USA Archive - Law Commentary

City of Miami Beach Police and Court Facility, where the Rodriguez family was sentenced for their involvement in a dark web scheme.

Dark Web Scheme Lands Miami Family in Prison as “Il Padrino” is Hit with Sentence of Over 10 Years

A Miami family that was allegedly known locally for popular though illegal cockfights were all sentenced to jail time after being convicted of ID theft, creating counterfeit checks, and bank fraud in a national scheme built inside the hiding places of the Dark Web. When the Miami police raided the... Read More about Dark Web Scheme Lands Miami Family in Prison as “Il Padrino” is Hit with Sentence of Over 10 Years

A smiling woman in a white dress stands next to a rack of wedding gowns in a bright studio setting.

Designer Hayley Paige Gutman Loses Rights to Birth Name Amid JLM Couture Lawsuit

Popular wedding dress designer Hayley Paige Gutman has announced her resignation from JLM Couture after a year-and-a-half-long battle with the company regarding the terms of her new contract. Gutman addressed the controversy in an emotional Instagram video where she explains in the caption, "It is with a heavy heart that... Read More about Designer Hayley Paige Gutman Loses Rights to Birth Name Amid JLM Couture Lawsuit

Seal of the United States Office of Personnel Management displayed on a window.

OPM Changes Regulations on Reduction-In-Force Retention to Prioritize Performance over Veterans’ Preference and Length of Service

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a proposed revision on how federal agencies prioritize workers when implementing reduction-in-force (RIF) policies, or federal layoffs. The proposed amendment will “prioritize performance over length of services when determining which employees will be retained in a RIF.” OPM is the federal agency responsible... Read More about OPM Changes Regulations on Reduction-In-Force Retention to Prioritize Performance over Veterans’ Preference and Length of Service

A group of police officers embracing one another in solidarity after the Nashville bombing incident.

FBI Continues Search for Motive after Anthony Q. Warner Identified as Nashville Bomber

The individual responsible for bombing downtown Nashville on Christmas morning has been identified as 63-year-old Anthony Quinn Warner of Antioch. Warner, who lived in a nearby suburb, was a self-employed IT services contractor who worked predominantly from home. The explosion happened around 6:30 am early Christmas morning and was accompanied... Read More about FBI Continues Search for Motive after Anthony Q. Warner Identified as Nashville Bomber

United States Courthouse sign set amidst trees and greenery.

Architecture Groups to Biden: When it comes to Trump’s New Directive, Beauty is Not in the Eyes of the Beholder.

The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) has reached out to President-elect Biden and the world with an urgent plea to retract the new Trump Administration Executive Order on Federal Buildings. President Trump wants to “Make Federal Buildings Beautiful Again” and has issued a directive to allow no new designs... Read More about Architecture Groups to Biden: When it comes to Trump’s New Directive, Beauty is Not in the Eyes of the Beholder.

U.S. and El Salvador officials sign the Asylum Cooperative Agreement, implementing the "Safe Third Country" program.

"Safe Third Country" program sends asylum seekers to El Salvador

On December 15, 2020, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) concluded implementing the Asylum Cooperative Agreement (ACA) with El Salvador. Nicknamed the “Safe Third Country” program, the agreement will return certain migrants apprehended at the U.S. southern border to apply first in El Salvador for asylum or select other... Read More about "Safe Third Country" program sends asylum seekers to El Salvador

A woman speaking at a press conference, gesturing with her hand, surrounded by cameras and reporters.

Texas Judge Has Not Delivered Ruling on the Fate of DACA

Texas U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen has not delivered a ruling on a hearing that will determine the fate of DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The case was brought on by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. His office is representing nine other states that are seeking... Read More about Texas Judge Has Not Delivered Ruling on the Fate of DACA

Walmart store exterior with customers entering and exiting.

