LEGAL NEWSLINE

America First Legal (AFL) has filed a federal civil rights complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against Williams-Sonoma, Inc., alleging unlawful employment practices. AFL also sent a letter to Williams-Sonoma’s Board of Directors demanding an end to these practices and compliance with federal securities laws requiring full disclosure of the risks associated with their "diversity, equity, and inclusion" policies.

Continuing a tradition begun in 2007, the Michigan Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in People v. Jeffrey Scott Armstrong as part of the “Court Community Connections” program. Student debriefing sessions led by Supreme Court Chief Commissioner Daniel C. Brubaker will be held before and after oral arguments.

The Justice Department announced today that it has secured a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Dane County, Wisconsin, Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) as part of its Law Enforcement Language Access Initiative. The MOU resolves an inquiry into whether DCSO complied with its nondiscrimination obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI).

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has joined a coalition of 24 attorneys general in an amicus brief defending the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)’s rule to implement the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) of 2022. The brief, filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, supports EEOC’s rule implementing the federal legislation that mandates employers provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant and postpartum employees, including those seeking abortion care. This rule is currently being challenged by a coalition of 17 states led by...

The Office of the North Dakota Attorney General has announced an opening for the position of Deputy Solicitor General. The role, based in Bismarck, ND, is full-time and comes with a state benefit package. Applications are being accepted from both internal and external candidates until September 24, 2024.

An indictment was unsealed today charging Linda Sun, 41, with violating and conspiring to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act, visa fraud, bringing in aliens, and money laundering conspiracy. Sun is alleged to have acted on behalf of the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Sun’s husband and co-defendant, Chris Hu, 40, was also charged with money laundering conspiracy, as well as conspiracy to commit bank fraud and misuse of means of identification. Sun and Hu were arrested earlier this morning and were arraigned in...

Attorney General Raúl Labrador secured a significant victory for Idaho water rights against federal claims of unconstitutionality in the United States v. Idaho. U.S. District Court Judge David Nye rejected the Department of Justice’s attempt to block Idaho ranchers from seeking forfeiture of stockwater rights on public lands that the United States is not using. This ruling establishes that the federal government is treated no differently than any other water user, which must productively use water rights within five years or face forfeiture, per Idaho law.

Grand Traverse County Commissioner Brad Jewett, 55, of Traverse City, was arraigned today before Magistrate Tammi Rogers in the 86th District Court in Traverse City. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced that Jewett faces charges of engaging services of prostitution and using a computer to commit a crime.

A Nigerian national was sentenced today in the Eastern District of Virginia to five years and three months in prison and ordered to pay nearly $5 million in restitution for participating in a computer hacking and business email compromise scheme that caused over $5 million in losses to multiple victims in the United States and elsewhere. Franklin Ifeanyichukwu Okwonna, 34, pleaded guilty on May 20 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for his role in the scheme.

Schlomo Schorr, legislative director of Agudath Israel of America’s New Jersey office, stated that New Jersey Senate President Nicholas Scutari was "busy" during his time as Acting Governor. According to Schorr, Scutari signed multiple bills into law while New Jersey’s governor and lieutenant governor attended the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Schorr shared his statement in an Aug. 22 post on X.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has led a coalition of 20 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of U.S. v. Skrmetti. The coalition is urging the Court to overturn a Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals decision that upheld Tennessee's Senate Bill (SB) 1, which bans gender-affirming care for transgender adolescents experiencing gender dysphoria.

BELLINGHAM — Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a petition today urging a Whatcom County Superior Court judge to civilly commit a sex offender to McNeil Island, preventing his release into the community.

The New York Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation (OSI) has initiated an investigation into the death of a civilian following an encounter with members of the Orchard Park Police Department (OPPD) in Orchard Park, Erie County. The incident occurred on August 30, 2024.

The Justice Department announced today the unsealing of terrorism, murder conspiracy, and sanctions-evasion charges against three senior leaders of Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization. The charges relate to the defendants’ central roles in planning, supporting, and perpetrating the terrorist atrocities that Hamas committed in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 (the October 7 Hamas Massacres), involving the murders and kidnappings of countless innocent civilians, including American citizens.

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin announced today that he, along with 19 other state attorneys general, has filed an amicus brief in the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. This brief supports a Tennessee-led coalition’s lawsuit against the Biden-Harris administration’s Title IX rule.

On September 3, 2024, Attorney General Phil Weiser filed a brief with the Colorado Supreme Court, asserting that the Colorado Consumer Protection Act, which prohibits “deceptive trade practices,” extends to lease agreements containing illegal provisions that misrepresent tenants' rights and obligations.

Gholam Reza Goodarzi, also known as Ron Goodarzi, 76, a dual U.S. and Iranian citizen residing in Porter, Texas, made his initial appearance today in the Southern District of Texas following his arrest at George Bush International Airport on Aug. 30. Goodarzi is charged by criminal complaint with smuggling parts and components used in the production of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other manned aircraft from the United States to Iran.

Attorney General Mayes announces sentencing in organized retail theft case

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost issued a cease-and-desist letter to Columbus City Schools, demanding the district resume transportation services for charter-school and private-school students. The letter warns that failure to comply could result in a lawsuit from the state.

Attorney General Dave Yost has requested the Ohio Supreme Court to dismiss a filing by two Ballot Board members who lost a recent vote.