States

Alito’s beach house displayed ‘Appeal to Heaven’ flag, a ‘provocative symbol,’ report says

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s beach house in New Jersey displayed an “Appeal to Heaven” flag, another “provocative symbol,” the New York Times reports.

May 23, 2024 9:28 AM CDT

‘Unlocked’ shows how open cells and phone access can help inmates make better choices

The premise that Sheriff Eric Higgins would allow a select pod of his jail at the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility in Little Rock, Arkansas, to be “unlocked” for six weeks seemed more of a publicity stunt than a social experiment.

May 23, 2024 8:59 AM CDT

Motley Rice has filed ‘barrage of claims’ for drug cartel victims; is there an endgame?

The Motley Rice law firm has filed a “barrage of claims” in federal courts for families of people killed by the Juarez cartel, arguing that their clients are entitled to a share of assets seized from drug dealers, Bloomberg Law reports.

May 22, 2024 10:47 AM CDT

Bookkeeper’s vacation was her undoing, civil suit says; discovery leads to plea in $2.5M theft

A bookkeeper for a New Orleans law firm pleaded guilty to wire fraud last week after she was accused of embezzling $2.5 million from her employer.

May 22, 2024 8:38 AM CDT

Trump says he ‘would actually’ consider Texas AG Ken Paxton for US attorney general

Former President Donald Trump said this weekend he “would actually” consider Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for U.S. attorney general if he returns to the White House.

May 21, 2024 3:44 PM CDT

ASU Law, Diné College create pathway for Navajo law degrees

Aiming to increase the number of legal professionals practicing tribal law, the Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law and Diné College are partnering to create a package of undergraduate and graduate law degrees focused on the Navajo Nation.

May 21, 2024 2:13 PM CDT

How ghostwritten Supreme Court briefs are used as a strategy

Metadata offers a clue that a New York consumer fraud attorney who signed a U.S. Supreme Court brief was not the actual author.

May 21, 2024 12:02 PM CDT

Judge allows unjust enrichment suit for use of cancer patient’s ‘immortal’ cells

A federal judge in Maryland has ruled that the estate of Henrietta Lacks can proceed with its lawsuit alleging that a pharmaceutical company unjustly profited from use of her “immortal” cells.

May 21, 2024 10:29 AM CDT

Judge in Trump hush-money trial received letter of caution for making $35 in political contributions

The judge presiding in former President Donald Trump’s hush-money election-interference trial received a written letter of caution last year because of $35 in Democratic political donations that he made in 2020.

May 20, 2024 2:18 PM CDT

‘Soft-hearted’ former judge admonished for using his cash to encourage settlement

A former Indiana judge who asked about a settlement while presiding over a hearing and then loaned the defendant $1,000 to resolve the matter has received a public admonishment.

May 20, 2024 12:43 PM CDT

California bar plans to expunge attorney discipline records under certain conditions

The State Bar of California's board of trustees approved a plan last week to expunge discipline records automatically for attorneys who have not been disbarred.

May 20, 2024 9:21 AM CDT

Lawsuit allegations against Sullivan & Cromwell are ‘innuendo masquerading as facts,’ motion says

Sullivan & Cromwell is seeking dismissal of a proposed class action lawsuit alleging that it aided and abetted fraud when it provided legal services at cryptocurrency exchange FTX.

May 17, 2024 9:24 AM CDT

Another state approves death penalty for child rape

Republican Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed a bill last week that authorizes the death penalty for aggravated rape of a child by an adult.

May 16, 2024 2:14 PM CDT

Driver won’t obey judge’s order to apologize for his command to police officer

An Alabama man ticketed for speeding acknowledges telling the police officer standing in front of his car to “get your ass out of the way.” But he is refusing to obey a judge’s order to write an apology letter.

May 16, 2024 12:29 PM CDT

Supreme Court restores Louisiana voting map with majority-Black district

The Supreme Court restored a congressional voting map in Louisiana on Wednesday that includes an additional majority-Black district, handing a victory to African American voters and Democrats less than six months before the November election.

May 16, 2024 12:00 PM CDT