Second Circuit Debates NYC Self-Defense Law in Case of 2022 Fatal Stabbing by Bodega Clerk
A Second Circuit panel spent nearly two hours debating New York City’s self‑defense law after bodega clerk Jose Alba was arrested and charged with second‑degree murder for fatally stabbing a customer in 2022. Alba’s attorney argues that video footage proves he acted in self‑defense and that his arrest was a case of malicious prosecution and racial bias. The judges grappled with whether probable cause for an arrest can coexist with a self‑defense claim, and whether officers should decide justification before a jury. Alba is now suing for damages related to his arrest, prosecution and injuries.
Judge Grants Final Approval of $700 Million Android App Antitrust Settlement
A federal judge granted final approval of Google’s $700 million settlement that resolves antitrust claims over its Android app monopoly. The deal provides $630 million in restitution to consumers who purchased on Google Play between August 2016 and September 2023, plus $70 million for state...
Amazon-Owned Woot Accused of Secretly Tracking Shoppers, Sharing Data with Meta
Amazon‑owned discount site Woot.com is facing a nationwide class‑action lawsuit alleging it secretly harvested detailed shopper activity and passed the data to Meta Platforms. The complaint says Woot deployed cookies, pixels and a Meta Pixel that captured URLs, product views,...
Louisiana Primary Election in Limbo as Supreme Court Considers Aftermath of Landmark Ruling
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6‑3 decision striking down Louisiana’s newly drawn congressional map, finding the addition of a second majority‑Black district unconstitutional under the Voting Rights Act. In response, Governor Jeff Landry issued an executive order suspending the...
Ninth Circuit Denies Relief to TikTok Whistleblower
The U.S. Ninth Circuit rejected Yintao Yu’s request to vacate a sanction order stemming from his 2023 wrongful‑termination lawsuit against ByteDance, TikTok’s parent. A district court had found Yu fabricated evidence, sanctioned him, and forced arbitration under four agreements he...
Conservative Medical Professionals Sue Virginia over Proposed Abortion Rights Amendment
Conservative medical groups and a Bluefield town council member sued Virginia, claiming the ballot language for a proposed constitutional amendment guaranteeing abortion rights is misleading. They contend the wording omits provisions that would eliminate parental notification, remove age‑of‑consent limits, allow...
Former Professor Asks Third Circuit for Relief over ‘Devil’s Advocate’ Lessons
Former adjunct law professor Cheryl Borowski sued Kean University, arguing that her controversial “devil’s advocate” classroom prompts were protected by the First Amendment. The Third Circuit examined whether she retains standing after her contract was not renewed and whether New...
Oil Company Appeals Drillers’ Pay Dispute
A three‑judge Fifth Circuit panel is reviewing Schlumberger’s classification of directional drillers as “highly compensated” employees, who receive a $47,000 base salary plus daily rig bonuses that can make up 60‑80% of total pay. The workers argue the bonuses are...
Minnesota Faces First Amendment Suit over Social Media Warning Label Law
Minnesota enacted a pioneering law that obligates social‑media platforms to show a government‑mandated mental‑health warning and require users to acknowledge it every time they access the service. The statute, set to take effect on July 1, bars platforms from adding supplemental...
No en Banc in Trump Appeals of E. Jean Carroll Verdict, $83 Million Judgment
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit rejected President Donald Trump’s petitions for an en banc rehearing of the E. Jean Carroll case, leaving the $83.3 million verdict intact. The majority held that presidential immunity is waivable and that Trump cannot...
Feds Clear to Use Tear Gas, Chemicals at Portland ICE Facility
Federal appeals judges in the Ninth Circuit cleared ICE agents at Portland's detention facility to use tear gas, pepper balls and other chemical munitions after overturning two district‑court injunctions. The panel ruled that plaintiffs lack a constitutional right to bodily...
Disgraced LA County Assessor John Noguez Finally Sees Day in Court
Former Los Angeles County Assessor John Noguez, arrested in 2010 on bribery charges, finally went on trial after a 13‑year delay. Prosecutors claim he and two co‑defendants manipulated property assessments, costing taxpayers about $12 million and securing campaign contributions. Noguez faces...
