Mathew Planalp

/Mathew Planalp
Mathew Planalp

About Mathew Planalp

Mathew is an attorney and licensed mediator, holding a Juris Doctorate from Creighton University School of Law and undergraduate degrees in journalism and sports medicine from Colorado State University. Prior to joining the staff at Cockle, he honed his legal writing skills as an attorney and law clerk in both civil and criminal arenas. Named the Colorado State University Feature Writer of the Year in 2007, Mathew has cultivated a passion for storytelling and the written word. Additionally, he is a Fourth Circuit specialist and writes about Supreme Court matters for The CockleBur.
27 Jun, 2023

Remembering H. Lee Sarokin: The Judge Who Fought for Justice

2023-06-27T09:06:55-05:00June 27th, 2023|Tags: , , , , |

The judicial world mourns the loss of H. Lee Sarokin, a distinguished federal judge known for his landmark decisions and unwavering dedication to justice. Sarokin, who passed away at the age of 94, played a pivotal role in freeing boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter and gained recognition for his bold assertion that tobacco companies conspired to [...]

21 Jun, 2023

Circuit Court of Appeals Services

2023-06-21T15:17:55-05:00June 21st, 2023|Tags: , , , |

Filing a Circuit Court appellate brief requires a deep understanding of the specific rules and procedures governing each jurisdiction. We offer a comprehensive range of services designed to assist filers in successfully navigating the complexities of federal appeals. Whether you need document review, proofreading, consultation, or printing, binding, and shipping services, our experienced professionals are [...]

21 Jun, 2023

The Last Week in June

2023-06-21T10:51:20-05:00June 21st, 2023|Tags: , , , |

The Supreme Court saved some of the year's most politically explosive decisions for the end of its term. As the next few weeks unfold, the justices will render their rulings on a range of contentious issues, including President Joe Biden's plan to reduce student debt, a case involving a religious website designer refusing to create [...]

30 May, 2023

Circuit Court Newsletter: May 2023

2023-05-30T16:24:06-05:00May 30th, 2023|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit Judge Selya Way The City of Providence, Rhode Island, will rename Fulton Street, between Memorial Street and Exchange Street and adjacent to the U.S. Courthouse, "Judge Selya Way," in honor of Providence native and First Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Bruce M. Selya. More information is [...]

17 May, 2023

Memo: SCOTUS Enters Scramble Mode

2023-05-17T09:33:06-05:00May 17th, 2023|Tags: , , , |

The Supreme Court is entering the final stretch of its annual session, with just about six weeks remaining to resolve a significant number of cases. Among the pressing matters still awaiting their decisions are issues that carry far-reaching implications for society. These include the future of race-based admissions practices at colleges, the scope of federal [...]

16 May, 2023

Brad Garcia—First Latino Appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit

2023-05-16T10:39:05-05:00May 16th, 2023|Tags: , , , |

In a step toward increased diversity in the judicial system, Brad Garcia, a former partner at O’Melveny & Myers, has been confirmed as the first Latino to serve on the prestigious U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Garcia’s 53-40 Senate confirmation vote demonstrates support from both sides of the political spectrum. Garcia's confirmation [...]

9 May, 2023

Supreme Court Intervenes in Richard Glossip’s Execution

2023-05-09T11:14:03-05:00May 9th, 2023|Tags: , , , |

Less than two weeks before Richard Glossip was scheduled to be executed on May 18th for the murder for hire of his former boss, the US Supreme Court intervened and granted a stay of execution. This is not the first time Glossip's execution has been stayed--in fact, this would be the state's 10th attempt to [...]

13 Apr, 2023

Who Are the U.S. Supreme Court Justices?

2023-04-13T13:40:16-05:00April 13th, 2023|Tags: , , |

Nine Justices make up the current Supreme Court: one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices. The Honorable John Roberts, Jr. is the 17th Chief Justice of the United States, and there have been 104 Associate Justices in the Court’s history.  Supreme Court justices serve lifetime appointments after being nominated by the president and approved by [...]

11 Apr, 2023

Conflicting Court of Appeals Mifepristone Rulings

2023-04-11T14:40:20-05:00April 11th, 2023|Tags: , , , , |

On April 7, 2023, two conflicting rulings on the provision of mifepristone—the drug used for medication abortion—were issued by two separate federal court judges, one in Texas and one in Washington State. U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas Judge Kacsmaryk issued a preliminary injunction in his case, Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. [...]

6 Apr, 2023

Are Supreme Court Justices Bound by Ethics Rules?

2023-04-06T10:46:54-05:00April 6th, 2023|Tags: , , |

Answer: No!  The nine U.S. Supreme Court Justices are the only federal judges not bound by the Code of Conduct for U.S. Judges, which goes beyond the basic ethics laws enacted after the Watergate scandal and creates uniformity around thorny issues like recusals and participation in political activities. History: The Code of Conduct for U.S. [...]