July 08, 2026
The Third Circuit partly revived a University of Pittsburgh Medical Center cardiologist's lawsuit over the professional backlash he faced for publishing an article criticizing race-based "affirmative action" in choosing medical students, with the court majority calling his bosses' reaction a defamatory "hit job."
March 02, 2026
A Third Circuit panel on Monday questioned whether the retraction of a former University of Pittsburgh program director's article criticizing diversity, equity and inclusion was a purely academic debate the courts should avoid, or if statements that it "misrepresented" facts were enough to sustain defamation claims.
February 27, 2026
A packed March argument calendar will put several high‑stakes disputes before the Third Circuit, including a billion‑dollar False Claims Act judgment and challenges at the intersection of academic freedom, DEI programming, cannabis‑sector finance and campus Title IX procedures.