Judge Denies Trump’s Request to Speak in New York Fraud Trial, Closing Arguments Proceed Without Former President’s Statement

NEW YORK — Former President Donald Trump is not expected to speak during closing arguments in the New York civil fraud trial against him, according to Judge Arthur Engoron. In a letter to attorneys for Trump and the New York Attorney General, the judge stated that Trump had not agreed to the conditions he had set for giving a statement. The judge assumed that Trump would not agree to the limits imposed and therefore would not be speaking in court. The possibility of Trump participating in the closing arguments had been under discussion since last … Read more

Tucson Judge Denies Request for Jury in Transgender Sports Ban Case, Prolonged Legal Battle Continues

Tucson, Arizona – Republican Tom Horne’s efforts to limit transgender girls’ participation in school sports teams faced another setback last week. A Tucson judge denied his request for a jury trial. Horne, the state’s public schools chief, had asked federal Judge Jennifer Zipps to allow a jury for the case. He argued that regular Arizonans would not make the same mistake as Zipps, who had temporarily blocked a 2022 law prohibiting trans girls from playing on teams that align with their gender identity. In response to Horne’s petition, Zipps concluded that the case did not … Read more

Request for Minimal Sentence: Heather Mack’s Lawyers Seek 15-Year Term for Involvement in Bali Suitcase Murder

CHICAGO (AP) — Heather Mack, a native of Oak Park, Illinois, is seeking the minimum sentence of 15 years in prison for her involvement in the murder of her mother during a vacation to Bali. Mack’s lawyers are also urging the judge to credit her for the nearly 10 years she has already served in an Indonesian prison. Back in 2015, Mack was convicted for assisting her boyfriend in killing her mother and then disposing of her dismembered body in a suitcase. Since November 2021, she has been incarcerated at the downtown Metropolitan Correctional Center. … Read more

Georgia Judge Rejects Rudy Giuliani’s Request for Extended Deadline in Election Interference Case

ATLANTA, Georgia – Rudy Giuliani’s request for an extended deadline in his election interference case was denied by a Georgia judge on Friday. Giuliani, former New York City mayor and attorney for former President Donald Trump, had asked for an extension due to the significant burden of case discovery. Judge Scott McAfee stated that Giuliani failed to specify the outstanding discovery that still needs to be reviewed, nor did he explain why this review has not been completed in the four months since his arraignment. Giuliani is one of the defendants in a broad racketeering … Read more