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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court upheld a Merit Systems Protection Board decision that affirmed the SEC's disciplinary action against Gibson in a nonprecedential ruling filed February 6, 2026.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

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

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

4th Circuit Vacates Ruling in Trump DEI Programs Challenge

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a lower court ruling in a major lawsuit challenging Trump administration restrictions on federal diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Education groups and multiple states had sued over policies eliminating DEI initiatives across federal agencies.

•Fourth Circuit vacated and remanded district court ruling on Trump administration DEI program restrictions

•Education groups and 19 states are challenging federal diversity policy changes across multiple agencies

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

4th Circuit Affirms 20-Year Sentence in Child Abuse Material Case

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed in part and dismissed in part the conviction and 240-month sentence of Beau Thomas Shores for receipt of child sexual abuse material. The court issued an unpublished per curiam opinion on February 6, 2026.

•Fourth Circuit affirmed 240-month sentence for receipt of child sexual abuse material

•Court issued mixed ruling, affirming in part and dismissing in part on appeal

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

Fourth Circuit Affirms Mental Incompetency Finding in Federal Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed a district court's determination that Travis Keith Lang is incompetent to stand trial due to delusional disorder. The appeals court upheld the lower court's order committing Lang to federal custody for competency evaluation and potential restoration.

•Fourth Circuit affirmed district court finding that Travis Keith Lang is incompetent to stand trial due to delusional disorder

•Lang will remain in federal custody for competency evaluation and potential restoration under 18 U.S.C. § 4241(d)(2)