Federal district judges have authority to unseal court filings and related documents when they determine the information at issue is not secret.
October 31, 2025
high
procedural
Judicial discretion to release court records to the public based on secrecy and public-interest considerations.
At a federal criminal arraignment, a judge typically formally informs a defendant of the charges, provides an opportunity to enter a plea, may consider terms of pretrial release, and can set a trial date or a date to hear pretrial motions.
October 08, 2025
high
procedural
General description of common procedures at federal criminal arraignments.
In 2020, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed gray wolves in the lower 48 U.S. states from protections under the Endangered Species Act, and a federal judge ordered those protections reinstated in 2022.
January 01, 2022
high
policy
Recent federal regulatory and judicial actions affecting legal protections for gray wolves in the contiguous United States.
Federal judges are legally authorized to administer the oath of office to members of the U.S. House of Representatives, providing a lawful alternative to the Speaker administering the oath.
high
legal
Used as an alternative mechanism for swearing in members of Congress.