Criminal Procedure

Supreme Court allows gender transition care for federal prisoners for now

The Trump administration must continue providing transition care to inmates with gender dysphoria, at least for now, the Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday.

Oct 21, 2026 1:28 PM CDT

Law firm receptionist scammed people into paying her, rather than employer, police say

A secretary at an Indiana law firm assigned to the reception desk was recently charged with 42 felonies based on allegations that she created fake expungement orders and stole money from people who thought that they were represented by her employer.

Oct 20, 2026 12:12 PM CDT

‘A Killer Story’: When everyone knows who did it, nobody knows anything

I get quite a few online inquiries about old convictions people want me to investigate. I’ve learned over my career that it isn’t always about the merits of the case; sometimes, people just want closure.

Oct 20, 2026 10:48 AM CDT

Ex-state deputy attorney general accused of making AI-generated child porn

Prosecutors in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, have alleged that a since-fired New Jersey deputy attorney general used artificial intelligence software to produce sexually explicit images of children and circulated them through the communication platform Discord.

Oct 19, 2026 11:58 AM CDT

Feds will not retry former Baltimore state’s attorney on mortgage fraud

A mortgage fraud charge against Marilyn Mosby, the former Baltimore state’s attorney, has been dismissed.

Oct 16, 2026 11:14 AM CDT

Federal judiciary considers broadcasting federal trials to crime victims

The U.S. Judicial Conference’s ‌Advisory Committee on Criminal Rules is weighing creation of an exception to the ban on TV and audio broadcasts of trials to allow victims to watch the proceedings remotely.

Oct 16, 2026 10:18 AM CDT

Lawyer for Jane Doe in Cornell case accuses defendants’ attorneys of leaks

A lawyer for the woman who is suing Cornell University and multiple other defendants in connection with an alleged gang rape at a fraternity house pushed back Wednesday against an attempt to restrict what is said about the case, accusing attorneys for the defendants of leaking information to the news media.

Oct 15, 2026 12:26 PM CDT

‘Lawful but Awful’: Does anyone have legal standing to stop the livestreamed execution of Nidal Hasan?

Updated: President Donald Trump said Thursday morning the Pentagon would not be livestreaming the execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan. Before the Thursday announcement, military lawyers interviewed by the ABA Journal voiced their concerns.

Oct 15, 2026 9:07 AM CDT

Man who threatened Supreme Court justices avoids prison time

An Alaska man who sent hundreds of messages threatening the U.S. Supreme Court justices was sentenced to three years of supervised release, avoiding prison time.

Oct 9, 2026 9:34 AM CDT

Brothers and Bystanders: If fraternities focus on character, why do rape allegations continue?

A recent lawsuit alleging a gang rape took place at a Cornell University off-campus fraternity house has raised concerns about Greek life culture, but lawyers who represent Greek-letter organizations say that if the behavior occurred, it was carried out by individuals, not the organizations.

Oct 8, 2026 12:20 PM CDT

What happens next in Jane Doe’s case against Cornell, the Cornell Seven?

What allegedly happened to Jane Doe at a fraternity party at Cornell University nearly two years ago has captivated the nation. In this complex and still-evolving case, the ABA Journal asked legal experts to weigh in on factors that could help or harm Doe moving forward.

Oct 8, 2026 9:56 AM CDT

Attorney sentenced to 20 years in prison for drug trafficking

An Alaska attorney who prosecutors said was connected to a deadly drug trafficking ring was sentenced Tuesday to 20 years in federal prison on a felony drug charge.

Oct 8, 2026 9:46 AM CDT

Judge orders Tennessee to preserve evidence in failed execution of Christa Pike

NASHVILLE—A Tennessee judge on Wednesday ordered state officials to preserve all evidence related to the botched attempt to execute inmate Christa Pike, who survived two lethal doses of pentobarbital last week and remains hospitalized in Nashville.

Oct 7, 2026 2:47 PM CDT

Lawyer says he was set up by cops while traveling to what he thought was business meeting

After an Alabama police officer was charged in federal court with conspiracy, extortion, taking bribes, evidence tampering and civil rights violations, an Atlanta lawyer, who claims that he was a target, has filed a lawsuit against the man and the police department where he worked.

Oct 7, 2026 10:37 AM CDT

Ex-public defender assistant arrested on charges of impersonating lawyer

A former legal assistant in the Ninth Circuit public defender’s office in Charleston, South Carolina, was arrested Monday on charges of impersonating an attorney.

Oct 7, 2026 9:56 AM CDT