The latest statistics on unpublished opinions show an important trend between the circuits. Across all circuits, 86% of written opinions are unpublished. That means they are not precedential, so they do not create circuit law. And most of those unpublished opinions, 69% of them in 2022, were also unsigned. The Sixth Circuit mirrors the general … Continue Reading
The issue of unpublished opinions has received extra attention this past week thanks to a dissent to a denial of certiorari by Justice Thomas. His opinion criticizes the Fourth Circuit for using an unpublished opinion to allow itself to decide important cases without create binding law. Though much of the media censure of the Fourth … Continue Reading
