Lourdes M. GARCIA, Petitioner, v. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, Respondent, 412 F.3d 1330
Opinion
ORDER PER CURIAM. This case, having been argued before a panel of three judges on May 6, 2005, and thereafter having been referred to the circuit judges who are in regular active service and a poll having been requested and taken, IT IS ORDERED THAT: The Court sua sponte orders that this case be heard en banc. The parties are invited to submit additional briefs addressing the following issues:
(1) Whether 5 U.S.C. § 7701 should be construed to incorporate a non-frivolous allegation standard for establishing the jurisdiction of the Merit Systems Protection Board.
(2) Whether, if 5 U.S.C. § 7701 is ambiguous as to the standard for jurisdiction, the Board’s regulation at 5 C.F.R. § 1201.56(a)(2) is entitled to Chevron deference.
(3) Whether, if 5 U.S.C. § 7701 incorporates a non-frivolous allegation standard for establishing the jurisdiction of the Board, it should be construed to also incorporate a standard that requires a non-frivolous allegation be supported by some evidence. This case will be heard en banc on the' basis of the briefs already filed and any additional briefs addressing the issues set forth above. An original and thirty copies of all additional briefs shall be filed, and two copies served on opposing counsel.
Such additional briefs shall be filed simultaneously by the parties, sixty days from the date of this Order, and shall not exceed 7,000 words in length. The Merit Systems Protection Board (“Board”) is invited to submit an amicus curiae brief. The brief of the Board also shall be limited to 7,000 words, shall be filed within sixty days from the date of this Order, and shall comply with Fed. R.App. P. 29 and Federal Circuit Rule 29. Motions for leave to file other amicus curiae briefs may also be submitted. Oral argument is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Thursday, October 6, 2005, in Courtroom 201.
Counsel for each side shall have 30 minutes to argue. Counsel for the Board shall have 20 minutes to argue. MAYER, Circuit Judge, dissents.
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