Lawsuit Now Moot over Surprise Inspections for California Falconers
A federal judge declared a lawsuit by California falconers and the American Falconry Conservancy moot after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed the language permitting unannounced, warrantless inspections from the state’s falconry licensing certification. The plaintiffs had argued the...
DC Circuit Restores Pentagon Escort Requirement for Journalists
The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals issued an emergency stay that temporarily reinstates the Pentagon’s escort‑required press policy while the Department of Defense pursues a full appeal. The three‑judge panel, split 2‑1, concluded the escort provision is likely procedurally valid,...
Conservative Physicians Accuse Medical Boards of Censorship
Two conservative physicians and a medical group asked the Fifth Circuit to revive claims that the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) and the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG) are threatening to strip board certifications for dissenting medical...
Trump’s Disdain for Wind Projects Creates a Political Storm for Republicans in Coastal Virginia
President Donald Trump issued an executive order that temporarily halted five major offshore wind projects, wiping out roughly $35 billion in planned investments. Nine House Republicans, led by Virginia Rep. Jen Kiggans, sent a letter demanding an explanation, highlighting the political...
Feds Say Hawaii Crime Boss Orchestrated His Own Death to Shield Millions in Assets
Federal prosecutors argue that Honolulu crime boss Michael Miske engineered his own fentanyl overdose to conceal more than $20 million in assets, prompting a novel civil forfeiture claim. U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson rejected the government’s request to stay all civil...
Judge Grounds Flyers’ Attempt to Undo Alaska-Hawaiian Airlines Merger
U.S. District Judge Micah Smith dismissed a six‑plaintiff antitrust suit seeking to unwind Alaska Airlines' $1.9 billion purchase of Hawaiian Airlines. The judge ruled the complaint failed to define a geographic market or prove that the merger caused higher prices or...
Fifth Circuit Unblocks Texas Immigration Law
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit voted 10‑7 to lift a preliminary injunction that had blocked Texas Senate Bill 4, a law permitting state and local police to arrest individuals for immigration violations and authorizing state judges...
Feds yet to Return Vehicle Renee Good Was Shot and Killed In
Rebecca Good, the widow of Renee Nicole Good, filed a motion demanding the return of the Honda Pilot seized after an ICE officer shot her spouse in Minneapolis on Jan. 7. The vehicle, still shrink‑wrapped in an FBI facility, has not...
Civil Trial Opens for Socialite that Killed Two Young Brothers in Hit-and-Run
A civil wrongful‑death trial opened in Los Angeles over the 2020 hit‑and‑run that killed 11‑year‑old Mark Iskander and his 8‑year‑old brother Jacob. The plaintiffs allege that Rebecca Grossman, now serving a 15‑year‑to‑life sentence, and her then‑boyfriend, former MLB pitcher Scott...
California Voter ID Measure Heads to November Election
Supporters of a citizen‑initiated voter‑ID initiative secured enough signatures to place the measure on California’s November ballot. The proposal would require a government‑issued ID for in‑person voting and the last four digits of an ID on mail ballots, while mandating...
Minnesota Struggles to Justify Switchblade Ban in Court
Minnesota’s long‑standing ban on switchblade knives is under scrutiny in federal court as Knife Rights argues the knives qualify as protected arms under the Second Amendment. Judge Patrick Schiltz rejected the state’s narrow definition that only weapons “commonly used for...
Colorado Mask-Prohibition Proposal Hits Snag After California ‘Vigilante’ Ruling
Durango, Colorado, is asking a state court to decide if a citizen‑driven petition to ban police officers from wearing masks can appear on the ballot. The No Secret Police Citizens Initiative, formed by about 60 residents, submitted the proposal after...
