On October 31, 2013, a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit took the shocking and extraordinary step of removing United States District Judge Shira Scheindlin from presiding over two groundbreaking policing cases,
Floyd v. City of New York and
Ligon v. City of New York. The appellate court’s action was prompted by concerns the appellate judges raised on their own: none of the parties sought to remove Judge Scheindlin from the cases and the issue was not briefed or argued prior to the court’s decision. The appellate court’s order also stayed the remedies imposed by Judge Scheindlin in
Floyd and
Ligon. Read Judge Scheindlin’s
Floyd liability opinion,
Floyd/Ligon remedies opinion,
the Second Circuit’s Order, and
Judge Scheindlin’s statement in response.