Columbus, OH

A federal court has ruled that the Fourth Amendment protects individuals from having their seized property held indefinitely following an arrest. Police have increasingly used laws allowing for the seizure of property at the time of an arrest as justification for holding on to such property indefinitely. Individuals traveling with cash, electronics, or other valuables have effectively lost ownership of them simply as a result of being arrested—regardless of whether they were found guilty or innocent of any alleged crime, in some cases absent any charges at all.

Federal Court Rules Fourth Amendment Prohibits Lengthy Police Seizure

Georgia State

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The Current GA

A state Supreme Court’s decision reversing a lower court’s ruling that a private contractor was exempt from the Georgia Open Records Act is being hailed as a win for open government.

State Supreme Court rules Open Records Act applies to private contractors working for governments

Minnesota State

WashingtonExaminer

The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that when a person is being threatened or attacked, he or she must retreat if “reasonably possible” rather than brandish a “dangerous weapon.” In June 2021, Earley Romero Blevins pulled out a machete after a man with a knife allegedly threatened him on a rail platform in Minnesota. Blevins was […]

Minnesota Supreme Court rules person being threatened cannot brandish weapon if ‘reasonably possible to retreat’

Pennsylvania State

A former Pennsylvania police officer whose US Capitol riot criminal case landed at the Supreme Court will go to trial next year, a federal judge said Wednesday.

January 6 rioter no longer faces obstruction charge after Supreme Court ruling, will face trial on other charges

The Hill

The Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision denied the Biden administration’s emergency request to partially reinstate its new Title IX rule.  The sweeping changes to Title IX, which protects against sex discrimination in schools, cover sexual orientation and gender identity for the first time. Various Republican state attorneys general have persuaded judges to block implementation…

Supreme Court refuses DOJ request to partially reinstate new Title IX rule

Maine State

Sagadahoc County, ME

Lewiston, ME

The Maine Monitor

Editor’s note: This story contains references to suicide. When a bill to strengthen Maine’s yellow flag law went into effect earlier this month, Sagadahoc County Sheriff Joel Merry said he felt a sense of relief.

Law enforcement officers can now get a warrant to take someone into protective custody

Douglas, GA

Daily Coffee Press

A man out on probation for drug charges less than a year ago and a woman from Douglas were recently arrested following a search at a local apartment. On August 7, 2024, at around 1:00 PM, Detectives from the Coffee County Sheriff's Office Drug Unit were conducting a proactive narcotics patrol in Douglas. During their patrol, a detective spotted 30-year-old Christopher Lamar Hawkins, who had outstanding warrants for fleeing police and methamphetamine possession, driving a white 2021 Kia Sorento. Hawkins was stopped in front of apartment 203/204 on N Wheeler Ave, where two detectives approached him. Breanna Henderson, 33, then came out of apartment 203 to "investigate what was going on with Hawkins" and appeared to whisper with Hawkins during his arrest. The report states that Henderson, who temporarily lived with Hawkins, began whispering with him "presumably about nefarious activities due to Hawkins's previous history with drug distribution and evading law enforcement."

Douglas Man and Woman Arrested Following Drug Bust and Search at Apartment

Area Mama was a popular gay crossdresser in Nigeria. (Photo courtesy Area Mama’s Facebook page) Police in Nigeria have confirmed the death of popular gay crossdresser in the country’s capital. Authorities on Aug. 8 found Area Mama’s body along the Katampe-Mabushi Expressway in Abuja. Several LGBTQ activists...

Popular gay crossdresser murdered in Nigeria

New York State

Law & Crime

As an appeal to overturn Trump's massive civil fraud judgment in its entirety continues, lawyers are still not done trying to get the bench trial judge off of the case.
The post ‘Defendants are aggrieved’: Trump is still trying to force civil fraud judge off of the case after recusal denial ripped ‘nothingburger’ exchange with lawyer first appeared on Law & Crime.

'Defendants are aggrieved': Trump is still trying to force civil fraud judge off of the case after recusal denial ripped 'nothingburger' exchange with lawyer

New Jersey State

Jersey City, NJ

Morristown Minute

MORRISTOWN, NJ - Two members of a Jersey City gang associated with the Marion Gardens Housing Complex were sentenced to lengthy prison terms for their involvement in multiple shootings and other gang-related crimes, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.

