Monday Morning Review: Local Governments in the Federal Appellate Courts

Here are last week’s published decisions involving local governments:

Fourth Circuit

Hudson v. Pittsylvania County, No. 13-2160 (Dec. 17, 2014): In appeal of district court order finding that County prayers violated Establishment Clause, the court found that County’s appeal was untimely.

Fifth Circuit

Bell v. Itawamba County Sch. Bd., No. 12-60264 (Dec. 12, 2014): The court ruled that school board violated student’s freedom of speech by disciplining him for a song that he wrote off campus, that he posted to the Internet from his home computer, and that did not cause a substantial disruption.
Sanchez v. City of Austin, No. 13-50916 (Dec. 18, 2014): The court reversed district court’s order denying attorney’s fees to plaintiffs who challenged City’s policy of issuing criminal-trespass notices to “Occupy” protestors.

Sixth Circuit

Tyler v. Hillsdale County Sheriff’s Dept., No. 13-1876 (Dec. 18, 2014): The court ruled that prohibition on posession of firearm by person who has been committed to a mental institution violates the Second Amendment.
Greco v. Livingston County, No. 14-1203 (Dec. 19, 2014): The court affirmed denial of qualified immunity for officer in case involving dog attack.

Eighth Circuit

Ninth Circuit

Vivid Entm’t v. Fielding, No. 13-56445 (Dec. 15, 2014): The court affirmed order denying motion to enjoin the “County of Los Angeles Safer Sex in the Adult Film Industry Act.”

Tenth Circuit

Campbell v. City of Spencer, No. 14-6015 (Dec. 16, 2014): The court ruled that district court properly determined that claim preclusion barred 1983 claims regarding seizure of horses.
Felkins v. City of Lakewood, No. 13-1415 (Dec. 19, 2014): The court affirmed that ADA against City failed because Felkins failed to present expert medical evidence that her major life activities were substantially limited by her condition.

(12/15/2014-12/19/2014)