CFTC Sues New York Gaming Regulators over Prediction Markets Crackdown
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission filed a civil lawsuit against New York, challenging the state’s crackdown on online prediction markets such as Kalshi and Coinbase. The CFTC argues that the Commodity Exchange Act gives it exclusive jurisdiction over futures, swaps...
Virginia Judge Halts Redistricting Referendum Certification for Now
Virginia voters approved a mid‑decade redistricting referendum by a 50.7% margin, with 1.37 million yes votes. Rural Circuit Judge Jack Hurley Jr. temporarily voided the certification, ruling the ballot language misleading and unconstitutional. The decision favors the National Republican Congressional Committee...
Surgeon Calls PowerPort Catheter Infection Warnings Inadequate in Federal Trial
An expert radiologist testified that Bard’s PowerPort catheter instructions downplay infection risk, classifying it as a “possible complication” without stating the roughly 14% infection rate. The plaintiff, Robert Cook, suffered sepsis after his implanted port became infected, delaying his colorectal...
Proposed Smartphone Ban for California Schools Changes Tone
California Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi’s AB 1644, originally proposing a bell‑to‑bell smartphone ban for K‑12, was softened after committee pushback. The revised bill now mandates a ban for transitional kindergarten through eighth grade, while high schools receive a strong encouragement rather than a...
Former UCSF Doctor Claims University Defamed Him in 2022 Report on Unethical Prison Experiments
A San Francisco dermatologist, Dr. Howard Maibach, has filed a lawsuit alleging that UCSF’s 2022 historical‑reconciliation report falsely portrayed him as having conducted unethical prison experiments in the 1960s‑70s. Maibach claims the university used him as a scapegoat to shield faculty...
New York Falafel-Taco Fusion Joint Accuses Visa, Mastercard of Price-Fixing Monopoly over Card Fees
A Westchester restaurant, Falafel Taco, filed a class‑action lawsuit accusing Visa and Mastercard of anticompetitive price‑fixing that inflates interchange fees for merchants. The complaint alleges the card networks have overcharged businesses by billions of dollars since a 2019 settlement, prompting...
California City Sued by State over Native American Remains Discovered at Luxury Housing Project
The California Attorney General has sued the city of Poway for alleged violations of the California Environmental Quality Act after multiple Native American human remains and more than 8,000 cultural artifacts were uncovered at the Hidden Valley Ranch luxury housing...
Fifth Circuit Clears Path for Ten Commandments in Texas Classrooms
A Fifth Circuit panel voted 9‑8 to uphold Texas Senate Bill 10, which mandates a Ten Commandments display in every public‑school classroom. The majority, led by Judge Stuart Duncan, argued the law does not violate the Establishment Clause, citing the...
Ninth Circuit Revives Lawsuit over Deadly Hawaii Helicopter Crash
A three‑judge Ninth Circuit panel reversed a district court ruling that barred a wrongful‑death suit against Robinson Helicopter Co. over a 2019 Hawaii sightseeing crash. The court held that the General Aviation Revitalization Act’s 18‑year bar does not require a...
11th Circuit Shoots Down Challenge to Machine Gun Ban
A three‑judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a challenge to the federal ban on machine guns, affirming the conviction of Florida resident Maxon Alsenat. Alsenat had sold three machine‑gun conversion devices to an undercover agent...
DHS Startles Congress with Request for Millions to Develop ICE ‘Smart Glasses’
The Department of Homeland Security has earmarked roughly $7.5 million in its FY 2027 budget to develop operational prototypes of smart glasses for ICE agents. The wearable devices would deliver real‑time biometric identification and video capture, merging existing facial‑recognition tools with augmented‑reality...
Ninth Circuit Upholds NLRB Ruling Against Union Buster
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed a National Labor Relations Board order that found an employer engaged in illegal union‑busting conduct. The appellate court upheld the NLRB’s remedial measures, requiring the company to cease the unlawful...
The Lyrid Meteor Shower Is Visible Now and Peaking Soon. Here’s How to Spot It
The Lyrid meteor shower reaches its peak Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, offering 10 to 20 visible shooting stars per hour. A thin crescent moon sets before the display, providing dark skies that favor observation, especially across the Northern Hemisphere....
