JUST IN: Lawyers for man charged with DNC/RNC pipe bomb planting on #jan6 2021 oppose his pretrial detention, but don't engage with evidence in case. They also accuse US Atty Pirro of violating court rules by discussing alleged confession. Doc: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...

NEW: @ACLU backs Judge Boasberg's contempt inquiry in Alien Enemies Act deportation case. Cites 1997 precedent where Ken Starr voided atty-client privilege in Clinton WH atty Sherburne's notes. (Kavanaugh on brief.) Doc: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us... Case: law.justia.com/cases/federa...

NEW: Jan Crawford's attack on SCOTUS "corruption" narrative was its own substance-free narrative. On Face the Nation, CBS News's chief legal correspondent went after Supreme Court critics as "dangerous." And yet, her court defense was completely lacking in specifics. Tonight, at Law Dork:

JUST IN: Trump administration sues Virginia to halt in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants at @UVA etc. Doc: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

A TikTok journalst was shot, brutalized and held in conditions tantamount to torture. ICE says he assaulted an officer. The Court dismisses the case with prejudice. www.latimes.com/california/s...

JUST IN: Defense attorneys say DOJ is trying to stall a hearing Tuesday where evidence against the man charged with alleged DNC/RNC bomb planting could be tested. Doc: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...

JUST IN: Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly (Clinton) won't let feds search Comey friend Daniel Richman's data for potentially classified info beyond 1 document they've deemed low-level classified. But gives govt more time to certify handover of data. Doc: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...

JUST IN: DOJ tells judge feds can't delete classified info from Comey friend Daniel Richman's devices by Monday, asks for another week. Doc: DOJ can't carry out deletion of classified from Richman devices by Monday. Asks judge for another week storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

The FBI was supposed to deliver all the Epstein files to @AGPamBondi's desk by 8 AM on Feb. 28, 2025. That's almost ten months ago. This seems like something @JusticeOIG would need to dig into www.justice.gov/ag/media/139...

JUST IN: Judge blocks Trump's attempt to strip security clearance from whistleblower lawyer Mark Zaid. Judge Amir Ali (Biden) says the move may violate Constitution's ban on bills of attainder. Doc: ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show...

JUST IN: Judge postpones decision on whether DAG Blanche & aide Singh must testify at vindictive prosecution hearing for Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Trial due in Jan. also postponed, but court will hear other witnesses Jan. 28. Doc: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

NOTED: In Kavanaugh's Illinois National Guard solo concurrence, he adds footnote that seems to try to calm outrage over his solo opinion in the CA ICE emergency ruling that led to some calling race-based immigration arrests "Kavanaugh stops." Earlier: www.politico.com/news/2025/09...

BREAKING: #SCOTUS rejects Trump over deployment of National Guard to aid immigration enforcement in Illinois, says law limits use to when regular military is insufficient. 3 justices dissent: Alito, Thomas, Gorsuch. Doc: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26... Earlier: www.politico.com/news/2025/10...

NEW: Judge seizes on pair of fresh Trump administration errors in Kilmar Abrego Garcia deportation case, extends order keeping him free into next month www.politico.com/news/2025/12...

This veteran civil rights litigator, who just won a Voting Rights Act case that helped Black Democrats break a GOP supermajority in deep-red Mississippi. Now, he shares his fears that #SCOTUS could be on verge of crippling the VRA. www.politico.com/news/magazin...

JUST IN: DOJ appears to acknowledge taking down some photos from Epstein files release Friday. Earlier: www.politico.com/news/2025/12...

JUST IN: Lawyers for Kilmar Abrego Garcia accuse CBP's Bovino of repeated violations of gag order for inflammatory comments about Abrego's immigrant smuggling case. Defense attys ask judge to impose sanctions on government. Doc: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

JUST IN: DOJ's 'immediate' appeal of judge's Nov. 24 ruling disqualifying Trump's handpicked prosecutor Lindsey Halligan was just filed in both Comey and James cases. Appeal will go to 4th Circuit in Richmond, VA. Docs: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

JUST IN: Feds move to dismiss criminal case against Mexican citizen charged with using truck to ram immigration agents during August op in San Diego. 'Additional investigation has caused the U.S. to re-evaluate prosecution in this matter.' Doc: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...

NEW: Trump admin suffers rare shadow-docket loss at #SCOTUS, as justices decline to step into fight over immigration judges' free-speech rights. But high court suggested it might freeze the case in the future www.politico.com/news/2025/12...

JUST IN: Rare #SCOTUS shadow-docket loss for Trump admin as justices turn down bid to immediately halt free-speech suit by immigration judges & send to MSPB. No dissent noted. Court tempers blow by inviting DOJ to come back if discovery is approved. Doc: www.supremecourt.gov/orders/court...

JUST IN: Judge McFadden (Trump/DC) rejects suit filed by Trump-backed @America1stLegal demanding Judicial Conference records thru #FOIA. Judge says Congress "excused" itself & judiciary. Correction: Case defended by #SCOTUS lawyers/ McGuire Woods. Doc: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

JUST IN: As deadline nears, Trump administration appeals judge's ruling blocking attempt to cut off Harvard's federal funding. Doc: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...

RIP Peter Arnett. Dogged & courageous journalist. Worked w/him briefly in 1990s. Best story I know: his standoff w/CNN over (not) accounting for $100K+ in cash he took to Iraq. Save your receipts, people! www.politico.com/news/2025/12...

DEVELOPING: Looks to me like magistrate judge in L.A. ordered pretrial release for some or all of the 4 defendants whose arrests were announced w/fanfare by feds Monday. (CACD dockets absurdly slow.) DOJ trying to get a district judge to reverse. Earlier: www.politico.com/news/2025/12...

