All articles tagged with #federal judge
A federal judge has unsealed an alleged suicide note attributed to Jeffrey Epstein, reportedly found by his cellmate after Epstein’s 2019 suicide attempt at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in NYC. The unsigned note contains a frustrated remark about investigations and a goodbye, but its authorship has not been independently verified, and the release followed a New York Times report, with no immediate DOJ comment.
A federal judge ruled that the White House ballroom project cannot proceed in full under the safety-and-security exception and halted construction, except for underground security facilities and related measures. The ruling narrows the scope and allows below-ground work to continue while the government can appeal within seven days. The case, brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, contends the project exceeds presidential authority and requires congressional approval.
A federal judge halted RFK Jr.'s anti-vaccine campaign, delivering a legal setback to his public-health advocacy and potentially shaping ongoing debates over vaccine misinformation.
A federal judge blocked parts of RFK Jr.'s push to overhaul the childhood vaccine schedule, halting a memo that would reduce the number of recommended vaccines from 17 to 11 and pausing 13 newly appointed ACIP members and their votes. The judge ruled the changes bypassed the committee's evidence-based process and violated federal law, delaying the policy shift while the case proceeds. Medical groups and the American Academy of Pediatrics praised the decision, while HHS signaled it will seek to overturn the ruling.
A federal judge extended an order shielding Minnesota refugees from arrest and deportation, as protesters gathered near the Bishop Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis.
A federal judge ruled that the White House East Wing renovation can continue for now, finding the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s challenge insufficient to show the President lacked authority or that Congressional authorization was required or that federal agency action was involved. The judge noted the trust could amend its complaint to test statutory authority, and emphasized the executive residence is likely not an agency under the Administrative Procedures Act.
A federal judge halted the DHS plan to terminate Temporary Protected Status for about 350,000 Haitians, delaying the lapse and preserving their status and work permits while litigation continues. Judge Ana Reyes ruled the move was arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedures Act and criticized remarks she deemed evidence of racial animus by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem (and referenced Trump). DHS signaled it may seek Supreme Court review of the decision.
A federal judge granted a stay on the December stop-work order, allowing Vineyard Wind to resume construction because the government failed to justify the halt as necessary for national security related to operation rather than construction. The project is about 95% complete, with 44 turbines already producing power and 18 more to finish, and a critical installation vessel contract expiring at the end of March that ties into financing and utility contracts calling for full operation by then. The decision follows similar rulings for other offshore wind projects and leaves open further review by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
A federal judge pressed Justice Department lawyers to cite the legal authority for the Trump administration’s plan to demolish the White House East Wing and build a $400 million ballroom, as historic-preservation groups sue for oversight. The hearing raises whether Congress must authorize such a project, even as the administration cites funding and Interior Department gifts; design reviews by two federal commissions continue and construction remains planned for spring, with potential appeals to higher courts.
A federal judge in Kentucky dismissed Louisville’s proposed police reform settlement with the US Department of Justice after the department withdrew support, emphasizing that local leadership should oversee police compliance, despite ongoing reforms and past incidents involving police misconduct.
A federal judge has ruled in favor of a lawsuit filed by New Mexico and 15 other states to restore mental health funding, emphasizing the importance of mental health services.
A federal judge indicated he might allow the Trump administration to proceed with its controversial White House ballroom addition, giving the White House two weeks to submit detailed plans amid ongoing legal and security concerns, including lawsuits and questions about compliance with historic preservation laws.
The Supreme Court extended a temporary pause on a federal judge's order requiring the Trump administration to pay full SNAP benefits for November, allowing Congress time to pass a funding bill to reopen the government and fund the program, with the current stay extended until Thursday night.
A federal judge in Oregon blocked Trump from deploying the National Guard to Portland, ruling there was no evidence of widespread violence justifying federal intervention, marking a legal victory for protesters and local authorities.
A federal judge in Chicago extended restrictions on ICE and Border Patrol agents' use of force during immigration enforcement, citing credible evidence that contradicts government claims of violence and highlighting instances of excessive force against protesters and journalists. The judge criticized the government for dishonesty and emphasized the importance of protecting First Amendment rights.