Brazil Supreme Court Strikes Down Affirmative Action Ban in Southern State
Brazil’s Supreme Court unanimously struck down Santa Catarina’s law that prohibited race‑based affirmative action at state‑funded universities and public‑sector hiring. The court ruled the ban unconstitutional, citing established precedent that affirms affirmative action and the state’s duty to address structural...
Accused Charlie Kirk Shooter Seeks to Push Back Preliminary Hearing
Prosecutors in Utah County argued against a defense request to postpone the May preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson, the 23‑year‑old accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Robinson’s lawyers claim they have not received critical DNA evidence and need several...
Homeless Residents Say San Diego Is Not Complying with RV Settlement
Homeless San Diego residents living in cars and RVs asked a federal judge to force the city to honor a settlement reached over a year ago that obligates it to improve safe‑parking lots. The agreement earmarked up to $900,000 for amenities...
Changes to Virginia Labor Bill Could Gut Worker Rights, Unions Warn
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger has introduced sweeping amendments to Senate Bill 378, a collective‑bargaining measure originally designed to expand union rights for state and local government workers. The changes would push the start date for local employee bargaining from 2028...
Oil Company Violated Court Order by Restarting Santa Barbara Pipeline, Judge Finds
A Santa Barbara Superior Court judge found Sable Offshore Corp. in contempt for restarting the Santa Ynez and Las Flores offshore pipelines after a Trump administration order, violating a federal consent decree and a preliminary injunction. The pipelines had been...
Caviar Is an Unsung Hero of Idaho Gastronomy
Idaho Springs Foods, based in the Magic Valley, has become a leading producer of domestically farmed sturgeon caviar, positioning Idaho as the nation’s second‑largest source after California. The company now runs nearly a dozen Snake River farms, leveraging pure river...
House Democrats Press GOP to Reschedule Bondi Deposition in Epstein Probe
House Oversight Committee Democrats are pressing Republican Chairman James Comer for a new date after former Attorney General Pam Bondi missed a subpoenaed deposition on the Epstein investigation. The Justice Department argued Bondi is no longer bound by the subpoena...
Penis Costume Protester Prevails in Court
An Alabama municipal judge acquitted retired sign‑language interpreter Renea Gamble of all misdemeanor charges stemming from her inflatable 7‑foot penis costume at an anti‑Trump protest. The judge dismissed the false‑name charge and found insufficient grounds to convict on remaining counts,...
California Bill Would Ban Cellphones in Schools
California Assembly Bill 1644 seeks a statewide, bell‑to‑bell ban on student cellphone use, requiring every district to adopt a policy by July 1 2027 and to update it every five years. The bill, backed by both Democrats and Republicans, argues that such...
Rebel Wilson Appeals for Dismissal of Film Producers’ Defamation Suit
Rebel Wilson appealed a California appellate court decision that upheld a lower court ruling rejecting her anti‑SLAPP motion in a defamation suit filed by three producers of her directorial debut, “The Deb.” The producers allege Wilson made false accusations of...
Settlement Bars Arizona Utility From Extreme-Heat Disconnections
Arizona Public Service (APS) agreed to a $7 million settlement that bars the utility from disconnecting service for nonpayment when temperatures reach 95 °F or higher. The deal follows the death of 82‑year‑old customer Katherine Korman, whose power was cut on a...
Montana High Court Affirms Block on Binary Sex Definition
The Montana Supreme Court ruled 5‑2 that the state cannot enforce a binary definition of sex, allowing transgender residents to amend birth certificates and driver’s licenses to match their gender identity. The decision overturns Senate Bill 458, enacted in 2023,...
Feds Sued over Revoking Protections for Rare Gulf Whale
A coalition of environmental groups led by the National Wildlife Federation sued the Trump administration over the Interior Department’s Endangered Species Committee’s decision to lift oil‑tanker speed and monitoring restrictions in the Gulf of Mexico. The committee, dubbed the “God...