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Attorneys & Judges
Seven Hackers Associated with Chinese Government Charged with Computer Intrusions
The U.S. Department of Justice has unsealed an indictment charging seven nationals of the People’s Republic of China with conspiracy to commit computer intrusions and wire fraud. The hacking group, known as Advanced Persistent Threat 31 (the APT31 Group), was involved in targeting U.S. and foreign critics, businesses, and political officials for approximately 14 years.Attorney General Merrick B. Garland stated, “The Justice Department will not tolerate efforts by the Chinese government to intimidate Americans who serve the public, silence the dissidents who are protected...
Attorneys & Judges
Justice Department Opens Nominations for Annual Award in Community Policing
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the opening of nominations for the Seventh Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing. The awards aim to recognize the efforts of law enforcement officers who actively engage with their communities to promote safety and trust.According to Attorney General Garland, the awards "represent part of the Justice Department’s ongoing commitment to support the nation’s law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe."The Attorney General’s Award...
Attorneys & Judges
Man Sentenced for Sending Death Threats to Arizona State Election Official
An Ohio man, Joshua Russell, has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison for sending death threats to an election official in the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office during Arizona’s primary and general elections. The threats were made between Aug. 2, 2022, and Nov. 15, 2022, through a series of voicemails.Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized the importance of protecting election workers, stating, "If you threaten violence against the public servants who administer our elections, there will be consequences."Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General...
Attorneys & Judges
Justice Department Launches the National Extreme Risk Protection Order Resource Center
The launch of the National Extreme Risk Protection Order Resource Center was announced by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, who highlighted the importance of the Center in providing resources to prevent individuals who pose a threat from accessing firearms. Garland stated, “The launch of the National Extreme Risk Protection Order Resource Center will provide our partners across the country with valuable resources to keep firearms out of the hands of individuals who pose a threat to themselves or others.”The Center aims to support the implementation of ERPO laws, which...
Attorneys & Judges
Interest adds to woes for lawyers who took money from litigation funder
WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) - Fighting an arbitration award for a litigation funder didn't pay off for married lawyers who borrowed for it, and they have to pay more than $1 million in interest for doing so.
Attorneys & Judges
$25 million for lawyers who pushed PACER class action
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Lawyers who took on the federal government's system for charging fees for court documents will take close to $25 million for their efforts.
Attorneys & Judges
Lawyer fight breaks out in PFAS case with huge settlement on the line
CHARLESTON, S.C. (Legal Newsline) - The lawyers who negotiated a $1 billion-plus settlement with DuPont and stand to take $95 million in fees want a federal judge to punish lawyers trying to stand in the way.
Attorneys & Judges
Six Former Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers Sentenced for Torturing and Abusing Two Black Men
Six former Mississippi law enforcement officers have been sentenced for their involvement in the torture and abuse of two Black men in Rankin County, Mississippi. Senior District Judge Tom Lee handed down prison terms ranging from 10 to 40 years to the defendants involved in the heinous attack.Christian Dedmon, Brett McAlpin, Hunter Elward, Jeffrey Middleton, Daniel Opdyke, and Joshua Hartfield were all sentenced for their roles in the disturbing incident. Dedmon, the former Narcotics Investigator of the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO), received the harshest...
Attorneys & Judges
Justice Department Sues Apple for Monopolizing Smartphone Markets
The Justice Department has taken legal action against tech giant Apple, accusing the company of monopolizing the smartphone markets. In a statement, it was highlighted that "Apple’s Broad-Based, Exclusionary Conduct Makes It Harder for Americans to Switch Smartphones, Undermines Innovation for Apps, Products, and Services, and Imposes Extraordinary Costs on Developers, Businesses, and Consumers."The lawsuit aims to address concerns that Apple's practices have hindered competition and innovation within the smartphone industry. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, Deputy...
Attorneys & Judges
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Announces Lawsuit Against Apple for Monopolizing Smartphone Markets
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, in a recent address, announced a lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice, along with 15 states and the District of Columbia, against tech giant Apple. The lawsuit, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, accuses Apple of violating Section 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Act.Garland highlighted Apple's significant market dominance, noting that "Apple's share of the U.S. performance smartphone market exceeds 70%, and its share of the entire U.S. smartphone market exceeds 65%." He pointed out that the company's...
Attorneys & Judges
Lawyer who sued over exclusion from L.A. trial attorney group loses lawsuit
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) - A federal judge not only threw out the lawsuit of a lawyer kicked out of a Los Angeles trial attorney group but has ordered him to pay the other side's attorneys fees.
