Judge Juan Merchan runs a mental health court when he’s not hearing a Trump case

Judge Juan Merchan runs a mental health court when he’s not hearing a Trump case

NEW YORK (AP) — Judge Juan M. Merchan looked across his high-ceilinged courtroom, facing the defendant in a complicated case. Not the one everyone knows about. Yes, Merchan could become the first judge ever to oversee a former U.S. president’s criminal trial: Donald Trump’s hush money case. But on a recent morning, the judge was … Read more

Judge appoints special master to oversee California prison after rampant abuse

Judge appoints special master to oversee California prison after rampant abuse

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — A special master will be appointed to oversee a troubled federal women’s prison in California known for rampant sexual abuse against inmates, a judge ordered Friday, marking the first time the federal Bureau of Prisons has been subject to such oversight. A 2021 Associated Press investigation that found a culture of … Read more

NRA, Wayne LaPierre found liable in lawsuit over lavish spending

NRA, Wayne LaPierre found liable in lawsuit over lavish spending

NEW YORK (AP) — The longtime head of the National Rifle Association, Wayne LaPierre, misspent millions of dollars of the organization’s money, using the funds to pay for an extravagant lifestyle that included exotic getaways and trips on private planes and superyachts, a New York jury determined Friday. The jury ordered LaPierre, 74, to repay … Read more

Shamima Begum, IS bride, loses appeal over UK citizenship

Shamima Begum, IS bride, loses appeal over UK citizenship

LONDON (AP) — A woman who traveled to Syria as a teenager to join the Islamic State group lost her appeal Friday against the British government’s decision to revoke her U.K. citizenship, with judges saying that it wasn’t for them to rule on whether it was “harsh” to do so. Shamima Begum, who is now … Read more

Classified documents: Trump’s lawyers claim presidential immunity protects him

Classified documents: Trump’s lawyers claim presidential immunity protects him

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Donald Trump’s legal team filed multiple motions Thursday night urging a Florida judge to dismiss the criminal case charging him with illegally retaining classified documents, claiming in part that presidential immunity protects him from prosecution — an argument they have already submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court in his election … Read more

Yang Hengjun: Australian blogger decides against appealing his Chinese death sentence

Yang Hengjun: Australian blogger decides against appealing his Chinese death sentence

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A China-born Australian democracy blogger will not appeal his suspended death sentence imposed by a Beijing court, with his family saying Wednesday a legal challenge would be detrimental to his welfare. Yang Hengjun was found guilty of espionage following a closed trial and sentenced two weeks ago to death with a … Read more

Welcome to the ‘Hotel California’ case: The trial over handwritten lyrics to an Eagles classic

Welcome to the ‘Hotel California’ case: The trial over handwritten lyrics to an Eagles classic

NEW YORK — In the mid-1970s, the Eagles were working on a spooky, cryptic new song. On a lined yellow pad, Don Henley, with input from band co-founder Glenn Frey, jotted thoughts about “a dark desert highway” and “a lovely place” with a luxurious surface and ominous undertones. And something on ice, perhaps caviar or … Read more

Welcome to the ‘Hotel California’ case: Unusual criminal trial set to open

Welcome to the ‘Hotel California’ case: Unusual criminal trial set to open

NEW YORK (AP) — In the mid-1970s, the Eagles were working on a spooky, cryptic new song. On a lined yellow pad, Don Henley, with input from band co-founder Glenn Frey, jotted thoughts about “a dark desert highway” and “a lovely place” with a luxurious surface and ominous undertones. And something on ice, perhaps caviar … Read more

Trump avoids ‘corporate death penalty,’ but his business will still get slammed

Trump avoids ‘corporate death penalty,’ but his business will still get slammed

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump won’t face the corporate death penalty after all. A New York judge on Friday spared the ex-president that worst case punishment as he ruled in a civil case alleging Trump fraudulently misrepresented financial figures to get cheaper loans and other benefits. Still, Trump got slammed hard, facing big cash … Read more

Denver police: 30 human cremains found at house after ex-funeral home owner evicted

Denver police: 30 human cremains found at house after ex-funeral home owner evicted

DENVER (AP) — Colorado authorities issued an arrest warrant Friday for a former funeral home owner they say kept a deceased woman’s body in a hearse for two years at a home where police also found the cremated remains of at least 30 people. The grisly discovery occurred Feb. 6 during a court-ordered eviction of … Read more