Judge

L.A. Judge Bans Reporter from Courtroom During Confidential Jury Selection in UCLA Health Case

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Los Angeles, Calif.—An unusual incident unfolded in a Los Angeles courtroom on Wednesday when Judge Tony L. Richardson ordered a reporter from the Daily Journal to leave during jury selection for a civil harassment and discrimination case involving UCLA Health. The directive came from Judge Richardson’s clerk, Karlet Ghazarian, who informed the reporter that the proceedings were confidential. However, the judge did not provide any formal announcement regarding the confidentiality of the hearing. When inquired the following day about the reasons for the closed jury qualification, Ghazarian reiterated that the confidentiality was in accordance with … Read more

Baltimore Judge Slashes $266M Opioid Settlement to $100M, Leaves City to Decide on Future Options

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Baltimore, Maryland, is facing a legal setback in its fight against the opioid epidemic as a judge has rejected a jury’s suggested $266 million award against pharmaceutical giants McKesson and Cencora, previously known as AmerisourceBergen. Instead, the court has offered the city a more modest $100 million in abatement funds. The legal action, initiated by Baltimore in 2024, accused both companies of contributing to the opioid crisis by distributing excessive quantities of prescription opioids in the region. According to city officials, McKesson and Cencora were responsible for around 60% of the prescription opioid market in … Read more

Join Magistrate Judge Catherine Taylor on August 21 for Insights into the Judicial Process at Lunch with a Leader

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Los Alamos, New Mexico, is gearing up for an insightful community event featuring Magistrate Judge Catherine (Katy) Taylor. Scheduled for August 21 from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., the “Lunch with a Leader” will take place at the Unitarian Fellowship Hall on Sage. Taylor, who was elected to her position in 2022, is expected to provide attendees with an in-depth look at the judicial process. Judge Taylor, raised on California’s Central Coast as the youngest of five brothers in a farming family, has a rich background in public service. She earned her bachelor’s degree in … Read more

Federal Judge Orders Immediate Overhaul of ICE Detainee Conditions Amid Growing Outcry Over Inhumane Treatment

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A U.S. District Court in Manhattan has ordered the federal government to improve living conditions for detainees at a controversial Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility, following a lawsuit that revealed alarming health and safety violations. Judge Lewis A. Kaplan’s decision came after Peruvian immigrant Sergio Alberto Barco Mercado filed a complaint outlining the cramped and unsanitary environment at 26 Federal Plaza, raising concerns about the treatment of individuals in U.S. custody. In his ruling, Judge Kaplan mandated that by August 26, the government must provide detainees with more spacious and sanitary accommodations. Each holding … Read more