
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro enlisted a dance‑photographer‑lawyer, Steven Vandervelden, to pursue criminal charges against six Democratic lawmakers who produced a public service announcement urging military and intelligence personnel to refuse illegal orders from the Trump administration. The indictment effort collapsed, drawing criticism that the Justice Department was weaponizing prosecution for political ends. Pirro defended her unconventional hire, emphasizing his alleged prosecutorial competence despite lacking federal experience. The episode has ignited a debate over free‑speech protections for elected officials and the politicization of federal law enforcement.

The Judicial Conference’s Committee on Codes of Conduct released a new ethics opinion guiding federal judges on public commentary. It urges judges to favor reasoned discourse and avoid demeaning rhetoric when discussing controversial legal issues. The opinion permits judges to...

The assassination of right‑wing activist Charlie Kirk sparked a cascade of legal actions targeting individuals and institutions that posted online commentary about the killing. A retired police officer in Tennessee was arrested for mocking the mourning and later filed a...

Four Senate Republicans introduced the Litigation Funding Transparency Act, mandating that third‑party litigation funders disclose their identities and abstain from influencing case strategy or settlements. The bill targets firms such as Burford Capital, which can intervene in high‑stakes settlements like...

Tom Goldstein, co‑founder of SCOTUSblog and veteran appellate lawyer, testified in his federal white‑collar criminal trial in Maryland. He acknowledged mistakes in tax filings but denied the criminal tax‑fraud allegations brought by prosecutors, who say he failed to report $2.7 million...

Donald T. Kinsella, a 79‑year‑old veteran litigator, was appointed U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York by a panel of federal judges. Hours later, a White House email informed him he was being removed, and Deputy Attorney General...