11th Circuit

Gov. Ron DeSantis criticized the 11th Circuit Court's 2-1 ruling blocking Florida's 'Stop WOKE Act,' calling it judicial overreach. The law prohibited teaching concepts like systemic racism in state universities, which DeSantis argued were ideological fads undermining academic missions. The court majority, including Trump appointee Britt Grant, ruled the law violated free speech, while dissenting judge Barbara Lagoa, also a Trump appointee, disagreed.

The 11th Circuit struck down part of Florida’s Stop WOKE Act, ruling it unconstitutional for restricting professors' classroom speech on race, gender, and diversity. The 2-1 decision rejected Florida officials' request to overturn a lower court's injunction against enforcing the law's provisions, which banned discussions of eight specific concepts related to race, color, national origin, or sex.

The 11th Circuit unanimously ruled that the federal government's use of private accreditation agencies to determine eligibility for financial aid at public colleges is constitutional, rejecting Florida's challenge to the Higher Education Act. Florida argued the system violated constitutional clauses, but the court found the accreditation requirement reasonable and consistent with Congress's goal of ensuring federal aid goes to quality institutions.

The 11th Circuit Court ruled that child predators have a right to live with their children. The article references the ruling and coverage of related oral arguments.

The Supreme Court refused to block the release of an $8.2 million jury verdict in favor of Roy Moore, a Republican politician, against a Democratic super PAC. The 11th Circuit had earlier overturned the verdict, ruling the PAC's ad, which implied Moore solicited sex from a 14-year-old girl, constituted a negligent error rather than actual malice.

The Supreme Court refused to revive Alan Dershowitz's $300 million defamation lawsuit against CNN, upholding a 1964 precedent protecting press freedom. The 7-2 decision denied a challenge to the 'actual malice' standard for defamation claims involving public figures, which requires proof of knowledge or reckless disregard for falsity.

Two cryptocurrency creators, Michael Kane (CEO of Hydrogen Technology) and Shane Hampton (head of engineering), are challenging their federal convictions in the 11th Circuit for securities fraud related to manipulating the price of Hydro cryptocurrency tokens using automated bots. They were convicted in 2024 of conspiring to commit securities price manipulation and wire fraud, with Kane receiving a three-year and nine-month sentence and Hampton a two-year and 11-month sentence.

A Spanish national, Alvaro Lopez Tardon, is appealing a 150-year prison sentence for drug trafficking and money laundering, arguing U.S. sentencing guidelines should not apply to crimes committed in Spain. Prosecutors allege he ran a seven-year cocaine smuggling operation from Miami to Spain, using proceeds to fund luxury purchases in the U.S.

A detainee in Florida’s Bay County Jail removed his own eyeballs after allegedly being ignored during a psychotic crisis, leading to a lawsuit claiming officials were deliberately indifferent to his mental health needs. The 11th Circuit is reviewing whether the case can proceed, with the defendant’s attorney arguing jail counselors failed to provide necessary care.

The 11th Circuit declined to resolve whether insurers must defend pharmacies in opioid crisis lawsuits, instead certifying the issue to Georgia and Florida's Supreme Courts due to ambiguity in state insurance law. Insurers argue their policies exclude coverage for economic losses tied to the opioid epidemic, while the lawsuits allege pharmacy practices caused bodily injuries like addiction and overdose.

Two Georgia Republicans introduced impeachment resolutions against U.S. District Judge Eleanor Ross, alleging she engaged in sexual activity in her chambers, attended a partisan political event, and lied to investigators. Ross, a federal judge since 2014, faces potential removal through impeachment, with the House Judiciary Committee deciding next steps.

Justice Clarence Thomas declined to immediately restore Alabama's 2023 congressional map but ordered Democratic plaintiffs to defend the court-approved special-master map by Monday. The case involves a dispute over voting rights and redistricting, with Alabama Republicans arguing the map violates equal protection and Democrats claiming it preserves a second Black-opportunity district.

A federal appeals court struck down the Trump administration's mandatory ICE detention policy, ruling that it does not grant the Executive authority to detain every unadmitted alien without bond. This decision is the latest in a series of rulings on the controversial policy. The case may eventually be heard by the Supreme Court.