Court strikes a blow for sentencing discretion under provision in federal firearm statute

Court strikes a blow for sentencing discretion under provision in federal firearm statute

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People given consecutive sentences under the federal law that imposes penalties for the use of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence or drug trafficking may now be entitled to a new sentencing hearing, thanks to the Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling Friday in Lora v. United States. The justices ruled that federal criminal sentencing laws do not require Efrain Lora, who was convicted for his role in a drug-trafficking-related murder, to receive multiple consecutive, rather than concurrent, … Read the rest

Susan Oki Mollway, First Asian American Woman on Federal Bench: ‘Believe in Yourself’

As a Japanese American, Judge Susan Oki Mollway never considered herself disadvantaged while growing up in the multicultural environment of Hawaii. So, she was surprised, when she was nominated to the federal bench in 1998, to learn she was the first Asian woman to serve as an Article III federal judge. In recognition of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, a new video profile explores Mollway’s heritage.
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North Dakota truck stop objects to federal allowance for debit-card processing fees

North Dakota truck stop objects to federal allowance for debit-card processing fees

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The Petitions of the Week column highlights a selection of cert petitions recently filed in the Supreme Court. A list of all petitions we’re watching is available here.

The Administrative Procedure Act is a federal law that governs the procedures by which federal agencies propose and issue regulations. The APA gives anyone who is injured by an agency’s action the right to go to court to challenge the action, but plaintiffs must file their challenges “within six years … Read the rest