A newsletter by Reuters and Westlaw |
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Today, former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James will ask a federal judge to dismiss the criminal charges against them, challenging the appointment of the prosecutor in the case. Here’s what to know: |
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The arguments, before U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie in Alexandria, will center on whether President Trump's hand-picked U.S. attorney, Lindsey Halligan, was illegally installed as interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
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Attorneys for Comey and James argue that federal law limits interim appointments to 120 days. They also say repeated interim appointments would bypass the Senate confirmation process and allow a prosecutor to serve indefinitely. Read more about their legal reasoning here.
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Halligan was appointed in September after the ousting of her predecessor Erik Seibert, who reportedly expressed concerns about insufficient evidence to support charges against Comey and James. Read more about that here.
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If Halligan's appointment is deemed unlawful, the charges against Comey and James could be invalidated, as Halligan was the sole federal prosecutor presenting evidence to the grand juries in both cases. Read more about what legal experts say here.
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Comey has pleaded not guilty to charges of making false statements and obstructing Congress, while James has pleaded not guilty to charges of bank fraud and lying to a financial institution.
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U.S. Magistrate Judge G.M. Harvey in D.C. will hold a motion hearing in a lawsuit brought by Jenner & Block seeking to recover more than $8 million in fees from Sierra Leone for several years of legal work.
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U.S. District Judge Shanlyn Park in Hawaii will consider whether to dismiss lawsuits by AbbVie and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America seeking to block the state from enforcing a new law requiring drugmakers to offer discounts on drugs dispensed by third-party pharmacies that contract with hospitals and clinics serving rural, low-income populations.
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U.S. District Judge Patti Saris in Boston will hold a status conference in a lawsuit by a group of Democratic-led states that argue that the Trump administration had failed to justify its decision to suspend leasing and permitting of new wind projects in keeping with the Republican's wishes. Saris was recently assigned the case after another judge stepped aside. Read the complaint.
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U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich in D.C. will hold status conferences in two lawsuits brought against President Trump in 2020 during his first term for his decision to use tear gas and rubber bullets against peaceful protesters in Lafayette Square Park, protesting the police killing of George Floyd.
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The Washington Supreme Court will weigh a trial court’s order requiring Seattle’s public defense department to assign counsel to people facing involuntary commitments for mental health or substance abuse treatment. The department had not assigned cases because it had already exceeded its monthly caseload limits. Read the department’s brief here and the hospital’s brief here.
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Fulton County, Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis will testify before a special Georgia Senate committee investigating her handling of an election interference case against President Trump.
- Joaquin Guzman Lopez, a son of imprisoned Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, is due to appear in federal court in Chicago.
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A hearing is scheduled in the case of a former Miami-based hedge fund manager charged by federal prosecutors in Boston with insider trading. Prosecutors say that Kris Bortnovsky, co-founder of Sakal Capital Management, earned over $4 million by placing illegal trades based on tips he received from, among others, a friend whose family held investments and leadership roles in retailers like DSW owner Designer Brands.
- U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph Marutollo in Brooklyn will oversee the arraignment of Cleveland Guardians pitcher Emmanuel Clase who was indicted after being accused of rigging bets in Major League Baseball games.
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Court calendars are subject to last-minute docket changes. |
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