Verdict . News

•New ethics code explicitly permits judges to respond to 'illegitimate' attacks including violence, intimidation, and disinformation

Supreme Court

1d ago•4 min read

U.S. Supreme Court

Federal Judges Get New Authority to Respond to 'Illegitimate' Attacks

The U.S. Judicial Conference's Committee on Codes of Conduct has issued updated ethics guidelines that explicitly allow federal judges to speak out against 'illegitimate forms of criticism and attacks.' The new guidance encourages judges to exercise caution while defending judicial independence.

•Guidelines encourage judges to exercise caution and ensure responses promote public confidence in courts

•Delaware Supreme Court dismissed appeal by XL Specialty, Homeland, Travelers, and Admiral insurance companies

State Court

2d ago•4 min read

Delaware Supreme Court

Delaware Supreme Court Dismisses Insurance Appeal in Cigna Coverage Case

The Delaware Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by four major insurance companies challenging a lower court's ruling in favor of The Cigna Group in a managed care errors and omissions insurance coverage dispute involving DOJ investigation costs.

•Case involves Cigna seeking coverage for DOJ investigation costs under MCE&O insurance policies

•NASA conducted its first medical evacuation from space in 65 years after an astronaut suffered a serious health issue in January

ISS Returns to Full Capacity After NASA's First Medical Evacuation in 65 Years

The International Space Station returned to full operational strength Saturday with the arrival of four new astronauts, following NASA's first medical evacuation in 65 years of human spaceflight. The emergency departure of a crew member in January had left the station understaffed and forced the suspension of spacewalks and research activities.

•The emergency departure left only three crew members aboard the ISS, forcing suspension of spacewalks and reduction of research activities

•Bangladesh Nationalist Party wins parliamentary majority in first election since Sheikh Hasina's 2024 ouster

Rahman Pledges Democratic Reforms After Bangladesh Election Victory

Tarique Rahman's Bangladesh Nationalist Party secured a parliamentary majority in Thursday's election, marking the first democratic transition since Sheikh Hasina's ouster in 2024. Rahman pledged to strengthen democratic institutions and address the country's fragile economy.

•Rahman pledges to address fragile economy and strengthen weakened democratic institutions

•European labs confirmed epibatidine, a dart frog neurotoxin not found in Russia, in Navalny's body samples

Europe Accuses Russia of Poisoning Navalny with Dart Frog Toxin

Five European nations have accused Russia of poisoning opposition leader Alexei Navalny with epibatidine, a rare neurotoxin found in poison dart frogs. The countries are reporting Russia to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons following laboratory analysis that confirmed the exotic poison's presence in Navalny's body.

•Five European nations jointly accused Russia of having means, motive and opportunity to administer the exotic poison

•Rubio offered conciliatory tone contrasting sharply with VP Vance's 2023 attacks on European values

Rubio Seeks to Mend U.S.-Europe Relations at Munich Security Conference

Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered a conciliatory tone to European allies at the Munich Security Conference, calling the U.S. and Europe's futures 'intertwined.' However, European leaders made clear that previous harsh rhetoric from the administration has caused lasting diplomatic damage.

•European leaders welcomed softer rhetoric but emphasized lasting diplomatic damage from previous statements

Supreme Court

•New York state court ordered redistricting of 11th Congressional District, citing dilution of Black and Latino votes

Supreme Court

Republicans Ask Supreme Court to Block NY District Redraw Order

Republican officials and voters urged the Supreme Court to halt a New York state court ruling that would force redrawing of the 11th Congressional District before 2026 elections. The dispute centers on whether current boundaries dilute Black and Latino voting power, with Republicans claiming changes would create unconstitutional racial gerrymandering.

•Republicans claim redrawing would create unconstitutional racial gerrymandering based on race

•Federal judge orders $75.6 million restitution payment to 106 identified victims of the GirlsDoPorn trafficking scheme

4d ago•4 min read

U.S. District Court

GirlsDoPorn Boss Ordered to Pay $76 Million to Sex Trafficking Victims

Michael Pratt, the ringleader behind the GirlsDoPorn sex trafficking operation, has been ordered to pay nearly $76 million in restitution to more than 100 victims. The federal court ruling comes after Pratt's conviction for operating a scheme that lured young women to San Diego for supposed modeling jobs but instead coerced them into pornography that was distributed online despite promises it would remain private.

•Pratt operated the illegal operation from 2007-2019, already serving 27-year prison sentence imposed in September

•Nine Gray's Landing residents sued ICE and DHS over tear gas drifting into their homes during protests

4d ago•4 min read

U.S. District Court

Portland Residents Sue Federal Government Over ICE Facility Tear Gas

Nine residents of an affordable housing complex near Portland's ICE facility are seeking a federal court order to stop agents from using tear gas during protests. The residents claim chemical munitions deployed against demonstrators regularly drift into their homes, causing health problems and forcing some to sleep in gas masks.

•Residents report severe health impacts including wearing gas masks to sleep and repeated doctor visits