All articles tagged with #court
A federal judge granted a temporary restraining order to pause Nexstar’s planned merger with Tegna amid antitrust concerns raised by DirecTV and several states; the 14-day halt blocks integration, a preliminary injunction hearing is set for April 7, and Tegna must operate as a separate, independently managed unit pending further review.
At a federal hearing over the FBI’s seizure of Fulton County’s 2020 ballots, an elections expert testified the FBI’s irregularities don’t amount to a crime and the cited witnesses appear misinformed, undermining the evidence. Fulton County argues the unsealed affidavit is inaccurate and based on unreliable sources and seeks the return of the ballots and materials, a case tied to Trump’s ongoing election challenges.
A federal judge in New York refused to dismiss the narcotics indictment against Nicolás Maduro and his wife, allowing the case to proceed. Defense arguments that the U.S. blocked access to Venezuelan government funds for their representation were not sustained, with the judge saying a ruling on funding would come later. Prosecutors also sought a protective order to limit discovery sharing with co-defendants at large. Maduro and his wife have pleaded not guilty and are detained as the high-profile case heads toward trial amid outside demonstrations.
Rapper Afroman (Joseph Foreman) kept trolling Adams County Deputy Sheriff Lisa Phillips, a key witness in his defamation trial over a 2022 raid video, by posting an explicit, mocking music clip on Instagram. He argues the posting is protected free speech, while the officers say the clips defame them as the court case proceeds.
A Manhattan federal judge ordered removal of online video depositions of two former DOGE employees after viral clips mocked them and spurred harassment; the deposition videos were posted by scholarly groups challenging grant cuts, raising First Amendment concerns, and the government argued the posts endangered witnesses. The judge directed the groups to claw back the videos and scheduled a hearing, with some outlets having already embedded the clips in coverage.
After the Supreme Court struck down the emergency tariffs, refunds totaling about $166 billion could require up to 4,431,161 hours of manual processing, though CBP upgrades may speed payouts by mid-April; with no firm timeline, Trump opposes refunds and courts are pushing for timely action while interest on the money continues to accrue.
A Texas judge declined to shut Camp Mystic after a family sued to keep it closed following last year’s floods, ordering preservation of damaged cabins but stopping short of a reopening-block, meaning the camp can continue operating while the lawsuit proceeds.
FedEx says it will refund customers who paid tariffs if the U.S. government issues refunds, a stance tied to its lawsuit seeking a full duty refund after the Supreme Court ruled the tariffs unlawful; the exact process depends on future guidance from the government, and other companies are pursuing refunds, a process that could take years.
Nick Reiner, Rob Reiner’s son, returned to a Los Angeles court where prosecutors indicated he may enter a plea in connection with the killings of his parents, with no resolution announced as the case continues.
A 22-year-old man, Luke Fortune of Longwell Green near Bristol, appeared at Bristol Magistrates’ Court charged with eight firearms offences after police found a Glock-style pistol and a revolver hidden in a bush; authorities allege he bought nearly 40 firearms and more than 1,000 bullets, including antiques and blank-firing models, with a 3D-printed sub-machine gun among the charges.
A 37-year-old man was found guilty of grossly negligent manslaughter for leaving his inexperienced girlfriend on Austria’s highest mountain, the Grossglockner, where she later froze to death. The Innsbruck Regional Court sentenced him to a suspended five-month prison term and a €9,600 fine, noting factors like his clean record and the loss of a relative; the verdict can be appealed.
An Austrian climber was found guilty of gross negligent manslaughter after his girlfriend died of hypothermia during a winter ascent on the Grossglockner. He received a five-month suspended sentence and a €9,600 fine. The court cited the girlfriend's lack of winter climbing experience and his role as the more experienced climber, while prosecutors argued he should have turned back or called for help; the case has sparked debate about risk and criminal liability in mountaineering.
An immigration judge in Vermont temporarily halted the Trump administration's deportation of Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian student activist, delaying removal while his legal case proceeds.
A federal judge blocked California from enforcing its No Secret Police Act—banning ICE agents from masking during deportations—finding it likely violates the Supremacy Clause by singling out federal officers, while allowing the No Vigilantes Act requiring names or badge numbers to proceed and likely pass constitutional muster. The ruling suggests the masking ban could be constitutional if extended to state officers, paused enforcement of the mask rule pending further action (with a Feb. 19 deadline for potential stays), and leaves room for a legislative expansion. The DOJ did not immediately comment; the ruling keeps the identity-disclosure requirement in limbo for now.
New York’s Luigi Mangione will face a June 8 start for his state trial over the December 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, even as his federal case moves forward after a death-penalty charge was dismissed on a technicality; Mangione contends the overlap between the state and federal cases amounts to double jeopardy, while his defense seeks to suppress backpack evidence and challenge Miranda rights, with a May ruling expected on the suppression issue. If convicted in either case, he could face life in prison.