Palmer v. D.C.

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Like Al mentioned, the national ACLU won't help. There are some state level ACLU groups that would help, but looking at the DC ACLU's website I see them list probably 30-40 different issues they're concerned with, and gun rights aren't one of them (no suprise).
I'm really thinking a companion lawsuit needs to be filed in DC Superior court (the state court version in DC), perhaps they have some measure of integrity and will at least move the case forward in a timely fashion.
 
But this isn't the 60's so what gives? Where is the ACLU on this?
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This was my failed attempt at sarcasm....:o

No doubt I should have proofread that a little more closely.;)

Like Al mentioned, the national ACLU won't help. There are some state level ACLU groups that would help, but looking at the DC ACLU's website I see them list probably 30-40 different issues they're concerned with, and gun rights aren't one of them (no suprise).
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Pretty much My take/view on the ACLU as well and the reason I have little to no faith in them.
 
The pocket veto by judges is Kritarchy

This is a very simple case. DC has an outright ban on bearing arms. If the ban is allowed to stand, then the right to bear arms does not exist.

This case clearly has the potential to shape the future of firearms rights in America.

The very long overdue ruling in a fundamental rights case is inexcusable. Shame on the Chief judge of the Federal District Court and the DC Circuit Court for allowing this judicial cluster to continue for six calendar years without even ruling on the cross motions. This case clearly calls into question the integrity and fidelity of the federal judicial system.

This delay can only be described as a pocket veto of our rights by men and women in black robes. Yes, this level of tyranny is called Kritarchy.
 
Longest Civil Rights case for District Court Decision?

The motion to expedite is over 8 months old without a ruling. What a sham this is!

Dearth v. Holder is before the DC Circuit and may rule on whether the right to bear arms extends beyond the home. Such a ruling would make this case very, very strong.

I have done some research and can find no other civil rights case that has lingered for so long at the district court level (except for cases that have been stayed). Does anybody know of a civil rights case that has taken longer at the district court level?
 
The DC Circuit denied the mandamus so the judge will simply take his time. The judge (Frederick Scullin) was handed a dozen cases or so when this case was re-assigned. He has ruled on a few, but not all of them. He's supposedly on Senior Status but seems to have a very full caseload.
I thought when a case is reassigned it's supposed to be to a judge that has time on his hands to make a quick ruling? Otherwise why bother?
 
That assumes there IS a judge with time on his hands. This particular case may or may not be in some sort of intentional limbo. But let's ask the lawyers. Generally speaking, are there enough judges seated? Enough courts to handle the cases being brought?
 
The answer is a resounding: No. There are not enough Judges to handle the load.

The only fix to this situation is by the Senate to appoint and fill the vacancies. That is not going to happen anytime soon.
 
As a follow-up, if the seats were filled, would there be enough judges? Or do more seats need to be created and filled as well?
 
Years ago when I did civil litigation, I had a case that was removed to federal court and transferred to D.C. I found out how crowded the docket there was, especially for complex civil matters. It was transferred back to the federal district in my state about two years later, still without a ruling on a motion to dismiss and no answer filed. I don't imagine it has gotten any less crowded over time.
 
What I'd like to know is why it isn't transferred to another judge, possibly in a faster District Court. Obviously, Scullin's main District in NY is extremely busy. But look at the District Court in Moore/Shepherd, who rendered an opinion in under a year.
Why can they have an opinion in one year yet 2 judges can't render an opinion in almost 5 years?
 
I'm not sure I'm right, so if one of the lawyers can confirm- for one reason the districts/circuits don't rule each other. A ruling in THIS district over here doesn't mean THAT District over there HAS to rule the same way.

It's also how we get circuit splits. I.e. Peruta could be ruled differently than Woollard.

Another (and probably more likely and compelling) reason may be jurisdiction.
 
You are correct JimDandy and most district court rulings are not published, even unofficially.Also, a published opinion does not bind either that judge or another judge in the same district.
 
That's correct-they are not bound by ruling in other circuits/districts. But very frequently a judge will sit "by designation" (something like that) when they rule on a case outside of their normal duty station. Scullin is a NY judge who was handed a dozen DC District cases, and seems to me like he's giving the NY cases priority and simply sprinkling out the DC cases(some of which may even be older than Palmer!).
I just can't understand why Chief Justice Roberts would reassign the case after 2 years and not do anything now with the case approaching 5 years now. Maybe the original judge asked to have some of his cases reassigned?
 
After all of this time, the question was essentially moot--Scullin will consider everything that has been filed. It is as one of the old country judges around here used to say, "It's before me now, counsel."
 
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