District

Former Alaska District Court Judge Faces Trial After Perjury Indictment: Court to Decide Fate in Landmark Case

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ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Arguments were heard on Monday in the case of former Alaska District Court Judge Margaret Murphy, who was indicted last year on a perjury charge. The hearing took place at the Nesbitt Courthouse in Anchorage, with the court considering whether to proceed with a trial. If convicted, Murphy could face up to 10 years in jail and a fine. Superior Court Judge Thomas Matthew clarified that he would not make a decision on Monday, as the purpose of the hearing was to hear arguments from both the defense and prosecution. Judge Matthew … Read more

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan Targeted in ‘Swatting’ Call Amid Trump’s Criminal Election Interference Case

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Washington, D.C. – U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, presiding over former President Donald Trump’s criminal election interference case, has become the target of a potentially dangerous prank known as “swatting.” On Sunday evening, law enforcement received a false report of an active shooting at Judge Chutkan’s residence, prompting a swift response from the Metropolitan Police Department. Fortunately, officers quickly determined that no shooting had occurred and Judge Chutkan was unharmed. The incident, believed to be an act of swatting, involves falsely reporting a crime to elicit an aggressive response from law enforcement, including specialized SWAT … Read more

Federal Judge Orders New North Dakota Legislative District for Native American Tribes, Citing Voting Rights Violation

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BISMARCK, N.D. — A federal judge has ordered a new joint legislative district in North Dakota for two Native American tribes. The tribes argued that the 2021 redistricting map violated the Voting Rights Act by diluting their voting strength. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Peter Welte made the decision to create a new map after ruling in November that the original map prevented Native American voters from having an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice. The judge had given North Dakota Republican Secretary of State Michael Howe and the GOP-controlled Legislature until December … Read more

Judge Halts Opt Outs for Josephine County Library District, Preserving Access to Valuable Resources

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GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) — A judge has ordered the Josephine County Library District to cease its practice of allowing patrons to opt out of paying library fees. The order, issued Wednesday, comes after a lawsuit challenged the library’s policy, arguing that it undermines the district’s ability to function effectively. The library district previously offered library cardholders the option to “opt out” of contributing to the fees required to access certain library services. Those who chose to opt out were still granted access to basic library services but would be prohibited from borrowing physical materials … Read more