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Judge Cooper Assigned Benghazi-Related Trial, More On IRS Emails

By Gabriella Khorasanee, JD on July 14, 2014 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

We wouldn't exactly call the D.C. Circuit the sleeper circuit, but let's just say that since it covers a small area, big headlines aren't made as frequently as say, the Second or Ninth Circuit. Not so, lately. As the Court sits in our nation's capital, it's getting politically charged lately with high profile cases making their way into the circuit.

Here's an update on changes to the bench, impending trials and controversies.

Judge Christopher "Casey" Cooper Takes Oath

In March 2014, Judge Christopher Cooper was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate to become a district judge for the District Court for the District of Columbia. Judge Cooper received his B.A. from Yale, and his J.D. from Stanford, where he was also a member of the Stanford Law Review and the school's pro bono clinic. Though he's been on the bench for a few months now, he took his oath last week, before family and friends, reports the Legal Times.

Judge Cooper is off to an exciting start: he was randomly assigned to preside over the trial of Ahmed Abu Khattala, a/k/a, the guy who orchestrated the attacks on the U.S. embassy in Benghazi, Libya, reports The Washington Post. Former colleague (and father-in-law) William Jeffers stated, "He can handle it. Casey didn't come from academia or a corporate boardroom. He came from the trial bar and he will be quite capable," according to The Washington Post.

IRS Emails Controversy

Judicial Watch is continuing its quest to find out more about the IRS's targeting of Tea Party groups after it won a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, reports Politico. In the latest round, District Judge Emmet Sullivan ordered the Government "to file a declaration signed by 'appropriate' IRS officials under oath -- sworn to be the truth under penalty of perjury -- addressing the lost emails," says Politico. In addition to the declaration, Judge Sullivan ordered Judicial Watch and the Government to meet with Magistrate Judge John Facciola until September 10, to see if they can recover the emails from other sources. The IRS has made no comment.

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