights & Lied About It

In 2021, FBI agents lied to a judge, got permission to raid safe-deposit boxes owned by people suspected of no crime, and then sent hundreds of forfeiture notices never saying what the box owners did wrong. Then they lost the contents of many of the boxes, including retirees' entire life savings. But don't take our word for it. Head over to The Los Angeles Times and see the FBI agents admit as much under oath.

Defender Nation Honors and Celebrates Historical Legacy of Juneteenth

As we commemorate Juneteenth this year, we reflect on its profound significance in our nation’s history and in the lives of all those who have fought for freedom and equality. Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, marks the enduring legacy of emancipation and the ongoing journey toward justice for all.

The Training Division is honored to recognize and celebrate this profound day in American history.

Tenth Circuit Tosses Oklahoma Transgender Birth Certificate Ban

Starting in at least 2007, Oklahoma has allowed transgender people to obtain Oklahoma birth certificates with amended sex designations. In 2021, the governor issued an executive order directing the Department of Health to stop amending sex designations. Three transgender Oklahomans sue. Tenth Circuit: This is sex discrimination and thus might get heightened scrutiny, but it fails even rational-basis scrutiny.

Federal Judge Resigned Facing Impeachment, Sexual Misconduct Allegations With Clerk

Joshua Kindred, who abruptly resigned as a U.S. District Court judge for Alaska last week, had an “inappropriately sexualized relationship” with one of his law clerks, engaged in “unwanted” sexual conduct and then lied about it to the chief judge, according to the Judicial Council of the Ninth Circuit (access full article).