Afternoon Briefs: Teen blogger denied murder case evidence; Aerosmith drummer loses comeback case
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Judge denies 16-year-old aspiring lawyer’s request for murder evidence
A 16-year-old aspiring lawyer and true crime blogger lost a bid Thursday to access evidence in the Texas murder case that that put Darlie Routier on death row. Ryan Kester thinks Routier is innocent in the killings of her two children. A Dallas county judge ruled against Kester after the defense and prosecution said appeals are pending and the evidence has to be protected. Kester can still seek copies of evidence; those requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. (WFAA, CBS Local, Fox 4)
Aerosmith drummer loses suit to join the band at the Grammys
A Massachusetts judge has refused to issue an injunction that would require the band Aerosmith to allow drummer Joey Kramer to perform on stage with the band at the Grammys this weekend. Kramer, who injured his foot in August, says the band unfairly required him to audition and then voted against his return. Judge Mark Gildea ruled that Kramer was unlikely to win on his contract claims. (Courthouse News Service, Gildea’s Jan. 22 opinion)
Lawyer ordered to pay nearly $72K for allowing client to write brief
An Aurora, Illinois, solo practitioner has been ordered to pay nearly $72,000 in attorney fees to his opponents in a bias case for allowing his client to write an “incoherent” appellate brief using his electronic signature. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at Chicago set the amount to be paid by lawyer Jordan Hoffman in a Jan. 22 order. (Law360)
Suit claims inaugural committee overpaid for event space at Trump hotel
Washington, D.C., Attorney General Karl Racine has filed a lawsuit alleging that the 58th Presidential Inauguration Committee abused nonprofit funds to overpay for event space at the Trump International Hotel in the capital. Racine wants to recover money improperly spent to be distributed to charities promoting civic engagement. The Trump Organization calls the lawsuit “a clear PR stunt” and says its rates were justified. (The Washington Post, Racine’s press release, the Jan. 22 lawsuit)
