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Federal Circuit Court of Appeals

Federal Circuit Upholds SEC's Indefinite Suspension of Security Specialist

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit rejected Stefani Gibson's petition challenging her indefinite suspension from her role as Personnel Security Specialist at the Securities and Exchange Commission. The court upheld a Merit Systems Protection Board decision that affirmed the SEC's disciplinary action against Gibson in a nonprecedential ruling filed February 6, 2026.

•Federal Circuit Court upheld Merit Systems Protection Board's decision affirming SEC's indefinite suspension of Personnel Security Specialist Stefani Gibson

•Case involved Gibson's inability to maintain Top Secret security clearance required for her position at the SEC

Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals

10th Circuit Denies Rehearing in Oklahoma Prison Inmate Rights Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit denied both panel rehearing and en banc review in Simpson v. Quick, a case involving inmate Kendrick Simpson's challenge against Oklahoma Department of Corrections officials. The court's February 6, 2026 order finalizes a ruling that originated in federal district court.

•Tenth Circuit denied both panel rehearing and en banc review in inmate rights case Simpson v. Quick

•Case involved challenge to Oklahoma State Penitentiary warden, DOC executive director, and state attorney general

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Upholds CBP Female-Only Night Shifts at Tampa Port

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit ruled on a Title VII discrimination case challenging U.S. Customs and Border Protection's policy of designating three night shifts at the Port of Tampa as female-only positions. The case involved multiple CBP officers who argued the gender-based staffing policy violated federal employment discrimination laws.

•Four CBP officers challenged female-only night shift assignments at Tampa Port as Title VII violations

•CBP defended the policy as necessary to ensure female officers were available for same-gender searches

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Addresses Police Traffic Stop Case in Jarvis v. Daytona Beach

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit ruled on appeals by Daytona Beach police officers Marville Tucker and James Mackenzie regarding denied summary judgment motions in a civil rights case brought by Kary Jarvis. The case involves a traffic stop conducted pursuant to an anonymous tip and subsequent consent search requests.

•Eleventh Circuit addressed appeals by Daytona Beach officers Tucker and Mackenzie regarding denied summary judgment motions in civil rights case

•Case involves traffic stop conducted pursuant to anonymous tip and subsequent consent search request after written warning issued

Federal Circuit Court of Appeals

1w ago•2 min read

Federal Circuit Affirms Patent Invalidity Ruling for Simplot in Food Industry Dispute

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed a lower court judgment that claims 1 and 6 of U.S. Patent No. 6,821,540 are invalid as indefinite under 35 U.S.C. § 112 in a patent dispute between J.R. Simplot Co. and McCain Foods.

•Federal Circuit affirmed district court ruling that claims 1 and 6 of U.S. Patent No. 6,821,540 are invalid as indefinite under 35 U.S.C. § 112

•Case involved complex cross-appeals from Idaho federal court between J.R. Simplot Co. and McCain Foods entities

State Court

•Nebraska Supreme Court held that expiration of harassment protection orders renders appeals moot

Nebraska Supreme Court

Nebraska Supreme Court Sets Mootness Standards for Protection Orders

The Nebraska Supreme Court ruled Thursday on when appeals of harassment protection orders become moot after expiration. The consolidated cases of Flinn v. Strode establish new precedent for appellate review of expired protective orders.

•Court established three-factor test for public interest exception to mootness doctrine

State Court

•Nebraska Supreme Court established that due process determinations in juvenile cases are questions of law subject to independent appellate review

Nebraska Supreme Court

Nebraska Supreme Court Clarifies Due Process Rights in Juvenile Transfer

The Nebraska Supreme Court issued a ruling on February 6, 2026, in *In re Interest of Aaden S.*, establishing important precedent for constitutional due process requirements in juvenile transfer proceedings. The decision clarifies review standards and reinforces procedural protections for minors facing potential transfer to adult court.

•Court clarified that juvenile transfer decisions are reviewed de novo on the record for abuse of discretion

State Court

•Jason Wilcox was convicted after crashing into a family minivan, killing three people and injuring four others before fleeing the scene

Delaware Supreme Court

Delaware Supreme Court Affirms Hit-and-Run Conviction in Fatal Crash

The Delaware Supreme Court upheld the conviction of Jason Wilcox for a fatal hit-and-run crash that killed three people and injured four others on Delaware Route 9. The court rejected Wilcox's appeals challenging Brady material disclosure and electronic data recorder evidence.

•Delaware Supreme Court rejected Wilcox's appeals challenging Brady material disclosure and electronic data recorder evidence

Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals

8th Circuit Vacates Drug User Gun Conviction, Orders New Review

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated Alexander Wesley Ledvina's conviction for unlawful firearm possession as a drug user and remanded the case for further proceedings on his Second Amendment challenge. The court affirmed all other aspects of the district court's decision in the federal firearms case.

•Eighth Circuit vacated conviction for drug user firearm possession, citing recent precedents in Perez and Cooper cases

•Court remanded case for further Second Amendment as-applied challenge proceedings while affirming other rulings