Trump barred from attacks on judge’s daughter in New York case gag order

A New York judge barred former President Donald Trump Monday from making public comments about the judge’s family. The order by Judge Juan Merchan came after prosecutors for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg asked Merchan to expand a previously issued gag order in the case, “making clear that the court’s family is off-limits.” Merchan ultimately

Florida high court clears way for abortion ballot initiative

The Florida Supreme Court ruled Monday that a state constitutional amendment that would limit government intervention in abortion procedures across Florida meets the necessary requirements to appear on ballots this November, and at the same time upheld Florida’s 15-week abortion ban.  The court’s decision to uphold the 15-week abortion ban clears the way for the

Judges, witnesses in Jan. 6 cases warn of threats to democracy in 2024 elections

In early March, U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly looked at 23-year-old Clifford Mackrell, a Jan. 6 defendant from Ohio, and as she sentenced him to 27 months in prison for his role in the 2021 U.S. Capitol attack, she read a statement warning about the fragility of democracy. “We have an election coming,” Kollar-Kotelly said.