The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed the prison sentence imposed on Trina Mae Johnson, who was convicted of severe child abuse offenses. Johnson had argued that the district court judge’s expressions of deep sympathy and empathy toward the young victim during the sentencing hearing violated her due process…
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$10 Billion Childcare Funding Freeze Sparks Lawsuit Against Trump Administration
A coalition of five U.S. states has filed a federal lawsuit challenging former President Donald Trump’s administration for freezing nearly $10 billion in childcare and family assistance funding, arguing that the move violates federal law and threatens critical support for working families and low-income households. The lawsuit, filed in federal…
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Georgia Supreme Court Upholds Life Without Parole Sentence for Murder Convict
The Supreme Court of Georgia has affirmed the conviction and life sentence without parole for Christopher Sellers, who was found guilty of malice murder and other charges stemming from the 2019 shooting death of Thedarious Mitchell. The high court rejected Sellers’ challenges regarding the sufficiency of the evidence, the trial…
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NJ Court Upholds Sweeping Environmental Justice Rules Despite Industry Pushback
The New Jersey Appellate Division has affirmed the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) adoption of its comprehensive Environmental Justice Rules (EJRules), rejecting challenges brought by industry groups claiming the regulations exceeded the agency’s statutory authority or were arbitrary and capricious. The court granted substantial deference to the DEP’s interpretation of…
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Court Upholds Murder Conviction But Orders Resentencing After Finding Merger Error
The Supreme Court of Georgia largely affirmed the conviction of Tony Adams, Jr., for the malice murder of his mother, Belinda Woodson, but overturned key parts of his sentence due to a legal error concerning included offenses. While Adams’s claims of ineffective assistance of counsel were rejected, the high court…
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Ninth Circuit Denies Rehearing in Fight Over Trump Administration’s Internal RIF Plans
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has denied a petition for rehearing, both at the panel level and en banc, in a high-stakes legal battle concerning the disclosure of internal government documents related to planned large-scale federal workforce reductions (RIFs) initiated under President Donald J. Trump’s Executive…
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Ninth Circuit Upholds Firearm Ban for Illegal Immigrants, Citing Historical Tradition
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has affirmed the conviction of Oscar Vazquez-Ramirez for possessing a firearm while being unlawfully present in the United States. The ruling relies on a historical analysis suggesting that regulations restricting firearm access for non-citizens are consistent with the nation’s traditions, even…
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Missouri’s Mandatory Halloween Sign for Sex Offenders Violates Free Speech, Eighth Circuit Rules
The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has struck down a Missouri law that required registered sex offenders to post a sign on Halloween stating, “No candy or treats at this residence.” The court affirmed the district court’s finding that this specific mandate constitutes compelled speech, violating the First Amendment, though…
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Life Sentence Upheld: Nebraska Supreme Court Reaffirms Limits on Reviewing Sentencing Decisions
The Nebraska Supreme Court has affirmed a life sentence imposed on Armon K. Rejai for second degree murder, making it clear that appellate courts will not second-guess a trial judge’s sentencing decision unless there is a clear abuse of discretion. The ruling strongly reasserts established legal principles, specifically rejecting the…
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9th Circuit Strikes Down California’s Urban Open-Carry Gun Ban in Major Second Amendment Ruling
A U.S. federal appeals court on Friday delivered a major Second Amendment victory for gun rights advocates by ruling that California’s ban on openly carrying firearms in most of the state is unconstitutional, dealing a setback to one of the nation’s strictest gun-control regimes. The U.S. Court of Appeals for…