Department of Justice Files Nationwide Lawsuit Against Walmart Inc. for Controlled Substances Act Violation

The Department of Justice filed a civil complaint against Walmart Inc. on Tuesday, December 22, stating the company “unlawfully dispensed controlled substances from pharmacies it operated across the country,” resulting in “hundreds of thousands of violations of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA)” during the peak of the opioid crisis in... Read More about Department of Justice Files Nationwide Lawsuit Against Walmart Inc. for Controlled Substances Act Violation

A childhood photograph of Michaela Garecht, a 9-year-old girl who disappeared in 1988.

California Man Charged with 1988 Disappearance of 9-Year-Old Michaela Garecht

The disappearance of 9-year-old Michaela Garecht has run cold for over 32 years, but new evidence in the case has led to charges against David Misch, 59. Earlier this week, Alameda County’s District Attorney Nancy E. O'Malley announced charges against Misch, which included the kidnapping and murder of Garecht. According... Read More about California Man Charged with 1988 Disappearance of 9-Year-Old Michaela Garecht

Mugshots of six men indicted in connection with a plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

Grand jury indicts six men for Michigan governor kidnap plot

In the controversy swirling around COVID-19-related lockdowns, an early hotspot was the state of Michigan, where Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer took sweeping steps in March to mitigate the spread of the virus. Although numerous other states implemented similar measures, the Michigan stay-at-home orders sparked violent reactions, with anti-lockdown rallies held... Read More about Grand jury indicts six men for Michigan governor kidnap plot

A woman in police custody is led away by officers in the Cayman Islands, following her arrest for violating COVID-19 quarantine protocols.

Family of Teen Arrested in Cayman Islands for Breaking Protocol Appeals to White House for Help

The family of a U.S. college student arrested in the Cayman Islands for breaking quarantine is appealing to the US government for help. Eighteen-year-old college student Skyler Mack has been sentenced to four months behind bars in the Cayman Islands after she broke the island's COVID-19 quarantine protocol. The teen’s... Read More about Family of Teen Arrested in Cayman Islands for Breaking Protocol Appeals to White House for Help

U.S. House Oversight Committee member wearing a mask during a session.

House Committee Subpoenas HHS Secretary Azar and CDC Director Redfield Over COVID-19 Response

A U.S.House Oversight Committee led by Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-SC, is investigating HHS officials, including the director of the CDC, over the handling of the Trump administration’s response to the pandemic. This week, the committee issued two subpoenas to U.S. Health Secretary Alex Azar and CDC Director Robert Redfield. The... Read More about House Committee Subpoenas HHS Secretary Azar and CDC Director Redfield Over COVID-19 Response

Zoom video conferencing platform login screen.

US Telecom Exec Based in China Charged with Targeting Dissidents and Disrupting Video Meetings Honoring Tiananmen Square Massacre

A China-based employee of a US telecommunications company was charged in federal court in Brooklyn on December 18 with conspiracy to commit interstate harassment and unlawful conspiracy to transfer a means of identification. Xinjiang Jin, also known as Julien Jin, is charged with scheming to disrupt numerous meetings in May... Read More about US Telecom Exec Based in China Charged with Targeting Dissidents and Disrupting Video Meetings Honoring Tiananmen Square Massacre

A woman wearing a mask gestures while speaking at a podium with flags in the background.

New Pandemic Relief Package Draws Mixed Criticism, Trump Threatens Veto

Last week, Congress passed legislation on a second stimulus package that would aid Americans with up to $600 in direct payments. The legislation happens to be the longest bill ever passed by Congress, coming in at a whopping 5,593 pages. The legislation is a combination of the second coronavirus relief... Read More about New Pandemic Relief Package Draws Mixed Criticism, Trump Threatens Veto

A smiling male restaurant worker in an apron holds cash while sitting at a table.

U.S. Department of Labor Issues Final Rule to Amend Tipped Employee Regulations

The Department of Labor announced a finalized rule on December 22, 2020, that will amend section 3(m) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to protect the tips of employees. This final rule clarifies how businesses must operate under the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2018, an omnibus spending bill... Read More about U.S. Department of Labor Issues Final Rule to Amend Tipped Employee Regulations