Latest news with #legalrepresentation
BBC News
29-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Court strike out video and written statement DSS obtain from Kanu under pressure
Justice James Omotosho of di Federal High Court Abuja don comot two video evidence and three written statements wey di Nigeria goment bin wan tender as evidence for di trial of Nnamdi Kanu. Kanu, di leader of Ipob, a secession group for Nigeria bin tell di court say im bin dey under duress wen e write di statements, and im lawyer bin no dey present. For di last hearing, Justice Omotosho bin order a trial within trial to establish weda or not to admit di evidences. Delivering im ruling for di proceeding on Thursday, Omotosho say di law provide say any accused pesin suppose get legal representation bifor e go make im statement. Omotosho first tok say di video show say di atmosphere bin dey cordial wen Kanu bin dey make di statement, and e no see any sign of coercion or force. "However, dis court no go close im eyes to di fact say di defendant bin complain regularly about di absence of im counsel," Omotosho tok. According to di trial judge, section 15 of di Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) provide say di statement of a suspect must to be obtained for di presence of im counsel, and wia di suspect no get counsel, an officer of di legal aid council of Nigeria or a member of di civil society suppose dey present. Omotosho say: "Even though di statement bin dey recorded on video, di fact say di lawyer of di defendant no dey present don make di statement inadmissible in evidence "Dis court dey empowered to also expunge di video recordings wey e bin don admit in evidence. As e don dey established say di statement no dey admissible, it holds to law say di video recordings also no dey admissible." "I hereby order as follows:
Washington Post
23-05-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Judge strikes down Trump's order targeting Jenner & Block law firm
A federal judge on Friday struck down President Donald Trump's executive order sanctioning the law firm Jenner & Block, the second time a court has struck down one of Trump's efforts to punish a firm. U.S. District Judge John D. Bates wrote that Trump's order was unconstitutional, saying the president was trying 'to chill legal representation the administration doesn't like, thereby insulating the Executive Branch from the judicial check fundamental to the separation of powers.'
Associated Press
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
ACCL Reaffirms Core Legal Principle: Lawyers Must Not Be Punished for Representing Their Clients
Washington D.C., May 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American College of Construction Lawyers (ACCL) has issued a statement defending a foundational tenet of the U.S. legal system: that attorneys must not be penalized by the government for representing clients, absent court findings of illegal or unethical conduct. In its official statement, the ACCL declared: 'The American College of Construction Lawyers reaffirms this basic constitutional principle: The government, regardless of party, should not punish lawyers and law firms for the clients they represent, absent specific Court findings that such representation was illegal or unethical.' Attorneys and firms have faced retaliation and punishment from the federal government for having provided legal services to clients involved in politically charged or high-profile matters. Such reactions threaten to chill the essential function of the legal profession. This affects the core constitutional freedoms all Americans hold dear, including free speech, due process, and the right to select counsel without the fear of retribution. By reaffirming this constitutional principle, the ACCL underscores that lawyers serve as independent advocates whose duty is to zealously represent their clients, and that attempts by any political party to punish lawful representation undermine due process and the justice system itself. 'The right to counsel is not a partisan issue—it is a bedrock of our justice system,' said Terrence L. Brookie, ACCL President. 'Punishing attorneys for the lawful representation of clients undermines the rule of law and sets a dangerous precedent.' About the ACCL The American College of Construction Lawyers is an invitation-only organization of leading construction law practitioners, judges, and academics from the U.S. and internationally. Founded in 1989, the College is dedicated to elevating the practice and understanding of construction law and supporting the role of lawyers as ethical, collaborative problem-solvers in the built environment. For more information about the ACCL, please visit Media Contact: Nicole Chavez [email protected]
Washington Post
14-05-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
These attorneys defend clients in need. Their pay is being frozen for months.
A group of attorneys representing clients who cannot afford legal representation in federal cases are set to have their pay halted for more than two months because of budget shortfalls in the congressional spending bill passed this year, court officials say, alarming lawyers and judges. The pay freeze will affect private-sector defense attorneys hired by courts under the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) to represent financially in need, or indigent, clients. Payments to the attorneys are expected to be suspended from late July until October, according to the federal judiciary, notices sent to lawyers and interviews. The lawyers are expected to receive the delayed payments in October.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
El Paso immigrant legal advocacy group gets $25K grant to aid migrants amid federal cuts
The El Paso-based immigration advocacy group Estrella del Paso was given a $25,000 grant to support their efforts to accompany migrants in the Borderland. The funding, announced Monday, May 5, will allow the organization to continue providing immigrants with no-cost legal representation, organizing Know Your Rights workshops and supporting immigrants navigating through the immigration system. The grant comes as the Trump administration has eliminated federal contracts that previously funded legal services for migrants across the southern border. 'In the face of growing legal barriers and shrinking federal support, our community is coming together to ensure due process and human dignity," Melissa M. Lopez, executive director of Estrella del Paso, said in a news statement. "This grant is a lifeline—not just for our organization, but for the thousands of vulnerable people we serve.' The grant comes from the Border Refugee Assistance Fund, a joint initiative of Bishop Mark J. Seitz of the Diocese of El Paso and the Hope Border Institute. Seitz and Dylan Corbett, the executive director of Hope Border Institute, joined Lopez in announcing the grant in a news conference on Monday, May 5, at the Estrella del Paso office in El Paso. More: Federal judge declines to block Trump's immigration enforcement in sacred places President Donald Trump has cut federal funding that went to support legal representation of immigrants since assuming office on Jan. 20. The administration has cut up to $200 million in funding that went to assisting migrants with legal representation, according to reporting from ABC. Trump also ended refugee resettlement programs through an executive order. Organizations, including Catholic groups like the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, that have supported are scrambling to find funding. "The administration right now is doing everything it can to hollow out the network of service providers that provide essential services to immigrants and refugees in our country," Corbett said. "Estrella is in the crosshairs of this administration. They've had significant cuts to their funding … It is not a huge amount of money, but we felt that it was important that we continue to support migrants and refugees and their legal needs by supporting Estrella del Paso." The Border Refugee Assistance Fund was established in 2019. They have been able to direct $600,000 into humanitarian efforts since it was established, said Corbett. More: El Pasoan residents march to demand respect for border community's dignity and rights Jeff Abbott covers the border for the El Paso Times and can be reached at:jdabbott@ on Twitter or @ on Bluesky. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso immigrant advocacy group receives grant to help migrants
