DC Court enjoins cuts in education programs

The federal District Court in the District of Columbia (Tanya S. Chutkan) has preliminarily enjoined attempted cutbacks in programs to aid students from disadvantaged backgrounds overcome barriers to post-secondary education (the “TRIO programs”).  The Department of Education had stopped the funds on the grounds that they violated the Administration’s statement that programs promoting diversity, equity and inclusion (“DEI”) are against the law.

Debtor can’t revise 99-year lease in bankruptcy

A Bankruptcy Court in Colorado has refused to confirm a Plan of Reorganization in Bankruptcy when the debtor seeks to use the proceeding to impose new conditions on a 99-year lease. The Plan was proposed by the Aspen Chapel, which had entered into the lease with the Aspen Jewish Congregation. The Congregation objected to confirmation of the Plan.

MN Court says ICE has violated 96 court orders

The federal District Court of Minnesota (Patrick Schlitz) has said that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) has violated 96 specific court orders across 74 different cases, according to published reports.  The Chief Judge made the comment in cancelling a contempt hearing for interim head of ICE Todd M. Lyons recently after the agency complied with a court order to release a wrongfully detained person.

DC Court enjoins revocation of security clearance

The federal District Court in the District of Columbia (Amir H. Ali) has issued a preliminary injunction against the Office of the President and a variety of other federal agencies from using the summary revocation of security clearances to penalize lawyers from representing people adverse to it.  “The Constitution forbids government officials from using their power to retaliate against people for their speech, and that is so even when the speech is critical of the government,” the Court said.

What law applies to tax exempt status?

What definition of tax-exempt status applies to determine whether property is exempt from real estate and other taxes when the definition of qualification is changed while the case is pending during litigation?

An appellate court in Virginia has held that the new definition should be considered and that the trial court should reconsider the case pursuant to the Legislative amendment.