Afternoon Briefs: TRO to stop court reopening is denied; third federal inmate is executed
Image from Shutterstock.com.
Judge rejects TRO in suit to stop court reopening
U.S. District Judge Andrew Carter Jr. refused to issue on Friday a temporary restraining order preventing in-court appearances in nonemergency criminal matters in New York City. Carter will host a telephone hearing July 21 to discuss a request for a preliminary injunction in the suit, filed by six public defender groups. The suit says in-person sessions violate disability law because they imperil those who are at risk if they contract COVID-19. (Law.com, SLive.com, Law360)
Third federal inmate is executed in less than a week
The federal government executed meth kingpin Dustin Honken of Iowa on Friday, the third federal execution in one week’s time. Honken was convicted of killing five people. (The Associated Press and the Des Moines Register via How Appealing)
Court document says law firm hiring is part of influence bid
ComEd is expected to pay a $200 million fine in an alleged “yearslong bribery scheme” alleging that the utility company tried to influence Illinois House of Representatives Speaker Michael Madigan, partly by hiring an unnamed law firm. One subpoena sent to Madigan’s government office seeks records from his law firm, Madigan & Getzendanner. A spokesperson for Madigan said he has done nothing criminal or improper. He has not been charged. (Law360, WBEZ, the Chicago Sun-Times, deferred prosecution agreement, press release)
