States

BigLaw firm sanctioned for ‘flagrant violations of a protective order’

Latham & Watkins and its client must pay an attorney-fee sanction for “flagrant violations of a protective order,” according to a federal judge in California.

Nov 4, 2024 2:36 PM CST

Supreme Court will hear Louisiana map case with impacts for Black voters

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a complex dispute over how Louisiana draws congressional maps that could affect the power of Black voters in the state and the balance of power in Congress. The case will not impact Tuesday’s election since it won’t be decided for months, but legal experts said it could have significant ramifications for how states consider race in drawing congressional districts to comply with the Voting Rights Act.

Nov 4, 2024 12:00 PM CST

Meet Democratic election lawyer Marc Elias, who wears GOP scorn ‘like a badge of honor’

Even his detractors call Democratic lawyer Marc Elias one of the toughest election lawyers in the country. “In his three-decade career,” the New York Times reports, he “has arguably done more than any single person outside government to shape … the rules.”

Nov 4, 2024 11:23 AM CST

Trump picks Northern District of Texas for lawsuit over Harris’s CBS interview

Republican nominee Donald Trump sued CBS News on Thursday over an interview with Democratic nominee Kamala Harris that aired on its 60 Minutes program. The long-shot claim was filed in the Northern District of Texas courthouse where Matthew J. Kacsmaryk, a Trump nominee, is the sole judge.

Nov 1, 2024 10:50 AM CDT

Rapper Young Thug pleads guilty in tumultuous YSL case; judge delivers a sentencing twist

The long, drama-ridden criminal racketeering and gang conspiracy trial of rapper Young Thug that began nearly two years ago ended on an abrupt note Thursday as the Grammy Award-winning hip-hop star reached a surprise plea deal in the case amid threats of a mistrial that could have started proceedings all over again.

Nov 1, 2024 8:55 AM CDT

Sanction against Northwestern law prof affirmed by 10th Circuit

A federal appeals court has affirmed a $5,000 sanction against a professor at the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law for seeking to remove a state court motion to federal court, finding no abuse of discretion by a federal judge who imposed it.

Oct 31, 2024 2:45 PM CDT

Elon Musk case over $1M voter giveaway moved to federal court

An attempt by Philadelphia’s district attorney to block Elon Musk and his pro-Trump super PAC from continuing a $1 million daily giveaway to registered swing-state voters was put on hold Thursday morning.

Oct 31, 2024 1:00 PM CDT

Jones Day gets involved in election litigation for RNC after declining to advise Trump campaign

Jones Day is no longer advising the Trump campaign, but the law firm is staying involved in election litigation.

Oct 31, 2024 9:15 AM CDT

Kirkland partner can’t present argument or evidence because he ‘crossed the lines’ of court orders, judge says

A Missouri judge has sanctioned a Kirkland & Ellis partner after finding the lawyer “acted in bad faith on several occasions” and tried to inflame the jury during a civil trial targeting the makers of baby formula.

Oct 31, 2024 8:45 AM CDT

Colorado Supreme Court considers whether habeas petition can free zoo elephants

The Colorado Supreme Court considered last week whether five wild-born zoo elephants should be considered "persons" entitled to seek liberty through a habeas corpus petition.

Oct 30, 2024 2:09 PM CDT

Judge is accused of using racial slur, vulgar terms and ‘libtard’ label for employee offended by his comments

An Ohio judge is facing an ethics complaint alleging that he created an inappropriate office environment, used a racial slur within earshot of a defendant, and referred to a child-rape case in “lewd and vulgar” terms.

Oct 30, 2024 11:42 AM CDT

Supreme Court allows Virginia effort to strike possible noncitizen voters

A divided Supreme Court cleared the way Wednesday for Virginia officials to remove about 1,600 voters from the state’s registration rolls less than one week before the presidential election.

Oct 30, 2024 10:40 AM CDT

4th Circuit upholds $1M sanction for law firm that tried to ‘sabotage’ federal court’s authority

Updated: A federal judge had inherent power to impose a $1.05 million sanction against a national law firm for asking state courts to order an end to U.S. district court litigation, a federal appeals court ruled last week.

Oct 29, 2024 3:50 PM CDT

Inspired by a movie, this attorney then made herself indispensable

An ’80s movie was the unlikely inspiration for one partner who took its message to heart. Erika Gasaway heard the message and adapted it when she became a lawyer: “If you think like a partner, you’ll be a partner.” But it was many years later when that missive would become her reality.

Oct 29, 2024 1:06 PM CDT

Former Moody’s GC gets prison time for tax-filing failure on $54M income while life ‘all fell apart’

Updated: The former general counsel at the Moody's Corp., a financial services company, was sentenced to eight months in prison last week for failing to file tax returns while earning $54 million.

Oct 29, 2024 9:06 AM CDT