Sharecopy linkA federal judge has agreed to dismiss a lawsuit filed by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).  The litigation challenged a house resolution which allowed elected members to vote by proxy, rather than in person, during the coronavirus pandemic. McCarthy and other plaintiffs unsuccessfully argued the resolution was unconstitutional.“Because the Court finds that Defendants are immune from suit under the Speech or Debate Clause of the Constitution, it does not reach the merits and grants Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss,”...…Sharecopy linkA federal judge has agreed to dismiss a lawsuit filed by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).  The litigation challenged a house resolution which allowed elected members to vote by proxy, rather than in person, during the coronavirus pandemic. McCarthy and other plaintiffs unsuccessfully argued the resolution was unconstitutional.“Because the Court finds that Defendants are immune from suit under the Speech or Debate Clause of the Constitution, it does not reach the merits and grants Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss,”...WW…

Sharecopy linkA federal judge in Iowa has dismissed with prejudice a defamation lawsuit filed by Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) against Hearst Magazine Media, Inc., and Ryan Lizza, a journalist and political analyst.The case revolved around a Sept. 30, 2018 in Esquire magazine entitled “Milking the System.” An online version of the piece is alternatively entitled “Devin Nunes’s Family Farm Is Hiding a Politically Explosive Secret.”Among the story’s claims is that a farm operated in California by various members of the Nunes family was subsequently moved to Iowa and that it ultimately,...…Sharecopy linkA federal judge in Iowa has dismissed with prejudice a defamation lawsuit filed by Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) against Hearst Magazine Media, Inc., and Ryan Lizza, a journalist and political analyst.The case revolved around a Sept. 30, 2018 in Esquire magazine entitled “Milking the System.” An online version of the piece is alternatively entitled “Devin Nunes’s Family Farm Is Hiding a Politically Explosive Secret.”Among the story’s claims is that a farm operated in California by various members of the Nunes family was subsequently moved to Iowa and that it ultimately,...WW…

The prescription medicine OxyContin is part of the Purdue Pharma litigation. (Photo by Darren McCollester/Getty Images)A federal judge overseeing Purdue Pharma’s multi-billion-dollar bankruptcy proceeding has lashed out the press — and, by logical conclusion, the New York Times in particular — largely because of an opinion piece concerning the family which controls the pharmaceutical giant, the massive company itself, and several of the company’s products, which include the drug OxyContin.  Judge Robert D. Drain, of the , went so far as to call a “misinformed reporter” both an “idiot”...…The prescription medicine OxyContin is part of the Purdue Pharma litigation. (Photo by Darren McCollester/Getty Images)A federal judge overseeing Purdue Pharma’s multi-billion-dollar bankruptcy proceeding has lashed out the press — and, by logical conclusion, the New York Times in particular — largely because of an opinion piece concerning the family which controls the pharmaceutical giant, the massive company itself, and several of the company’s products, which include the drug OxyContin.  Judge Robert D. Drain, of the , went so far as to call a “misinformed reporter” both an “idiot”...WW…

Sharecopy linkSen. Joni Ernst, an Iowa Republican, says the U.S. Senate should rush to appoint a new justice to the U.S. Supreme Court in a November or December “lame duck” session of Congress—even if President Donald Trump loses the election, and even if Senate Republicans lose control of that chamber of the legislature.Ernst made the comment on Iowa Press, a produced by Iowa PBS.Just now on : tells & she would support Supreme Court justice hearings/votes in Nov-Dec lame duck session in late 2020 after election. Adds she would support even if President Trump & Senate Rs lose...…Sharecopy linkSen. Joni Ernst, an Iowa Republican, says the U.S. Senate should rush to appoint a new justice to the U.S. Supreme Court in a November or December “lame duck” session of Congress—even if President Donald Trump loses the election, and even if Senate Republicans lose control of that chamber of the legislature.Ernst made the comment on Iowa Press, a produced by Iowa PBS.Just now on : tells & she would support Supreme Court justice hearings/votes in Nov-Dec lame duck session in late 2020 after election. Adds she would support even if President Trump & Senate Rs lose...WW…

Sharecopy linkMinnesota Attorney General Keith EllisonAttorneys for at least two of the four former police officers accused of playing a role in the alleged murder of George Floyd on Tuesday asked that Minnesota’s highest law enforcement officer be held in contempt of court and sanctioned by a judge.“Defendant, by and through counsel, respectfully moves the Court for an order holding Keith Ellison, the Attorney General for Minnesota and lead prosecutor in the above-captioned case, in contempt of court and ordering sanctions as a result of his actions,” Robert M. Paule, an attorney for...…Sharecopy linkMinnesota Attorney General Keith EllisonAttorneys for at least two of the four former police officers accused of playing a role in the alleged murder of George Floyd on Tuesday asked that Minnesota’s highest law enforcement officer be held in contempt of court and sanctioned by a judge.“Defendant, by and through counsel, respectfully moves the Court for an order holding Keith Ellison, the Attorney General for Minnesota and lead prosecutor in the above-captioned case, in contempt of court and ordering sanctions as a result of his actions,” Robert M. Paule, an attorney for...WW…