Gang Members Sentenced: 31 Years for Violent Crimes

According to officials with the Southern District of Georgia, two recently unsealed federal indictments have charged 23 defendants in a series of broad conspiracies involving the use of drones to smuggle methamphetamine, marijuana, and cell phones into state prisons in Georgia.

23 Defendants Charged in Federal Indictments for Drone-Smuggling Drug Operation in Georgia

Arizona State

The Independent

 The Supreme Court handed the Republican National Committee a partial win on Thursday, granting their request to reinstate an Arizona voter ID law that requires new voters to prove their citizenship when using a state form.“Huge win for the integrity of elections,” the GOP wrote on X in response to the ruling.However, the court denied the portion of the RNC’s request to prohibit voters from participating in the presidential election or by mail unless they provide proof of citizenship.The RNC’s request emerged from a dispute over the 2022 Arizona law that would have required county officials to verify any...

Supreme Court grants RNC request to reinstate Arizona voter ID law requiring proof of citizenship

NBC News

NEW YORK — New York state lawyers urged an appeals court late Wednesday to uphold Donald Trump’s nearly $500 million civil fraud judgment, arguing there’s “overwhelming evidence” to support a judge’s finding that the former president lied for years about his wealth as he built his real estate empire.

NY state urges appeals court to uphold Donald Trump’s nearly $500 million civil fraud judgment

Los Angeles, CA

L.A. TACO

After Curtis Wallace was sentenced to 46-years-to-life in prison nearly two decades ago, for a shooting he has always maintained he did not commit, he made his family a promise: one day he would make it home in one piece.

‘I’m Innocent:’ He Was Stabbed In Prison After Nearly 20 Years, Will D.A. Gascón’s Policies Help Free Him Before It’s Too Late?

New Mexico State

Straight Arrow News SANcom

The U.S. Embassy opposed proposed judicial reforms in Mexico and the ambassador spoke out against them, which the Mexican president objected.

Mexico pauses relations with US Embassy over judicial reform comments

Appling County, GA

A 40-year-old man from Appling County, Christopher Eric Stone, with a significant criminal history, was recently sentenced to over five years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, according to officials from the Department of Justice.

Georgia Man Sentenced to Over 5 Years for in Federal Prison for Meth Distribution

Texas State

CBS LA

A federal judge in Texas on Monday temporarily blocked the Biden administration from granting legal status to unauthorized immigrants married to American citizens, granting a request from 16 Republican-led states who challenged the new policy.The order by District Court Judge J. Campbell Barker effectively brings to a halt a large immigration program that opened just last week to an estimated half a million immigrants living in the U.S. without legal status. While preliminary and temporary, the ruling is also an early blow to one of the two major moves taken by President Biden in June on immigration, a top campaign...

Judge blocks Biden administration from granting legal status to spouses of U.S. citizens

NewsNation

The fallout over the Supreme Court’s presidential immunity decision will crescendo next month, with judges in two of former President Trump’s four criminal cases set to tackle the implications.  On Sept. 5, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan will weigh how Trump’s federal indictment accusing him of conspiring to subvert the 2020 election should proceed.   And […]

Supreme Court immunity fallout to crescendo in September

Quitman, MS

Clarke County, MS

Mississippi News Group

Written with artificial intelligence assistance. Memory Smith, a former bookkeeper for Quitman High School, has been charged with embezzlement following an investigation by the State Auditor’s office.

Former High School Bookkeeper Charged with Embezzlement in Clarke County

Last month, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) released video footage that shows a veteran LAPD officer chasing a young man through a Pacoima housing project before fatally shooting him in the back as he ran away.

20-Year-Old Fatally Shot in The Back By LAPD Officer in Pacoima Projects

NewsBreak

India Supreme Court holds ‘bail is the rule’ principle applies in money laundering cases

The Supreme Court of India held on Wednesday that the principle “bail is the rule and jail is the exception” applies to cases under the country’s...

India Supreme Court holds ‘bail is the rule’ principle applies in money laundering cases

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