ICYMI BREAKING ONITE:

SCOOP: Prosecutors proposed 3rd felony charge against NY AG Letitia James & dropped rent allegations in indictment federal grand jury in Alexandria, VA voted down last week. DOJ asked magistrate judge to seal it, but he declined. w/ @hassankanu.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2025/12...

JUST IN: BBC has accepted service of Trump's $5B (or $10B but who's counting) libel lawsuit over Panorama broadcast. UK-based news outlet appears to have until March to respond. Doc: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26... Earlier: www.politico.com/news/2025/12...

NEW: Judge blocks Trump administration's attempt to limit lawmakers' access to immigration jails. Advance notice no longer required & detention facilities at field offices are open to Congress. w/ @kyledcheney.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2025/12...

JUST IN: Jeffrey Epstein accomplice and former girlfirend Ghislaine Maxwell files habeas corpus petition challenging her federal sex trafficking convictions. She is not represented by any attorney in this filing. Doc: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...

JUST IN: Unity & calm at DC Circuit lasts only hours as judges grant rare en banc review of 2-1 August ruling that allowed Trump admin to gut Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Panel vacated. Arguments in Feb. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us... Earlier: www.politico.com/news/2025/08...

BREAKING: Judge Cobb (DC/Biden) blocks recent ICE policies on Congressional visits, lifts 7-day advance notice requirement & ICE attempt to exclude field offices. Doc: ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show... Earlier: www.politico.com/news/2025/10...

NEW: Appeals court lets Trump keep in/out-of-DC National Guard deployed in DC but raises doubts on constitutionality of Trump use in other states. All as we await #SCOTUS ruling on admin's IL Guard emergency appeal pending now for 2 months w/@kyledcheney.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2025/12...

JUST IN: Rifts at DC Circuit appear to subside as unanimous panel extends block on Judge Cobb's order to halt Trump National Guard push in DC. Millett (Obama), Katsas (Trump), Rao (Trump) all vote for stay Doc: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us... Earlier: www.politico.com/news/2025/11...

JUST IN: Trump's multi-billion-dollar defamation lawsuit against BBC is assigned to Judge Roy Altman, a Trump appointee based in Miami. Earlier: www.politico.com/news/2025/12...

JUST IN: One day after argument, DC Circuit asks for additional briefing on channeling issues in litigation over Trump's bid to decertify various fed employee unions. Doc: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26... Case judges want addressed is here: law.justia.com/cases/federa...

UPDATE: Complaint and spokesperson say total damage figure is $5B per count, $10B in all. Suit has a defamation count and a Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act count. But the demand in the official cover sheet filed with the court says $5B total.

BREAKING: Trump files promised libel suit against BBC over documentary's editing of his Jan. 6 Ellipse speech, seeks at least $5 B/Billion in damages. Doc: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26... Story: www.politico.com/news/2025/12...

JUST IN: Chief Judge James Boasberg (Obama) allows 12 FBI agents to use pseudonyms in connection with suit they filed for being fired over kneeling during George Floyd protests. Case awaits judge assignment. Doc: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...

JUST IN: PI-palooza continues as judge gives blue states a reprieve until April 9 from sanctions for failing to kick foreigners off of SNAP benefits. Oregon-based Judge Mustafa Kasubhai (Biden) issues injunction in this suit: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

UPDATE: Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly (Clinton) grants DOJ extra week to comply, says other requests covered by her earlier order: classified info/derivative info like notes don't have to be returned. And she never said Bondi herself has to certify. Doc: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

JUST IN: 24 red states back Trump on Alien Enemies Act detentions, argue his declaration of an enemy 'invasion' can't be questioned by courts. Doc: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26... Earlier: www.politico.com/news/2025/04...

JUST IN: DOJ seeks 1-week extension of judge's deadline to return data to Comey friend/atty Dan Richman, says some can't be returned because classified, says return might violate fed records act. Bonus: Comey lawyers threatened Hyde Amdt suit. Doc: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

JUST IN: DC Circuit asks for briefs on whether Boasberg has authority to investigate indirect contempt of court (outside judge's presence) or is just supposed to refer it for prosecution if he suspects it. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us... Earlier: www.politico.com/news/2025/12...

JUST IN: Judge orders feds to return data & emails from Comey friend Dan Richman, says investigators showed "callous disregard" for Richman's rights through warrantless rummaging through data for recent Comey probe. w/ @kyledcheney.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2025/12...

JUST IN: Unanimous 1st Circuit panel overturns Judge Talwani's already-stayed order blocking Planned Parenthood funding ban in One Big Beautiful Bill. (1st Cir also stayed similar order from her in blue states' suit) Opn: www.ca1.uscourts.gov/sites/ca1/fi... Earlier: www.politico.com/newsletters/...

BREAKING: DC Circuit, 2-1, temporarily halts Judge Boasberg's plan for contempt hearing re Alien Enemies Act deportations that may have violated his order. Majority Rao/Walker (Trump). Dissent: Childs (Biden). Doc: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26... Earlier: www.politico.com/news/2025/12...

JUST IN: Judge Richard Leon sets TRO hearing for 330PM Tuesday on new White House ballroom construction suit. Earlier via @FaithWardwell www.politico.com/news/2025/12...

BREAKING: Trump admin asks DC Circuit to halt Boasberg's planned contempt hearings next week re Alien Enemies deportations, incl. testimony from fired DOJ immigration atty Erez Reuveni. DOJ says it will be a 'circus' and 'endless fishing expedition.' Doc: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

JUST IN: Kilmar Abrego Garcia left a check-in at Baltimore ICE this AM without being detained, his lawyer said, after claim by feds last night that they fixed as a 'scrivener's error 'an immigration judge's failure to order Abrego deported in 2019. Doc: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...