USA Archive - Law Commentary

A man in a suit walking outside near a window of a building, with trees and foliage in the foreground.

Federal Judge Powerfully Sanctions Trump Lawyers for Frivolous Lawsuit to Overturn Election Results

Calling the case before the court a “historic and profound abuse of the judicial process,” a federal judge in Michigan sanctioned three of ex-President Trump’s lawyers and four additional of-counsel attorneys for their attempts at “deceiving a federal court and the American people.” In a blistering 110-page opinion, the Hon.... Read More about Federal Judge Powerfully Sanctions Trump Lawyers for Frivolous Lawsuit to Overturn Election Results

Group of people wearing masks in a school hallway, engaged in discussion with a child.

Education Department Launches Investigation Over State Bans on Mask Mandates

The U.S. Education Department has announced that it is investigating five states to determine whether or not their mask mandate bans violate civil rights laws that protect students with disabilities. Iowa, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Utah are the five states at the center of the investigation. According to the... Read More about Education Department Launches Investigation Over State Bans on Mask Mandates

Cristhian Bahena Rivera sitting in court during the sentencing for the murder of Mollie Tibbetts.

Man Sentenced to Life for Murder of Iowa Student Molly Tibbetts

Three years after the disappearance of University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts, 27-year-old farmhand Cristhian Bahena Rivera has been sentenced to life behind bars without the possibility of parole for her abduction and killing. The 20-year-old Tibbetts was out for a jog in her rural hometown when prosecutors allege Bahena... Read More about Man Sentenced to Life for Murder of Iowa Student Molly Tibbetts

A man with long hair swimming underwater, reaching out with his hands.

Baby on Iconic 1991 Nirvana Album Cover Sues Band for Exploitation

The iconic album cover of Nirvana’s Nevermind record is a staple in American rock culture. The image of a naked baby in a swimming pool reaching for a dollar bill that is attached to a fishing hook is as recognizable as members of the band themselves. While the cover has... Read More about Baby on Iconic 1991 Nirvana Album Cover Sues Band for Exploitation

A person sitting on a fence with a backpack, looking contemplative, possibly reflecting on their journey or the challenges faced by migrants.

SCOTUS Reinstates Remain in Mexico: What This Means for Migrants

Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court denied a request by the Biden administration to put a hold on a lower court’s ruling that required the Biden administration to continue the controversial “Remain in Mexico” policy. The High Court's ruling essentially requires the Biden administration to reinstate the Trump-Era policy formally... Read More about SCOTUS Reinstates Remain in Mexico: What This Means for Migrants

Michael Avenatti and his legal team exiting a courthouse.

Disgraced Lawyer Avenatti Prepares for New Hearing After Mistrial Ruling

Michael Avenatti, the outspoken attorney who sought to take down Trump, is preparing for an upcoming hearing on September 2nd following his tentative victory after a California judge ruled a mistrial in his embezzlement case. California U.S. District Judge James V. Selna issued the mistrial ruling on the technical grounds... Read More about Disgraced Lawyer Avenatti Prepares for New Hearing After Mistrial Ruling

A conceptual illustration of a globe partially submerged in water, composed of money and featuring palm trees, symbolizing wealth and fraud.

Virginia Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Multimillion Dollar Global Fraud Scheme

A Virginia man will face 14 years behind bars for his role in an international investment fraud scheme. James Leonard Smith, 65, of Midlothian, Virginia, was convicted and sentenced last week in the Eastern District of Virginia. According to prosecutors, Smith was part of a worldwide scheme that was executed... Read More about Virginia Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Multimillion Dollar Global Fraud Scheme

Facebook Strengthens Advertisement Policies Regarding Telehealth

Facebook is not only a longstanding social media platform but is also widely used to promote products and services to a mass audience. As telemedicine continues to penetrate the healthcare industry, it is not surprising that pharmaceutical companies use Facebook as a means of advertising. In 2019, pharmaceutical companies spent... Read More about Facebook Strengthens Advertisement Policies Regarding Telehealth

Protesters holding signs advocating for rent relief and a halt to evictions, with a city skyline in the background.

Navigating the Eviction Moratorium: What Renters Need to Know.

Following the expiration of the eviction moratorium on July 31, the CDC under President Biden instated a new moratorium to help keep renters in their homes. Unlike the previous ban on evictions, this new moratorium will be more targeted, limiting the number of people who will be protected. Who Is... Read More about Navigating the Eviction Moratorium: What Renters Need to Know.

A gray prison wall with barbed wire against a cloudy sky.

California’s Legal Marijuana Possession Law Does Not Apply to Prisoners

California legalized marijuana for persons 21 years of age or older in 2016 when voters passed Proposition 64 (Prop 64). The who, what, when, and where of some of Prop 64’s exceptions, however, are still debatable. Now, the California Supreme Court ended one of the “where” questions when it ruled... Read More about California’s Legal Marijuana Possession Law Does Not Apply to Prisoners

A person wearing a ski mask and dark clothing holding a weapon in a dimly lit environment, suggesting a robbery scenario.

Robbery Convictions Upheld, But One Ninth Circuit Judge Questioned Liability Precedents

The convictions of three men who participated in conspiracies to rob a series of jewelry stores near Los Angeles were affirmed by the Ninth Circuit, although the arguments about the scope of liability for each defendant may lead to closer examination of a 1946 law and a Supreme Court decision... Read More about Robbery Convictions Upheld, But One Ninth Circuit Judge Questioned Liability Precedents

A scale balancing a bag of money and a graduation cap with a diploma, symbolizing the relationship between student debt and education.

Biden Forgives $5.8 Billion in Student Loan Debt for Disabled Borrowers

You go to college, study hard, and get a shiny new degree that you frame and hope to post on your office wall. You land your dream job and everything is great for a while. But then tragedy strikes. You get sick or have an accident and must stop working.... Read More about Biden Forgives $5.8 Billion in Student Loan Debt for Disabled Borrowers

A yellow lemon on a surface, with a blurred background of a vehicle wheel.

Get the Squeeze on California Lemon Laws: Here’s What You Need to Know

What is a Lemon Car? A lemon car refers to any motor vehicle that repeatedly fails to operate as it should, both in terms of performance and quality. If your car keeps having the same issue despite having the car looked at by the dealership, then you might have a... Read More about Get the Squeeze on California Lemon Laws: Here’s What You Need to Know

Thoroughbred horse trainer Jorge Navarro, who pleaded guilty to doping horses.

Winning Horse Trainer Pleads Guilty to Doping Horses; More Cases Pending

Thoroughbred horse trainer Jorge Navarro changed his not guilty plea to guilty on charges of distributing performance-enhancing drugs (PED) in a case that could be just the proverbial tip of the iceberg in the widespread corruption that seems to permeate much of the $100 billion global horse-racing world. Navarro and... Read More about Winning Horse Trainer Pleads Guilty to Doping Horses; More Cases Pending

Two men standing close together, one wearing a jacket and the other dressed in a hoodie.

Jared Kushner Pal Kenneth Kurson, Pardoned by Trump in 2020, Now Charged with Installing Spyware on Now Ex-wife’s Computer, Echoing Similar Charges

Kenneth Kurson, the prior editor of the New York Observer and close friend of Jared Kushner, was pardoned by President Trump but is now facing two state felony charges in New York. He was arrested on Wednesday and charged with eavesdropping and computer trespass. New York prosecutors charged Kurson with... Read More about Jared Kushner Pal Kenneth Kurson, Pardoned by Trump in 2020, Now Charged with Installing Spyware on Now Ex-wife’s Computer, Echoing Similar Charges