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.
30 Jan, 2023

Federal Courts Explained—D.C. Circuit

2023-01-30T13:52:30-06:00January 30th, 2023|Tags: , , , |

The United States federal court system is a hierarchical structure consisting of three levels: the district courts, the courts of appeals, and the Supreme Court. District courts are trial-level courts who have jurisdiction over a wide range of federal cases, including criminal cases, civil cases involving federal law, and cases involving federal agencies. The courts [...]

25 Jan, 2023

Federal Courts Explained—Second Circuit

2023-01-25T14:32:51-06:00January 25th, 2023|Tags: , , |

The United States federal court system is a hierarchical structure consisting of three levels: the district courts, the courts of appeals, and the Supreme Court. District courts are trial-level courts who have jurisdiction over a wide range of federal cases, including criminal cases, civil cases involving federal law, and cases involving federal agencies. The courts [...]

25 Jan, 2023

Federal Courts Explained—Fifth Circuit

2023-01-25T13:43:37-06:00January 25th, 2023|Tags: , , , |

The United States federal court system is a hierarchical structure consisting of three levels: the district courts, the courts of appeals, and the Supreme Court. District courts are trial-level courts who have jurisdiction over a wide range of federal cases, including criminal cases, civil cases involving federal law, and cases involving federal agencies. The courts [...]

3 Jan, 2023

Federal Courts Explained—Ninth Circuit

2023-01-03T14:43:49-06:00January 3rd, 2023|Tags: , , |

The United States federal court system is a hierarchical structure consisting of three levels: the district courts, the courts of appeals, and the Supreme Court. District courts are trial-level courts who have jurisdiction over a wide range of federal cases, including criminal cases, civil cases involving federal law, and cases involving federal agencies. The courts [...]

30 Dec, 2022

Briefing in the Federal Courts

2022-12-30T13:17:59-06:00December 30th, 2022|Tags: , , , |

 The term "brief" originated from the Latin word "brevis," which means "short." Legal briefs are called briefs because they are more concise than other legal documents, like pleadings or legal memoranda. Generally speaking, they are meant to provide a summary of the legal issues and arguments involved in a proceeding, rather than a detailed analysis [...]

28 Dec, 2022

Pro Se Basics

2022-12-28T10:26:38-06:00December 28th, 2022|Tags: , , , |

 Are Pro Se Filers Treated Differently Than Lawyers? In general, pro se filers (individuals who represent themselves in a legal proceeding without the assistance of an attorney) are not treated differently than lawyers by the court. However, there are some differences in the way that pro se filers are expected to present their cases. For [...]

21 Dec, 2022

Immigration Policy Jumps from Fifth Circuit to SCOTUS

2022-12-21T11:16:39-06:00December 21st, 2022|Tags: , , , , , |

The controversial President Trump-era immigration restriction policy known as “Title 42” will temporarily stay in place this week, after Chief Justice John Roberts put a hold on lifting the mandate. In No. 22A544—an appeal from the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit—19 states asked the Court to keep in place [...]

21 Dec, 2022

FEDERAL COURTS FAQ

2022-12-21T08:30:07-06:00December 21st, 2022|Tags: , , |

What Are the Federal Courts? The United States federal court system is a hierarchy of courts that interpret and apply federal law. At the top of the system is the United States Supreme Court, which is the highest court in the land and the final authority on matters of federal law. Below the Supreme Court [...]

14 Dec, 2022

SUPREME COURT FAQ

2022-12-21T11:18:38-06:00December 14th, 2022|Tags: , , , |

What is the Supreme Court? The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the federal judiciary. It was established by the Constitution of the United States, which was adopted in 1787. The Constitution grants the Supreme Court the power to hear appeals from lower federal courts and state courts, as well [...]

12 Dec, 2022

Federal Courts Explained—Eighth Circuit

2022-12-12T07:04:41-06:00December 12th, 2022|Tags: , , |

The United States federal court system is a hierarchical structure consisting of three levels: the district courts, the courts of appeals, and the Supreme Court. District courts are trial-level courts who have jurisdiction over a wide range of federal cases, including criminal cases, civil cases involving federal law, and cases involving federal agencies. The courts [...]