News on Legal Newsline

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has submitted a Petition for Rulemaking to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), raising concerns about potential misuse of ActBlue’s political fundraising platform. The petition highlights the possibility of straw donations being made through false identities and untraceable payment methods.

High school teachers across the United States have the opportunity to request visits from federal judges to their classrooms in December. These visits are part of an initiative to observe Bill of Rights Day on December 15th. The sessions will include a federal judge, an attorney, and a non-attorney court professional.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has joined a coalition of 24 attorneys general in a legal initiative to maintain access to preventive healthcare services for Americans. The group filed an amicus brief with the United States Supreme Court, supporting the Biden Administration's defense of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) preventive care mandate. This mandate requires private insurers to cover specific preventive services, including screenings for various cancers and cardiovascular diseases, at no cost to consumers.

Judge Alfred Corey from Grand Island and Judge Derek Weimer from Sidney were recently recognized with prestigious awards by the Nebraska Supreme Court. These honors were presented at the court's 2024 meeting in LaVista, acknowledging their exceptional contributions to the judiciary beyond their standard duties.

Ohio peace officers will have access to advanced training courses in traffic safety and impaired driving enforcement at no cost, following the announcement of a new grant by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. The grant, totaling $279,750, was awarded by the Ohio Department of Public Safety and will cover six advanced courses offered through the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA).

Attorney General Kwame Raoul has spearheaded a coalition of 24 attorneys general, submitting an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in support of maintaining a crucial provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This provision ensures access to preventive healthcare services for millions of Americans. The coalition is urging the Supreme Court to grant certiorari and overturn a lower court's decision that blocks federal enforcement of this provision against certain respondents, which they argue could hinder access to essential medical care.

The North Dakota Office of Attorney General is seeking candidates for the position of Assistant Attorney General. The role, based in Bismarck, ND, offers a salary range between $81,000 and $120,000 annually, depending on experience. Applications will be accepted until October 31, 2024.

Attorney General Tim Griffin has issued a statement highlighting the role of his office’s Election Integrity Unit as early voting commences in Arkansas for the 2024 general election. "Throughout my time in public service, election integrity has been a top priority for me," Griffin stated. He noted that he established the Election Integrity Unit last year to support the existing Election Law Hotline, allowing citizens to report complaints. The unit is tasked with investigating these complaints and has the authority to initiate legal action against those who breach election laws.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) is emphasizing the importance of supporting victims of domestic violence during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Attorney General Josh Kaul highlighted the resources available for survivors and stressed the need for financial backing for victim service providers, especially in light of decreased federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, in collaboration with 50 other state attorneys general, has issued a warning to iDentidad Advertising Development, LLC. The company, also known as iDentidad Telecom, is accused of transmitting suspected illegal robocall traffic. "More than just an annoyance, illegal robocalls can result in scams that hurt Michigan residents," said Nessel. She emphasized the importance of holding businesses accountable for their role in these activities.

Marissa Miller has been appointed as the Dodge County Court Clerk Magistrate in Fremont, commencing her duties on October 21, 2024. Sara Fowler, Director of Trial Court Services, stated, "Ms. Miller’s dedication, hard work, and knowledge of the courts will enable her to excel in her new position as Clerk Magistrate."

A Pennsylvania man has been charged with threatening to kill a representative of a state political party involved in recruiting poll watchers. The indictment, unsealed today, accuses John Pollard, 62, from Philadelphia, of sending threatening text messages on September 6 to the victim, referred to as Victim 1. The victim had posted online about recruiting volunteers for Election Day and included their phone number.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, in collaboration with local and federal law enforcement partners, has announced the eradication of 774,829 illegally cultivated cannabis plants and 106,141 pounds of processed cannabis. This operation resulted in 282 arrests across 36 counties in California under the Eradication and Prevention of Illicit Cannabis (EPIC) program. The estimated underground market value for these seizures is around $353 million.

Attorney General Tim Griffin, alongside the Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force, has issued a warning to Florida-based gateway voice service provider iDentidad Advertising Development. The task force, which includes Griffin as a member, sent a letter urging the company to halt its alleged involvement in illegal robocalls.

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has announced the arrest of Michael Roland Sheehan, a 32-year-old resident of Sumter, South Carolina. Sheehan faces nine charges related to the sexual exploitation of minors. The arrest was carried out by Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators from the Sumter County Sheriff's Office, with assistance from the Attorney General's Office.

Attorney General Gentner Drummond has expressed approval of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to review Oklahoma's lawsuit against the Biden-Harris Administration. The case involves a dispute over the rejection of Oklahoma’s state implementation plan (SIP) for ozone emissions.

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has announced the arrest of George Charles Lapierre, Jr., a 40-year-old resident of Anderson, South Carolina. Lapierre faces one charge related to the sexual exploitation of a minor. The arrest was made by Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators from the Anderson Police Department. Additional support in the investigation came from the Attorney General's Office and the Anderson County Sheriff's Office, both members of the state's ICAC Task Force.

Attorney General William Tong announced a settlement with Guardian Analytics, Inc. and its successor Actimize, Inc., following an investigation into a data breach affecting 157,629 Connecticut residents who were customers of Webster Bank, N.A. Under the terms of the agreement, Guardian and Actimize will enhance their data security measures and pay $500,000.

The Vermont Supreme Court is set to conduct oral arguments in three cases at Rutland High School on October 24, 2024. This event is part of the Court's "On the Road" initiative, which aims to bring the judicial process closer to students by holding proceedings outside its usual venue in Montpelier.

Foley & Lardner LLP published its second annual eBook that examines Artificial Intelligence (AI) with insights on how to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of this technology as it transforms industries across all economic sectors.