Military Law

Afternoon Briefs: Giuliani, Powell sued by another voting machine company; Cooley ups its bonuses

Voting machine company sues Fox News, lawyers Voting machine company Smartmatic filed a $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit Thursday against Fox News, three of its TV personalities, and lawyers Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell. The suit claims that the defendants made Smartmatic the villain in a disinformation campaign claiming that the…

Feb 4, 2021 4:03 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Governor seeks Sidney Powell’s disbarment; ex-Davis Polk associate avoids sanctions

Michigan governor seeks disbarment of election lawyers Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is seeking disbarment of Texas lawyer Sidney Powell and three Michigan lawyers for claims made in unsuccessful lawsuits claiming an election fraud conspiracy. Whitmer alleged in a complaint to the State Bar of Texas that Powell “did not just…

Feb 2, 2021 4:55 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Biden lifts transgender military ban; Boston doesn’t have to fly Christian flag, court says

Biden lifts transgender military ban President Joe Biden signed an executive order Monday that lifts the Trump administration’s ban on transgender people in the military. “What I’m doing is enabling all qualified Americans to serve their country in uniform,” Biden said as he signed the order. (The New York Times,…

Jan 25, 2021 4:27 PM CST

US can kill its own citizens without review when state secrets are involved, DOJ lawyer argues

A U.S. Department of Justice lawyer argued Monday that the United States can kill its own citizens without judicial review when litigation would reveal state secrets.

Nov 18, 2020 2:09 PM CST

Supreme Court will rule whether Trump can divert military funds for border wall

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to decide whether the Trump administration can divert $2.5 billion in military funds to pay for the border wall.

Oct 19, 2020 10:16 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: FBI lawyer accused of changing email; trial during pandemic surprisingly normal

FBI lawyer accused of altering email in Russia probe An information filed Friday accuses FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith of changing an email used in 2017 to justify continued surveillance of Carter Page, a former adviser to President Donald Trump. Clinesmith changed an email to indicate that Page was not a…

Aug 14, 2020 5:01 PM CDT

Army lawyer let Sen. McCarthy ‘hang himself’ through his own words, says author of new bio

“The Army-McCarthy hearings would rightfully be compared to a soap opera, even though there was no infidelity or seduction, the plot meandered, and the only real star was a hired-gun solicitor,” writes author Larry Tye.

Aug 11, 2020 9:55 AM CDT

Divided Supreme Court refuses to block border wall construction

In a 5-4 vote Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to block President Donald Trump from spending military funds on the border wall as litigation continues.

Aug 3, 2020 9:55 AM CDT

Sept. 5, 1969: Murder charges in My Lai massacre

“The fog of war—the uncertainty and confusion of battle—makes prosecution of war crimes difficult, at best. Dead civilians become collateral damage—the lamentable result of bad aim, poor training and faulty intelligence. But when the chain of command is complicit, it becomes all but impossible.”

Aug 1, 2020 12:05 AM CDT

Trump can’t transfer military funds to build border wall, 9th Circuit rules

A federal appeals court in a pair of rulings held Friday that the Trump administration’s diversion of military money to build a wall between the United States and Mexico was illegal.

Jun 26, 2020 3:26 PM CDT

Netflix obtains foreign trademark rights to ‘Space Force’ before US government

Netflix has secured some foreign trademark rights to the phrase “Space Force”—which is also the name of its new comedy series starring Steve Carell—ahead of the U.S. government.

Jun 9, 2020 5:07 PM CDT

Can Trump send military to states to stop violent protests? This law likely allows it

President Donald Trump said Monday he would use the military to stop violent protests in states where governors refuse to take actions needed to protect lives and property.

Jun 2, 2020 9:35 AM CDT

Federal judge orders mental health review of Guantanamo Bay prisoner

A federal judge has ordered a panel of American and foreign doctors to evaluate the mental health of a prisoner at Guantánamo Bay, the first time such a mixed medical commission has been used.

Mar 9, 2020 2:03 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Equifax hack traced to Chinese military; law prof is under coronavirus quarantine

Chinese military personnel are charged in Equifax hack Four members of the Chinese military have been indicted in the 2017 hacking of Equifax that gathered names, birth dates and Social Security numbers for nearly half of U.S. citizens. The information obtained could be used to reveal whether any American officials…

Feb 10, 2020 4:26 PM CST

Airmen who have HIV can continue to serve, appeals court rules

An appeals court has upheld an injunction blocking the U.S. Air Force from discharging two airmen because of their HIV-positive status.

Jan 13, 2020 1:08 PM CST