Latest news with #legalRights
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
US law firm Susman Godfrey defeats Trump executive order
By Mike Scarcella and David Thomas (Reuters) -A federal judge on Friday permanenently blocked a White House executive order against law firm Susman Godfrey, capping a string of court victories for firms targeted for their association with President Donald Trump's perceived enemies. U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan said Trump's order unlawfully retaliated against Susman for cases it has taken and its efforts to promote racial diversity, violating the firm's rights to free speech and due process of law under the U.S. Constitution. Trump's executive order "goes beyond violating the Constitution and the laws of the United States," AliKhan wrote in her 53-page ruling. "The order threatens the independence of the bar — a necessity for the rule of law." Trump's order had suspended security clearances for Susman's lawyers and restricted their access to government buildings, officials and federal contracting work. White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said in a statement that granting security clearances is "a sensitive judgment call entrusted to the president." Susman in a statement said AliKhan's ruling was a "resounding victory for the rule of law and the right of every American to be represented by legal counsel without fear of retaliation." AliKhan is the fourth federal judge in Washington to reach a similar conclusion, following wins for Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block and WilmerHale in parallel cases. The rulings by a mix of Democratic and Republican-appointed judges each decisively rejected Trump's orders suspending security clearances at the firms, restricting their access to government officials and seeking to cancel federal contracts held by their clients. Nine prominent law firms, including Paul Weiss, Skadden Arps, Latham & Watkins and Kirkland & Ellis, have settled with the White House to avoid similar actions against them by the administration. Those firms cumulatively pledged nearly $1 billion in free legal services to support causes backed by Trump. Some later argued that the threat of being targeted by the administration left them no alternative. Susman in its lawsuit called Trump's order retaliation for its defense of the integrity of the 2020 presidential election that Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden. The firm represents election technology supplier Dominion Voting Systems in cases that challenged false claims the election was stolen from Trump through widespread voting fraud. Trump also had accused Susman of racial discrimination in its hiring practices. AliKhan at a hearing on May 8 repeatedly questioned a lawyer for the Justice Department about the administration's failure to show that the firm's employment programs or its work for Dominion violated the law. AliKhan held that Trump's executive order "constitutes unlawful retaliation against Susman for activities that are protected by the First Amendment, including its representation of certain clients, its donations to certain causes, and its expression of its beliefs regarding diversity." The Justice Department and White House have defended Trump's executive orders against law firms as lawful exercises of presidential power. Trump accused the firms of "weaponizing" the justice system against him and his political allies.
Telegraph
23-06-2025
- Telegraph
Woman convicted by secret court for not paying car tax during cancer treatment
A woman has been convicted by a secret court for failing to pay her car tax while undergoing life-saving cancer treatment. The 53-year-old from Newmarket was prosecuted by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in a secretive, fast-tracked Single Justice Procedure (SJP) hearing. The tax for the woman's Vauxhall expired shortly after she was diagnosed with breast cancer, court documents show, and went unpaid while she underwent treatment, the London Standard reported. 'I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in June 2024,' she wrote in a mitigation letter to the court. 'This was followed by surgery to remove my breast and lymph nodes followed by six months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. 'During my cancer treatment, I forgot to tax my car and I am very sorry for this.' Despite her circumstances, the case was not withdrawn and proceeded to the magistrate. DVLA accused of pursuing unnecessary cases There is currently no legal requirement for prosecutors to check mitigation letters, even if they contain details indicating that a case is no longer in the public interest. The woman made two payments of £80, in February and May, and she entered a guilty plea to the charge of keeping an unlicensed vehicle. A magistrate in Northumberland, some 271 miles from Newmarket, who ruled on the SJP case, spared the woman the fine. However, she was still ordered to pay £47.50 in compensation and now has a conviction against her name.
Washington Post
16-06-2025
- Washington Post
Man formerly on death row can't serve 2 life terms at the same time, Tennessee Supreme Court rules
MEMPHIS, Tenn., — A Tennessee judge did not have the authority to give Pervis Payne, who was formerly on death row, concurrent sentences of life in prison after ruling that he was intellectually disabled and could not be executed for two 1987 killings, the state Supreme Court said Monday. The court's ruling said a Memphis judge lacked the jurisdiction to give Payne two life sentences to run at the same time rather than one after the other. The concurrent sentences allowed Payne to be eligible for parole in 2026 — 30 years earlier than if the sentences were consecutive.
CNN
11-06-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Federal judge blocks Trump administration from continuing to detain Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil
The Middle EastFacebookTweetLink Follow A federal judge granted Mahmoud Khalil's habeas corpus petition and barred the Trump administration from continuing to seek his detention, according to a court order. New Jersey District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz ordered a stay of the preliminary injunction until Friday at 9:30 a.m., which allows the government to seek an appellate review if it chooses to do so, he wrote. 'The lawful permanent resident filed a habeas corpus petition and has moved to preliminarily enjoin federal officials from removing him from the United States based on the Secretary's determination. The motion is granted,' Farbiarz wrote. This is a developing story and will be updated.
CNN
11-06-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Federal judge blocks Trump administration from continuing to detain Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil
The Middle EastFacebookTweetLink Follow A federal judge granted Mahmoud Khalil's habeas corpus petition and barred the Trump administration from continuing to seek his detention, according to a court order. New Jersey District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz ordered a stay of the preliminary injunction until Friday at 9:30 a.m., which allows the government to seek an appellate review if it chooses to do so, he wrote. 'The lawful permanent resident filed a habeas corpus petition and has moved to preliminarily enjoin federal officials from removing him from the United States based on the Secretary's determination. The motion is granted,' Farbiarz wrote. This is a developing story and will be updated.
