Appellate Advocacy Blog Weekly Roundup November 13

Each week, the Appellate Advocacy Blog Weekly Roundup presents a few tidbits of news and Twitter posts from the past week concerning appellate advocacy. As always, if you see something during the week that you think we should be sure to include, feel free to send a quick note to either (1) Dan Real at DReal@Creighton.edu or on Twitter (@Daniel_L_Real) or (2) Catharine Du Bois at DuBoisLegalWriting@gmail.com or on Twitter @CLDLegalWriting.

U.S. Supreme Court News and Opinions:

Last week, newly confirmed Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett sat for her first oral arguments as a member of the Court.  The ABA Journal reported on her first arguments HERE.

As the Court has returned to action for this term, it has already started hearing arguments in some particularly big cases that are being closely watched and likely to have significant impacts. 

• • Last week, that included arguments in a case concerning LGBT rights and whether catholic adoption agencies can decline to consider LGBT applicants, as well as a case considering the legality of life sentences for teenagers.
  • This week, the Court heard arguments in the latest challenge to the Affordable Care Act, which has garnered a number of headlines:
    • SCOTUS Blog page devoted to the case, California v. Texas.
    • Politico coverage of key moments from the argument.
    • Wall Street Journal coverage of the case.
    • SCOTUS Blog analysis of the arguments.

Federal Appellate Court Opinions and News:

This week, the First Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in an appeal challenging Harvard’s affirmative action policy that the policy does not amount to impermissible discrimination.  As the AP noted, although the decision upholds considering race in admissions and offers some relief to other institutions that currently do so, it also likely sets the stage for the Supreme Court to revisit the topic.

Appellate Jobs:

A couple of employment opportunities for those seeking jobs in appellate practice:

• • The Virginia SG’s Office is looking for a post-JD fellow.  Applications are due November 15.  More information HERE, courtesy of Toby Heytens on Twitter.
  • The United States Department of Justice is accepting applications for an Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Michigan.  More information HERE.