Year in Review 2013: Highlights From the Second Circuit
We know it's not OK to play favorites, but we're not going to lie: the Second Circuit is one of our (or specifically, my) favorite circuits to cover. And how could it not be? With New York City in its jurisdiction, it would be hard not to have interesting cases coming out of the Second Circuit.
So, as we leap into the new year, let's take a moment to look back on the legal highlights of the Second Circuit in 2013:
Second Circuit in the News
The Second Circuit made headlines all year with cases ranging from criminal, civil rights and intellectual property. Most notable among the many cases were the Ben & Jerry's trademark infringement settlement with a company creating porn with satirical ice cream titles, and the controversy surrounding New York City's stop-and-frisk policy (and the drama surrounding judicial conduct). We also saw cases reflecting the repercussions of the financial crisis, the SAC scandal, and terrorism plots making their way through the judicial system.
Cases Headed to SCOTUS
With the many cases before the Supreme Court this term, there are two of note originating in the Second Circuit: Lozano v. Alvarez and Town of Greece v. Galloway.
In Lozano, the Court has to determine whether equitable tolling applies to the "now-settled" defense under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Town of Greece may be one of the landmark cases of the term, where the Court must again take up the ever-constant issue of the separation of church and state.
Cases That Make You Go Hmmmm....
While the Second Circuit is deciding issues with national implications, it's also deciding cases about issues like lawyers with email addresses that aren't current, and people giving cops the bird.
While 2013 was an exciting year for jurisprudence in the Second Circuit, we're sure that 2014 will bring us even more fodder for coverage.
What were some of your favorite Second Circuit cases from 2013? Let us know on our FindLaw for Legal Professionals Facebook page.
Related Resources:
- 2nd Circuit: Cops Can't Read Motorists' Mail During Traffic Stop (FindLaw's U.S. Second Circuit Blog)
- William Shatner's Seductive Powers Don't Create a Fiduciary Duty (FindLaw's U.S. Second Circuit Blog)
- Television Broadcasters Not Happy with Aereo; Petition for Cert (FindLaw's U.S. Second Circuit Blog)