Today in the News, 2.20.09
- “The lawmakers, as well as patient advocates and others, say the Supreme Court’s medical device decision has left patients legally powerless against what they criticize as spotty oversight of products by the F.D.A.” NY Times reports that members of Congress are proposing a bill that would “effectively nullify” the Supreme Court’s decision last term in Riegel v. Medtronic, in which the Court ruled that federal law preempts state lawsuits brought by patients injured by faulty medical devices. More from the WSJ Health Blog, and from us here.
- “This ‘hit and run’ legal theory is like saying that once someone gets a driver’s license, that person can’t be held legally responsible for ramming your car on the freeway and sending you to the hospital.” Also on federal preemption, Nan Aron of Alliance for Justice and John Philo of the Sugar Law Center have a great op-ed in the Detroit Free Press, discussing possible implications of the Supreme Court’s anticipated ruling in Wyeth v. Levine.
- “Eight years ago, the incoming Bush administration reversed a longstanding policy that gave the association’s Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary a central, privileged role in the nomination process.” And finally, BLT discusses whether President Obama will be letting the American Bar Association back in on judicial nominations.
More from
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Comey v. Department of Justice
In Comey v. Department of Justice, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York is considering whether the Attorney General can fire an Assistant U.S. Attorney in contravention of legal protections...
July 18, 2026
Arnie Arnesen Attitude July 16 2026
CAC’s David H. Gans joined The Attitude with Arnie Arnesen to discuss the Reconstruction Amendments. Listen...
----- Supreme Court -----
Crowther v. Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia
In Crowther v. Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, the Supreme Court is considering whether employees of federally funded educational institutions can bring Title IX suits for sex discrimination.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Wridt v. City of New York
In Wridt v. City of New York, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York is considering whether the NYPD’s mass surveillance system is unconstitutional.
July 16, 2026
CAC Release: Todd Blanche’s Record Disqualifies Him From Serving as America’s Lawyer
WASHINGTON, DC – In response to this week’s confirmation hearings on Todd Blanche’s nomination to...
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
DHS Probationary Employees 1 Class v. Department of Homeland Security
In DHS Probationary Employees 1 Class v. Department of Homeland Security, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit is considering whether the Trump Administration’s efforts to unilaterally reshape the federal government through...