Alabama

SCOTUS blocks judge’s order easing Alabama voting restrictions

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday night blocked a judge’s ruling that eases absentee voting requirements in Alabama for an upcoming election.

Jul 6, 2020 9:29 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: New charges filed in George Floyd case; state chief justice decries court system bias

Officer faces increased charge in George Floyd case; others also charged Prosecutors have added an upgraded charge against the Minneapolis police officer accused of killing George Floyd by pressing his knee into his neck. Derek Chauvin was previously charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. He now faces a charge…

Jun 3, 2020 3:41 PM CDT

Court security officer is shot and killed; courthouses damaged throughout US

Two Federal Protective Service officers were shot outside the federal courthouse in Oakland, California, on Friday night. Only one survived, and he is in critical condition.

Jun 1, 2020 1:00 PM CDT

Law grad, age 19, could become youngest lawyer in modern Alabama history

Seth Harding is working as a law clerk at the Beasley Allen Law Firm in its Montgomery, Alabama, office and studying for the state bar.

May 20, 2020 2:31 PM CDT

For some law students, clinic work during COVID-19 feels more real than ever before

Clinical law students across the country say their work helping clients remotely is now much different and more difficult because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it comes closer to real-life lawyering than ever before, according to some law professors who direct the clinics.

Apr 28, 2020 8:00 AM CDT

Trials and tiaras: How do pageant winners fare as lawyers?

What are two activities where success comes from reading a room, speaking with authority and not appearing nervous, even if you are? Trying cases in court and also beauty pageants.

Apr 27, 2020 3:20 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Harvey Weinstein gets 23 years; Sen. Rand Paul keeps $582K verdict in neighbor assault suit

Harvey Weinstein gets 23-year prison sentence Former film producer Harvey Weinstein, 67, was sentenced Wednesday to 23 years in prison for sexually assaulting two women. The minimum sentence was five years. Weinstein told the court that he thought the relationships were consensual, and he was “totally confused.” Weinstein faces additional…

Mar 11, 2020 4:35 PM CDT

Judge retires after he is accused of appointing his son to more than 200 indigent cases

An Alabama judge has retired following the filing of a judicial misconduct complaint that alleged he appointed his attorney son to more than 200 indigent defense cases. Judge Kim Chaney of Cullman County retired on Feb. 15, according to reports by the Cullman Times and AL.com. He was a judge…

Feb 24, 2020 10:15 AM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Michael Avenatti is convicted for trying to extort Nike; Alabama bill would mandate vasectomies

Stormy Daniels’ ex-lawyer Michael Avenatti is convicted Michael Avenatti, the former lawyer for adult film actress Stormy Daniels, was convicted Friday for trying to extort millions of dollars from Nike. Avenatti was accused of seeking money from Nike in exchange for keeping quiet about its payments to young athletes. He…

Feb 14, 2020 4:17 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: 2-time SCOTUS litigant gets settlement; at-large judge elections upheld in voting rights case

Florida man wins $875K settlement after two trips to the Supreme Court A Florida man who won twice in the U.S. Supreme Court will get an $875,000 settlement for his troubles from the city of Riviera Beach. Litigant Fane Lozman said the money covers his legal fees but “it doesn’t…

Feb 6, 2020 4:11 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: SCOTUS lacks State of the Union majority; judge reverses No More Deaths convictions

Which Supreme Court justices attended the State of the Union? Only four justices attended the State of the Union on Tuesday. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. was there, even though he presided over President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial. Justices Elena Kagan, Brett M. Kavanaugh and Neil M. Gorsuch also…

Feb 5, 2020 3:55 PM CST

Age bias suit by fired general counsel claims CEO complained about financial drain of older workers

The former general counsel for a W.R. Berkley Corp. subsidiary claims that the real reason the company fired him in June 2018 was because of his age.

Feb 4, 2020 4:50 PM CST

Courthouse canines, part of a one-of-a-kind statewide program, don antlers and see Santa

Alabama wants to raise the woof for its courthouse dog program.

Dec 6, 2019 1:21 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: House seeks grand jury info to determine Trump’s truthfulness; billionaire storms out of court

Top lawyer for House tells court that grand jury info could help determine whether Trump lied The top lawyer for the U.S. House of Representatives told a federal appeals court Monday that grand jury information redacted from former special counsel Robert Mueller’s report regarding Russian interference in the 2016 presidential…

Nov 19, 2019 3:32 PM CST

Judge rules woman who joined ISIS is not US citizen based on birthright citizenship exception

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., ruled from the bench Thursday that an Alabama woman who joined the Islamic State group and traveled to Syria is not a U.S. citizen because of an exception to the Constitution’s grant of birthright citizenship.

Nov 15, 2019 11:31 AM CST