Celebrities

Racketeering was a ‘reach’ in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial, legal experts say

A federal court jury in the Sean “Diddy” Combs case rejected the government’s theory that he ran a criminal enterprise that helped him carry out serious crimes including sex trafficking and drug distribution. “Even reading the indictment, it did seem like a stretch to charge Combs with the RICO statute,” said Anna Cominsky, who heads New York Law School’s Criminal Defense Clinic.

Jul 3, 2025 9:10 AM CDT

Lawyer accused of hitting rapper Fat Joe’s process server with his car

A lawyer was arrested on an assault charge Wednesday for allegedly hitting a process server with his vehicle May 12 while trying to evade service of legal documents, according to published reports.

Jun 26, 2025 2:55 PM CDT

When Diddy or Depp go to court, trial tourists get in line

For fans of court dramas or celebrity scandals, a vacation centered on a high-profile trial is the ultimate true-crime-themed trip. In recent years, state and federal courthouses have become a surprise attraction because of their links to famous, or infamous, defendants.

Jun 12, 2025 12:45 PM CDT

Kim Kardashian completes legal studies—without attending law school

Media personality and reality TV star Kim Kardashian has finished a legal apprenticeship program that offers an alternate path to becoming a lawyer in California.

May 28, 2025 8:53 AM CDT

Drake alleges Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl performance defamed him in amended suit against music company

Rapper and singer Drake has alleged that the Universal Music Group “has tripled and quadrupled down on its defamation-for-profit strategy” in part by arranging for fellow rapper Kendrick Lamar to perform his 2024 song “Not Like Us” at the 2025 Super Bowl, according to an amended lawsuit that he filed April 16.

Apr 23, 2025 12:42 PM CDT

Severed body parts, conspiracy theories and Elvis Presley impersonators featured in Netflix documentary

The Kings of Tupelo: A Southern Crime Saga explores an assassination attempt on former President Barack Obama and how it all tied back to an alleged discovery by an Elvis Presley “tribute artist” of severed body parts in a hospital refrigerator.

Mar 24, 2025 8:57 AM CDT

Are gendered Oscars constitutional? University of New Mexico students are asking the question

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences is considering a petition from undergraduate students in a University of New Mexico constitutional law course that questions the 96-year-old policy of separating actor awards by gender, stating it is legally flawed.

Feb 18, 2025 2:16 PM CST

Lights, Camera, Contracts: The harsh legal reality of reality television

The main legal need surrounding reality show participants concerns their employment status—or lack thereof. Reality show participants are treated as independent contractors, which technically lets networks and productions evade many of the labor laws that protect employees.

Feb 10, 2025 8:59 AM CST

Drake sues Universal over Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’

Drake has filed a defamation and harassment lawsuit against Universal Music Group, alleging that the mega media corporation improperly promoted his rival Kendrick Lamar’s diss track to damage his career and gain leverage over future contract negotiations.

Jan 15, 2025 2:30 PM CST

Our favorite Instagram posts from 2024

It's been another riveting year in the legal industry and for our coverage at the ABA Journal. And like clockwork, 2025 will be here before we know it.

Dec 23, 2024 10:34 AM CST

Dive into our favorite long reads of 2024

The end of the year will hopefully bring you some downtime for leisure reading. We’ve curated a list of some of our favorite web and print long reads from 2024.

Dec 23, 2024 9:35 AM CST

Illinois Supreme Court reverses actor Jussie Smollett’s conviction

The Illinois Supreme Court announced Thursday that it had overturned the 2021 felony conviction of Jussie Smollett, a television actor who became even more of a household name five years ago after falsely reporting that he had been the victim of a violent hate crime.

Nov 21, 2024 10:30 AM CST

Expect more lawsuits against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, says plaintiffs lawyer

Updated: Tony Buzbee, who has filed multiple sexual assault cases against Sean “Diddy” Combs in the past two weeks, says more than 400 additional victims of the embattled music mogul passed the scrutiny of his staff, and he intends to pick up the pace of lawsuits in the coming weeks.

Oct 30, 2024 11:59 AM CDT

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs appears in court as judge sets May 2025 trial date

Sean “Diddy” Combs appeared in Manhattan federal court as a judge set a May 5 trial date in the music mogul’s racketeering and sex trafficking case.

Oct 11, 2024 9:50 AM CDT

Female lawyer lead in ‘Matlock’ on CBS shows the power of appearing powerless

When I first came across the new Matlock offering staring Kathy Bates, I figured it would either be a reboot or a continuation of the original series, which starred Andy Griffith and ran from 1986 to 1995. However, the production team answered that question within the first few minutes of the pilot: 2024’s Matlock is kin to its predecessor only in name and genre. The meta explanation given for the series’ title is the first of many surprises in store for the audience.

Oct 9, 2024 8:44 AM CDT