Sixth Amendment

Some noncitizens may have Second Amendment rights, federal appeals court says

While upholding the firearms conviction of a Guatemala native who had been illegally living in the United States for a decade, the majority on a federal appeals court panel said earlier this week the rights of some noncitizens to bear arms could still be protected by the Second Amendment, Courthouse News Service reports.

Dec 18, 2025 9:35 AM CST

Proposal for one-year degree for criminal justice lawyers rejected by Arizona Supreme Court

A proposal to allow graduates of a special one-year program to prosecute or represent criminal defendants has been rejected by the Arizona Supreme Court.

Sep 25, 2025 9:27 AM CDT

US will appeal Perkins Coie win in fight over punitive executive order

The federal government will appeal a judge’s decision permanently blocking an executive order targeting Perkins Coie.

Jul 1, 2025 11:41 AM CDT

Crisis looming in Massachusetts as court-appointed attorneys refuse to take on more cases

Massachusetts is experiencing a “full-blown constitutional breakdown” as bar advocates refuse to take on more court-appointed cases, according to the leader of the state’s association of criminal defense attorneys.

Jun 16, 2025 9:14 AM CDT

In opinion with 26 exclamation points, judge finds order against WilmerHale is ‘staggering punishment’

An executive order with a “kitchen sink of severe sanctions” against Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr is unconstitutional, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., ruled Tuesday.

May 28, 2025 10:32 AM CDT

Executive order against Jenner & Block is ‘doubly violative of the Constitution,’ judge says in ruling for firm

President Donald Trump’s executive order against Jenner & Block violates the First Amendment by punishing the law firm for its causes and clients and by chilling legal representation, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., ruled Friday.

May 27, 2025 11:50 AM CDT

‘Let’s kill the lawyers I don’t like’ is Shakespearean approach of Trump order against Perkins Coie, judge says

A federal judge has granted a permanent injunction barring the Trump administration from enforcing a punitive executive order against Perkins Coie.

May 5, 2025 10:38 AM CDT

Supreme Court will consider scope of Sixth Amendment right to counsel during trial recess

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether a criminal defendant’s Sixth Amendment right to counsel was violated when a judge banned him from discussing his ongoing testimony when meeting with his lawyers during an overnight trial recess.

Apr 15, 2025 2:37 PM CDT

House committee drops information request about law clinics amid ‘ongoing negotiations’ with Northwestern

The U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Education and Workforce has withdrawn its request for information on law clinics at the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, citing "ongoing negotiations" with the university and an intent to pursue "other means of inquiry."

Apr 14, 2025 10:59 AM CDT

Poker-playing SCOTUSblog founder has net worth of negative $3.3M, criminal court document says

SCOTUSblog founder Tom Goldstein

Feb 6, 2025 3:21 PM CST

Should defendants without court-appointed lawyers be released? Should charges be dropped? Judge weighs remedies

A Maine judge is considering how to remedy the state’s failure to provide lawyers to indigent defendants on a timely basis.

Jan 27, 2025 3:06 PM CST

Despite lyrics mistake by AI, lawyer wasn’t ineffective for using tech in rapper’s case, federal judge says

A federal judge has refused to grant a new trial in a case of a rapper convicted for using straw donors in a back-channel lobbying campaign, despite evidence of a mistake by an artificial intelligence program used to help draft closing arguments.

Sep 3, 2024 12:09 PM CDT

Judge who cut bail for man linked to later fatal arson had cited his right to counsel

Updated: A judge in Maine is being blamed for reducing bail for a man who was later shot and killed in a standoff with police on Saturday after he allegedly set a fire that killed a person.

Jun 17, 2024 3:31 PM CDT

Citing ‘Sixth Amendment nightmare,’ 9th Circuit allows pretrial release of defendants without lawyers

A federal appeals court upheld an injunction Friday that requires Oregon to release pretrial defendants from custody if they have not received a lawyer within seven days.

Jun 4, 2024 2:06 PM CDT

Judiciary ‘has no power to unimpeach,’ federal judge says while citing Dr. Seuss

A federal judge has tossed former Democratic Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s pro se lawsuit seeking the right to run for political office, despite his impeachment and conviction, saying the complaint is “riddled with problems” and is an “Issue-Spotting Wonderland.”

Mar 26, 2024 8:57 AM CDT