Attorneys & Judges
Attorney General Garland Statement on Sentencings of Former Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has issued a statement regarding the sentencing of former Mississippi law enforcement officers who tortured and abused two Black men in Rankin County, Mississippi. Hunter Elward, a former Rankin County Sheriff’s Office Deputy, was sentenced to 20 years in prison, while Jeffrey Middleton, a former RCSO Lieutenant, was sentenced to 17.5 years in prison.In his statement, Attorney General Garland emphasized the severity of the crimes committed by the defendants, stating, “These defendants will spend 20 years and 17.5 years in prison for...
Attorneys & Judges
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Statement on FBI Quarterly Uniform Crime Report
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has issued a statement regarding the FBI Quarterly Uniform Crime Report, expressing optimism about the progress made in reducing violent crime across the country."In May 2021, the Justice Department launched our violent crime reduction strategy aimed at addressing the spike in violent crime that occurred during the pandemic," stated Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, highlighting the Department's proactive approach to combating crime.Reflecting on the efforts made, Garland emphasized, "We know that hard-fought progress can easily...
Attorneys & Judges
Final Defendant in 2020 Drive-by-Shooting of Court Security Officers Sentenced to Life in Prison
The final defendant in the 2020 drive-by shooting of court security officers has been sentenced to life in prison. Robert Alvin Justus Jr., 34, of Millbrae, California, was convicted for his role in the fatal shooting at the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Oakland, California. Justus's co-defendant, Steven Carrillo, was previously sentenced to 41 years in prison. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland expressed, "With this sentence, the Justice Department has ensured that both of the defendants responsible for brutally murdering a law enforcement...
Attorneys & Judges
Justice Department Commemorates National Public Defense Day
The Justice Department's Office for Access to Justice (ATJ) marked National Public Defense Day by introducing the Public Defense Resource Hub (PD Hub), a comprehensive platform aimed at aiding individuals and organizations involved in public defense. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland expressed the Department's pride in supporting public defenders, emphasizing the importance of upholding the constitutional right to counsel as reaffirmed in the historic case of Gideon v. Wainwright.Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco reflected on the previous year's National Public...
Attorneys & Judges
Litigation funder to take $1.8 million from lawyers it gave money to
WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) - A seven-figure judgment has officially been entered against lawyers who tried to do business with a litigation funder but ended up having their house in jeopardy.
Attorneys & Judges
Former California Rideshare Driver Charged with Federal Hate Crime for Antisemitic Attack on Passenger
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland stated, “The defendant, a rideshare driver, is charged with assaulting a rider because he thought the rider was Jewish or Israeli.” U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey for the Northern District of California emphasized, “We will prosecute any ride-share driver who assaults a passenger in such hate-fueled violence.”The indictment against Csaba John Csukás, 39, reveals that he attacked the victim at San Francisco International Airport on Oct. 26, 2023, because he perceived the victim to be Jewish or Israeli. Csukás, who worked as a driver for...
Attorneys & Judges
Man Sentenced for Sending Bomb Threat to Arizona State Election Official
A Massachusetts man has been sentenced to three years and six months in prison for sending a bomb threat to an election official in the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland stated, “Those using illegal threats of violence to intimidate election workers should know that the Justice Department will find you and hold you accountable under the law.” James W. Clark, 40, of Falmouth, sent a message to the election official warning of an explosive device, prompting law enforcement to conduct searches and evacuations.Principal Deputy Assistant...
Attorneys & Judges
Justice Department Fiscal Year 2025 Funding Request Aims to Keep America Safe and Uphold Civil Rights
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized the importance of the Justice Department's mission, stating, “The dedicated men and women of the Justice Department work every day to uphold the rule of law, keep our country safe, and protect civil rights.”The budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2025 includes significant investments to enhance law enforcement capabilities and combat various threats. This includes over $20.6 billion to expand the capacity of the Department’s law enforcement and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, with specific allocations for agencies such as the FBI, DEA,...
Attorneys & Judges
Former President of Honduras Convicted of Cocaine Trafficking and Firearms Offenses in US Federal Court
Juan Orlando Hernández, the former President of Honduras, has been convicted in a Manhattan federal court of conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and related firearms offenses. The conviction comes after a federal jury found Hernández guilty on all three counts in the indictment.Attorney General Merrick B. Garland expressed, “Juan Orlando Hernández abused his position as President of Honduras to operate the country as a narco-state where violent drug traffickers were allowed to operate with virtual impunity, and the people of Honduras and the United States...