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Increasing Transparency In The Us Tax Court, Leandra Lederman Jan 2018

Increasing Transparency In The Us Tax Court, Leandra Lederman

Articles by Maurer Faculty

Transparency is a widely accepted judicial norm because it increases accountability. Access to U.S. Tax Court documents has long differed from access to the documents of other courts. For example, the Tax Court does not participate in PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). This essay discusses some of the ways in which access to Tax Court documents has been restricted; areas in which the Tax Court has increased transparency over the years; upcoming changes; and where increased transparency is still needed, such as with respect to case statistics.


(Un)Appealing Deference To The Tax Court, Leandra Lederman Jan 2014

(Un)Appealing Deference To The Tax Court, Leandra Lederman

Articles by Maurer Faculty

The U.S. Tax Court (Tax Court), which hears the vast majority of litigated federal tax cases, occupies an unusual place in the federal government. It is a federal court located outside of the judicial branch, but its decisions are appealable to the federal courts of appeals. This odd structure, coupled with the court's history as an independent agency in the executive branch, can give rise to important questions, such as the standard of review that should apply to its decisions. In particular, should the courts of appeals treat Tax Court decisions the same as those of district courts in tax …


Equity And The Article I Court: Is The Tax Court's Exercise Of Equitable Powers Constitutional?, Leandra Lederman Jan 2001

Equity And The Article I Court: Is The Tax Court's Exercise Of Equitable Powers Constitutional?, Leandra Lederman

Articles by Maurer Faculty

Article I courts are the other federal courts, infrequently studied despite their important role in the judiciary. This article focuses on the United States Tax Court, an Article I court that hears approximately 95 percent of litigated federal tax cases. The article argues that the Tax Court's current tendency to apply equitable doctrines when necessary to avoid harsh outcomes dictated by statute lacks constitutional authority. First, the article examines the role of Article I courts in the federal judicial system and under the Constitution. Next, it considers the historical and modern meanings of equity and equitable powers in the context …


The Phoenix And The Perils Of The Second Best: Why Heightened Appellate Deference To Tax Court Decisions Is Undesirable, Steve R. Johnson Jan 1998

The Phoenix And The Perils Of The Second Best: Why Heightened Appellate Deference To Tax Court Decisions Is Undesirable, Steve R. Johnson

Articles by Maurer Faculty

In our judicial structure, both courts of general jurisdiction and specialized courts are empowered to adjudicate federal income tax controversies. A proper relationship among those courts has proved difficult to forge and maintain. Absent an enduring intellectual and political consensus, institutional arrangements have been subject to recurring question and challenge.