District of Columbia

What helped this attorney qualify for public service loan forgiveness? Diligence—and social media

Like many seeking public service student loan forgiveness, Jeffrey Morgan says he got bad information from student loan servicing centers. However, thanks to Twitter and Reddit—and perhaps his experience as a government lawyer dealing with bureaucracy and deciphering regulatory language—he’s now part of the estimated 5% who have had student loans discharged.

Aug 15, 2019 6:00 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: First Step Act frees crack cocaine offender; judge vacates port-of-entry asylum rule

• A San Antonio man sentenced to life in prison for dealing crack cocaine has been freed under the First Step Act, the criminal justice reform measure that reduces the sentencing disparity for crack and powder cocaine offenses. Alta Lee Kemper, 62, had served 27 years in prison. (My San…

Aug 5, 2019 4:00 PM CDT

Ethics panel, citing ‘egregious’ violations, recommends 33-month suspension for Larry Klayman

The Washington, D.C., attorney discipline system has recommended a multiyear law license suspension for conservative lawyer and activist Larry Klayman over allegations of professional misconduct. Last week, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals Board on Professional Responsibility Ad Hoc Hearing Committee handed down a 183-page report alleging Klayman breached…

Jul 29, 2019 3:46 PM CDT

Police officers illegally use information from arrests that have been sealed, lawsuit says

When a man named J.J. was arrested in the Bronx in 2016, the public defenders assigned to represent him assumed he’d get a good plea deal. After all, it appeared to be a low-level case. J.J. had been a passenger in his friend’s car when police had pulled them over for allegedly failing to signal a turn; the officers then searched the vehicle and found an unlicensed gun inside.

Jul 19, 2019 5:00 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Bar associations battle over trademark; New Jersey judge rebuked over rape case

• Even though the Association of Trial Lawyers of America changed its name to the American Association for Justice in 2006, the Washington, D.C.-based bar association is suing the California-based Association of American Trial Lawyers for trademark infringement and unfair competition. The suit says the American Association for Justice sent…

Jul 3, 2019 4:27 PM CDT

New York legislature OKs ban on gay and trans ‘panic defenses’

New York is poised to join the increasing number of states that are banning gay and trans “panic defenses” in murder cases. As the ABA Journal reported in January, legislatures have increasingly considered this type of ban.

Jun 26, 2019 6:00 AM CDT

In states where inmates can vote, few exercise their right to cast ballots

When Sen. Bernie Sanders championed voting rights for prisoners during a CNN town hall, he spotlighted an intensifying national debate about why going to prison means losing the right to vote.

Jun 14, 2019 7:30 AM CDT

Judiciary has no jurisdiction to decide Congress’ suit over border wall funds, federal judge rules

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has ruled that he has no jurisdiction to enter the fight between President Donald Trump and the U.S. House of Representatives over the use of unappropriated funds to build a border wall.

Jun 4, 2019 9:10 AM CDT

2 US law firms lost over $117K to international cybercrime network, indictment alleges

A law firm in Washington, D.C., and a law office in Wellesley, Massachusetts, are among the victims of malware attacks by an overseas cybercrime network.

May 17, 2019 11:13 AM CDT

Woman who mailed poisoned baked goods to Supreme Court justices pleads guilty to escape

A 73-year-old woman has pleaded guilty to escaping from federal custody where she was serving a 15-year sentence for sending poisoned baked goods to every justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. Barbara March of Bridgeport, Connecticut, pleaded guilty Friday, report the Associated Press, the Washington Examiner and a press release.…

May 7, 2019 9:05 AM CDT

Russian who pleaded guilty to conspiracy sentenced to 18 months

Maria Butina was sentenced to 18 months in prison Friday for conspiring to be a Russian agent in the U.S. without registering with the Justice Department.

Apr 26, 2019 12:31 PM CDT

Trump sues House committee chairman to block investigation into finances

President Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, to block a subpoena sent last week seeking information about his finances.

Apr 22, 2019 11:43 AM CDT

Legal intern raises over $41K to help homeless couple who are ‘no longer invisible’

A homeless couple who lived in a tent in Washington, D.C., may soon have an apartment to call home, thanks to the efforts of a legal intern and the people who donated more than $41,000 to a GoFundMe campaign. In a March 22 article, the Washington Post had described how…

Apr 4, 2019 7:30 AM CDT

Judge blocks oil and gas drilling on Wyoming public land because US didn’t consider climate impact

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has blocked new oil and gas drilling on public land in Wyoming because the federal government failed to sufficiently consider the cumulative impact on climate change. U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras ruled in a March 19 opinion that the Department of the Interior’s Bureau…

Mar 21, 2019 9:19 AM CDT

Federal judge refuses to block regulatory ban on bump stocks, used to accelerate gunfire

A regulation that bans bump stocks can take effect on March 26, a federal judge ruled Monday. U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich of Washington, D.C., refused to grant a preliminary injunction to block the regulation, report the Washington Post, Reuters and USA Today. Bump stocks, used to accelerate gunfire on…

Feb 26, 2019 9:08 AM CST