Orders

Federal Judge Orders Redrawing of North Dakota Legislative Districts, Impact on Native American Representation Remains Uncertain

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MINOT, N.D. – A federal judge has implemented a new legislative district map on North Dakota, following a lawsuit that claimed the previous map did not adequately represent Native American voters. While some are celebrating this as a victory for voting rights, it is unlikely to have a significant impact on the state’s political landscape. The lawsuit argued that the districts were gerrymandered because Native Americans were not proportionally represented in the Legislature. However, it should be noted that the previous map, which was also designed to increase Native American representation, successfully elected two Native … Read more

Judge Orders Donald Trump to Pay $392,638 to The New York Times in Failed Lawsuit Over Tax Disclosure

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New York City – Former President Donald Trump has been ordered by a judge to pay $392,638 in legal fees to The New York Times after his unsuccessful lawsuit against the news outlet and its journalists, according to court documents. The lawsuit stemmed from a 2018 Times article that disclosed Trump’s tax information. Judge Robert R. Reed dismissed the case in May 2023, ruling that the journalists’ conduct was protected by the New York Constitution. Among the accusations Trump brought against the Times was the claim that the journalists were responsible for “tortious interference” by … Read more

Judge Orders Partial Release of DNA Records in Idaho Murder Trial, Granting Small Victory to Defense Attorneys

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MOSCOW, Idaho – A judge in Idaho’s 2nd Judicial District has issued a late filing regarding the disclosure of information related to the use of advanced DNA technology. The technology in question is investigative genetic genealogy (IGG), which involves using DNA from a crime scene to build a family tree through online genealogy services. This allows investigators to potentially identify suspects connected to crimes. The judge’s order, posted on a repository of court records, grants the defense attorneys representing the accused, Kohberger, access to some of the requested DNA records. The defense team had been … Read more

Outagamie County Judge Orders Unwanted Restitution in Sexual Assault Case, Drawing Controversy and Criticism

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Outagamie County Judge Vincent Biskupic has ordered a man convicted of sexually assaulting a minor to pay $150,000 in restitution to the county for mental health services, despite the county’s decision not to request any money out of concern for retraumatizing the victim. The victim, who had just turned 18, tragically passed away unexpectedly eight months after the sentencing. This case highlights the challenges and limited success in reporting and prosecuting sexual assault cases, with only 31% of assaults being reported, 5% of perpetrators being arrested, and just 2.8% of cases resulting in felony convictions, … Read more