NCAA v. Governor of NJ — civil — affirmance — Rendell

Ted Olson vs. Paul Clement is the appeals-nerd equivalent of Ali-Frazier, so any case where they square off is sure to draw attention. So it was here. Today, the Third Circuit held that New Jersey’s sports-betting law violated federal law. Early news coverage by AP here and Legal Intelligencer here. Clement wins this round.

For a free oral-argument DIY CLE, the audio of the argument is here.

Joining Rendell was Barry; Fuentes dissented. Arguing counsel were Theodore Olson for the governor, Ronald Riccio for a trade association, Michael Griffinger for two state legislators, Paul Clement for the NCAA, and Peter Phipps [update: make that future Third Circuit Judge Peter Phipps] for the US.

Update: coverage of the decision in New York Times here and Washington Post here.

Sprauve v. West Indian Co. — civil rights — reversal in part — Chagares

Today, the Third Circuit held that a company — once private, but now 100% government-owned — was a government entity for purposes of a civil-rights suit under 1983. The case was argued back in December.

Joining Chagares were Jordan and Shwartz. Arguing counsel were Karin Bentz for the plaintiffs and Micol Morgan for and Mark Hodge for the government defendants.