Sharecopy linkGov. Brian Kemp (R-Ga.) (left) and Gov. Bill Lee (R-Tenn.) (right).Two federal judges on Monday blocked, to varying legal degrees, two so-called “fetal heartbeat” abortion bans in two separate states.A temporary restraining order against Tennessee officials was issued by Judge William L. Campbell, Jr., a Donald Trump appointee, after Gov. Bill Lee (R-Tenn.) signed the measure into law. The TRO in Tennessee expires in two weeks pending a hearing for preliminary injunction.  A permanent injunction against a similar abortion ban in the State of Georgia was issued Monday...…Sharecopy linkGov. Brian Kemp (R-Ga.) (left) and Gov. Bill Lee (R-Tenn.) (right).Two federal judges on Monday blocked, to varying legal degrees, two so-called “fetal heartbeat” abortion bans in two separate states.A temporary restraining order against Tennessee officials was issued by Judge William L. Campbell, Jr., a Donald Trump appointee, after Gov. Bill Lee (R-Tenn.) signed the measure into law. The TRO in Tennessee expires in two weeks pending a hearing for preliminary injunction.  A permanent injunction against a similar abortion ban in the State of Georgia was issued Monday...WW…

Sharecopy linkAttorney General William Barr on Wednesday spoke glowingly of Seattle Police Chief for taking action against protests in the city’s so-called Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) or Capitol Hill Occupied Protest (CHOP). However, in a lengthy statement extolling the return of the “rule of law,” Barr completely ignored the city’s mayor, who ordered police to retake the area in the first place via a legal executive order.“I commend Police Chief Carmen Best for her courage and leadership in restoring the rule of law in Seattle,” Barr . “For the past several weeks, the Capitol Hill...…Sharecopy linkAttorney General William Barr on Wednesday spoke glowingly of Seattle Police Chief for taking action against protests in the city’s so-called Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) or Capitol Hill Occupied Protest (CHOP). However, in a lengthy statement extolling the return of the “rule of law,” Barr completely ignored the city’s mayor, who ordered police to retake the area in the first place via a legal executive order.“I commend Police Chief Carmen Best for her courage and leadership in restoring the rule of law in Seattle,” Barr . “For the past several weeks, the Capitol Hill...WW…

Sharecopy linkAttorneys for President Donald Trump’s niece and her publisher filed separate notices of appeal Tuesday afternoon after a New York State trial judge of the niece’s promised tell-all book about the Trump family.Dutchess County Supreme Court Judge Hal B. Greenwald earlier Tuesday agreed to a preliminary injunction against niece Mary L. Trump and publisher Simon & Schuster. The judge’s order basically forbids the publishing of the book or the leaking any of its contents pending further judicial proceedings. President Trump’s brother, Robert S. Trump, is leading the...…Sharecopy linkAttorneys for President Donald Trump’s niece and her publisher filed separate notices of appeal Tuesday afternoon after a New York State trial judge of the niece’s promised tell-all book about the Trump family.Dutchess County Supreme Court Judge Hal B. Greenwald earlier Tuesday agreed to a preliminary injunction against niece Mary L. Trump and publisher Simon & Schuster. The judge’s order basically forbids the publishing of the book or the leaking any of its contents pending further judicial proceedings. President Trump’s brother, Robert S. Trump, is leading the...WW…

Sharecopy linkMinnesota District Court Judge Peter A. Cahill on Friday afternoon denied requests, including those filed by the Law&Crime Network, to broadcast hearings leading up to the trials of four former Minneapolis police officers accused of murdering or playing a role in the murder of George Floyd.  Cahill did not rule on whether cameras would be allowed in the actual trials; those decisions will be made at a later date, he said.Attorneys for all four of the ex-officers, Derek Chauvin, Tou Thao, Thomas Kiernan Lane, and J. Alexander Kueng, of the case. ...…Sharecopy linkMinnesota District Court Judge Peter A. Cahill on Friday afternoon denied requests, including those filed by the Law&Crime Network, to broadcast hearings leading up to the trials of four former Minneapolis police officers accused of murdering or playing a role in the murder of George Floyd.  Cahill did not rule on whether cameras would be allowed in the actual trials; those decisions will be made at a later date, he said.Attorneys for all four of the ex-officers, Derek Chauvin, Tou Thao, Thomas Kiernan Lane, and J. Alexander Kueng, of the case. ...WW…

Sharecopy linkA group of judges with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday ordered a relatively rare en banc hearing in a sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.  The court’s Friday order withdraws and vacates issued by a panel of judges on the same court against the survivor.  Now, all active judges will hear the case.The underlying claim in the matter of Courtney Wild is that the federal government violated the rights of Epstein’s survivors when prosecutors allowed Epstein to enter a “secret plea deal.”The appeals court’s original 2-1 decision denied Wild the right to challenge the...…Sharecopy linkA group of judges with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday ordered a relatively rare en banc hearing in a sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.  The court’s Friday order withdraws and vacates issued by a panel of judges on the same court against the survivor.  Now, all active judges will hear the case.The underlying claim in the matter of Courtney Wild is that the federal government violated the rights of Epstein’s survivors when prosecutors allowed Epstein to enter a “secret plea deal.”The appeals court’s original 2-1 decision denied Wild the right to challenge the...WW…