LEGAL NEWSLINE

MOUNT HOREB, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is currently investigating an incident that occurred in the Village of Mount Horeb, Wis. on the morning of Monday, May 1, 2024.According to the DCI, the Mount Horeb School District was placed on lockdown due to a safety threat. The Mount Horeb Police Department responded to a report of an individual with a weapon outside the middle school and subsequently used deadly force to address the threat. The subject involved, who was a student from the Mount Horeb School...

Attorney General Ashley Moody has taken legal action against the National Collegiate Athletic Association for violating antitrust laws in the midst of actions against Florida universities over alleged NIL violations. Moody's lawsuit was prompted by the NCAA's sudden pursuit of both UF and FSU for purported NIL violations, following the publication of updated NIL guidance on X.Moody emphasized the urgency of the lawsuit, stating, "It appears no one could ever comply with these ever-changing and unfair regulations that limit the ability of student athletes to negotiate in...

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Attorney General Ashley Moody is pushing back against the Biden administration's recent firearm regulation aimed at law-abiding citizens in Florida. The new rule, introduced by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, requires individuals to register as dealers to engage in private sales of firearms, leading to increased bureaucracy and costs for citizens.In response to this, Attorney General Moody stated, “This is Biden’s latest step in trying to take guns away from law-abiding Americans. We are fighting back against this federal...

A Hopewell man, Azontay Malik Perry, 27, has been sentenced to five years and five months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The incident took place on Nov. 19, 2022, when Perry was found passed out in the driver's seat of a BMW with the engine running in Hopewell, Virginia.According to court documents, Hopewell Police officers discovered Perry in the intersection of Ashland Street and Oaklawn Boulevard. Perry ignored commands, drove into a parked police vehicle, attempted to flee at high speed, and eventually crashed into a dumpster at...

The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is currently looking into an officer-involved shooting that took place in the Town of Grand Chute, Wis. on the evening of Friday, April 12, 2024.According to the report, Outagamie County Sheriff’s Sergeant Ellis Brooks discharged his firearm, striking William Jae Kil Nelson, 22, who was observed with a knife at the scene. The incident unfolded after deputies responded to a vehicle crash on W. Prospect Avenue in the Town of Grand Chute. Outagamie County Sheriff’s Deputy Noah Yeck attempted...

Attorney General Ashley Moody has taken action to address the rising issue of jury duty scams in Florida. In response to reports of scams targeting Floridians, Moody has released a new resource called Scams at a Glance: Sham or Summons. The resource aims to educate individuals on how to recognize and avoid falling victim to these fraudulent schemes.In a statement, Attorney General Ashley Moody expressed concern over the increase in jury duty scams, stating, “There has been a recent uptick in reports of jury duty scams, and I have heard personally from many Floridians who...

Attorney General Jason Miyares has taken a firm stance against the recent actions of the Department of Education, joining a six-state coalition to challenge the overhaul of Title IX of the Educational Amendments Act. Miyares expressed his concerns stating, “The Biden Administration's unlawful rule would jeopardize half a century of landmark protections for women, forcing the Administration’s social agenda onto the states by holding federal funding hostage."Miyares emphasized, "We cannot roll back Title IX in the name of false equity." Title IX has been instrumental in...

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force is providing resources for online safety as sextortion cases increase throughout the country, including in Wisconsin. Attorney General Josh Kaul emphasized the importance of protecting children online, stating, "We must keep our kids safe from online dangers."In a recent sextortion case investigated by the Wisconsin DOJ Division of Criminal Investigation, a La Crosse man was sentenced to 18 years in prison. Kaul reaffirmed the department's dedication, saying, "The...

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— Attorney General Ashley Moody has taken a stand against the Biden administration's newly announced Title IX rule, which seeks to redefine "sex" to include "gender identity" and "sexual orientation." In a statement, Attorney General Moody expressed her concerns, saying, “Biden’s new Title IX rules shred protections for women—that so many fought for over decades."The coalition, including Attorney General Moody, raised issues about the new rule's implications, particularly regarding facilities like bathrooms and locker rooms. They stated, “... the rule...

Attorney General Josh Kaul, alongside 23 attorneys general and four cities, has taken a stand in defense of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s final rule for light- and medium-duty vehicles emissions standards for model years 2027-2032. The coalition filed a motion to intervene in the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to support the EPA's efforts to set stricter tailpipe emissions standards for harmful air pollutants."In setting high but achievable vehicle emissions standards, the EPA’s final rule is a step forward in addressing climate...

Attorney General Jason Miyares has filed a notice with the Virginia Court of Appeals supporting Keshawn Duffy's innocence and request for a writ of actual innocence. Duffy, who was wrongfully sentenced to two life sentences in 2019, was convicted of two counts of forcible sodomy and sentenced to two consecutive life sentences after his ex-girlfriend's young son reported that Duffy had sexually abused him."A free and just society owns up to its wrongdoings and has steps to correct them. Virginia's writ of actual innocence process is intended to right those wrongs. It's...

MADISON, Wis. – Attorney General Josh Kaul has announced the opening of the public comment period for a request for an Attorney General (AG) opinion on a constitutional amendment concerning election officials. The request, initiated by the Dane County Corporation Counsel, seeks clarification on the recent amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution regarding election officials.In accordance with the process, the Wisconsin Department of Justice is inviting public input on the proposed AG opinion topics before the opinion is finalized. The AG opinion request document can be...

NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Letitia James is hoping to block the appeal of the makers of "ghost guns" after a federal judge ruled they are probably firearms and should be regulated as such.

A Richmond man, Walter Lavelle Allen, has been sentenced to two years and three months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm. The sentencing comes after Allen, a previously convicted felon, was found with a loaded 9mm semiautomatic pistol in his possession.According to court documents, Richmond Police observed Allen displaying the firearm in an Instagram story before finding him asleep in a parked vehicle with the weapon under his leg. Allen's previous conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine prohibited him from legally owning a firearm or...

CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey says he will be challenging a new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rule he says will force power plants fueled by coal or natural gas to capture smokestack emissions or shut down.

Attorney General Ashley Moody, leading a coalition of 17 state attorneys general, has taken legal action against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for its new rule mandating accommodations for abortion under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act of 2022. Moody expressed concerns stating, "Unelected commissioners under the Biden administration are seeking to hijack protections for pregnant workers by twisting language into an illegal interpretation of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act of 2022. We are fighting back against the unprecedented, attempted mutation of these...

MADISON, Wis. – Attorney General Josh Kaul has filed a response brief with the Wisconsin Supreme Court, arguing against the ban on drop boxes in Wisconsin elections. In a statement, Attorney General Kaul emphasized the importance of safe, secure, and accessible voting, stating, "Voting should be safe, secure and accessible — and drop boxes are. Unfortunately, the use of drop boxes has been swept into the broader and baseless attacks on our elections and our democracy."The Attorney General further explained the rationale behind the filing, saying, "Through our filing,...

Attorney General Josh Kaul of Wisconsin has provided an update on the progress of the Clergy and Faith Leader Abuse Initiative, as the state marks the three-year anniversary of its launch. The initiative aims to address and investigate cases of abuse by clergy and faith leaders in Wisconsin.In a statement, Attorney General Kaul emphasized the department's commitment to supporting survivors and conducting independent reviews of abuse cases. He urged individuals with information about clergy and faith leader abuse to come forward, stating, “If you have information about...