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Some legal questions are easy to answer, even for judges in a politically charged case.

For example, it took the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals just hours to answer a key question In Re. United States Department of Commerce. If they didn't have to write their opinion, they could have ruled from the bench.

They said a Justice Department official must testify in the case. The hard questions come later at his deposition.

Judge Richard Sullivan is one those fortunate judges to be confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate.

But that was 11 years ago when he became a federal trial judge. Now he faces a new group in his bid for the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

The political balance favors him, but there are new people in the Senate. They don't know who Richard Sullivan is.

Until Copernicus, it was pretty obvious the Sun went around the Earth.

In Wood v. Allergan, it also seemed clear the plaintiffs had a case against Allergan. The plaintiffs, which included half of the United States, alleged the pharmaceutical company gave kickbacks to doctors who prescribed its products.

But the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals said that's not how the False Claims Act works. The appeals court said it was pretty obvious, too.

Yvette Vangorden was no pushover when the bank came after her for a credit card debt.

She settled the dispute for about a third of the original amount, paying $571 and change to get rid of it. About five years later, however, a debt collector came after her for some purported balance.

In Vangorden v. Second Round, Ltd., she sued for unfair debt collection practices. This time, the debt collector should have settled.

President Trump has been on a tear naming judicial nominees, adding to a growing list that now numbers more than 70 awaiting appointments.

With 10 new nominations this week, Trump is quickly solidifying what may be his lasting legacy. He has the opportunity to appoint more judges than any recent president.

The latest nominations will especially impact federal courts in New York. Most of the nominees are government attorneys, prosecutors, or former prosecutors.

Although Jay Z was rumored to show up in court this week, he didn't, disappointing many, including the SEC. He filed an affidavit with the federal district court explaining that he was too busy preparing for an upcoming tour to appear. However, after being ordered by the court to appear at an SEC interview, his attorney stated that Jay Z would appear on May 15.

The SEC has been wanting to speak with Jay Z for several months now related to some dealings with brand Iconix. After several attempts and two subpoenas though, they still have not been successful. Unfortunately for the busy rapper and business mogul, his attorney's attempts to limit the amount of time for questioning were unsuccessful.

Muhammad Tanvir, a Muslim-American, tried to fly from the United States to visit his mother in Pakistan for five years.

Every time he went to the airport, however, federal agents stopped him. The FBI had placed him on the "No Fly List," a watchlist for suspected terrorists.

Tanvir sued in Tanvir v. Tanzin, claiming he wasn't a terrorist and that the agents had violated his civil rights. A trial judge threw out the case, but the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals reversed.

John Larson did the time, but he apparently can't pay the fine.

And who could? It's a $61,534,027 tax penalty, but who's counting in Larson v. United States of America?

The U.S Second Circuit Court of Appeals counted, but it doesn't really care. The appeals court dismissed his challenge to the penalty, saying it didn't have jurisdiction.

Sidewalk rage is a thing, and it is getting out of control, especially in big cities.

In the workday rush, people can't help but bump into each other. Too many people, too little sidewalk.

Naturally, New York has given us a legal precedent for sidewalk rage in the United States. In Wright v. Musanti, the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals explained when enough is enough.

When the water shut off at her residence, Jacqueline Winston didn't call a plumber. She called a lawyer.

She was upset because the city shut off the water over the landlord's unpaid bill. What really irked Winston was that she offered to pay the bill and the city still wouldn't turn on the water.

In Winston v. City of Syracuse, the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals said she had a point because that's not how water service is supposed to work.