Crimes and Courts
It’s Chief Justice Roberts’ Court, but does he still lead?
Published
2 years agoon
By
FNN NEWSWASHINGTON (AP) — John Roberts is heading a Supreme Court in crisis.
The chief justice has already ordered an investigation of the leak this week of a draft opinion suggesting the court could be poised to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 case legalizing abortion nationwide. What comes next could further test Roberts’ leadership of a court where his vote already appears less crucial in determining the outcome in contentious cases.
“This is a time when the court is under siege, both externally and internally now,” said Roanoke College professor Todd Peppers, who writes about the court. “I just don’t think the spotlight has ever been brighter on the court in recent history.”
Speaking Thursday at a judicial conference in Atlanta, Roberts called the leak “appalling,” according to CNN.
Roberts’ court was facing challenges even before the leak, which the chief called a “betrayal of the confidences of the Court.”Polling has shown a notable decline in the public’s approval of the court. And there have been recent calls for term limits for the justices and for increasing the number of justices as well as for a code of ethics, particularly following reports that Justice Clarence Thomas’ wife, Virginia, implored Donald Trump’s White House chief of staff to act to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Confirmation hearings for the court’s newest justices have been contentious.
The addition of three conservative justices during Trump’s presidency also means there are now five conservative justices to Roberts’ right who no longer need his vote, and perhaps his moderating influence, to prevail in a case. The abortion decision could be another example of that, with the court’s other conservatives prepared to go further than Roberts.
Roberts, 67, has noted the limits of his position in the past. Asked during a 2018 appearance how it’s different to be chief, Roberts responded: “In many ways it’s different. In the most important it’s not. I have one vote. I participate in the decision-making of the court like any of the associate justices.”
Still, there’s a reason that the chief is called the “first among equals” and that historians refer to time periods at the court using the chief justice’s name: the Marshall Court, the Rehnquist Court, the Roberts Court. The chief is the first to speak when the justices discuss cases at their private conference and guides that discussion. The chief decides who writes the opinion of the court when the chief is in the majority.
Roberts, an appointee of President George W. Bush, has faced other challenging times in his 16 years as chief. He’s led the court through contentious cases on gay marriage, on President Barack Obama’s health law and on Trump-era policies including building a U.S.-Mexico border wall and the travel ban.
In 2020, Roberts was in the spotlight presiding over Trump’s first impeachment trial, though his role was modest. At the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, he led the court through a period where it decided to postpone arguments for the first time in more than 100 years and then to conduct them by telephone for more than a year and a half.
Early in his tenure, in a speech at Georgetown’s law school graduation and elsewhere, Roberts explained his philosophy in guiding the court and his preference for decisions where there could be broad agreement on narrow grounds.
“There are clear benefits to a greater degree of consensus on the court. Unanimity or near unanimity promote clarity and guidance for the lawyers and for the lower courts trying to figure out what the Supreme Court meant,” he said in 2006. He added: “The rule of law is strengthened when there’s greater coherence and agreement about what the law is.”
Artemus Ward, a professor at Northern Illinois University who is one of the editors of a book of scholarly research on chief justices, said Roberts has been “trying to achieve consensus, trying to rule narrowly.” But following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a liberal, and her replacement by conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett, “Roberts’ vote is less powerful” because there are five conservative votes even without him, Ward said.
There’s been some evidence of the impact of that already.
Before Ginsburg’s death, Roberts joined with the court’s four liberals to reject a challenge to attendance limits California imposed on religious services because of the coronavirus pandemic. But about a month after Barrett joined the court, the justices ruled 5-4 the other way in a case about similar limits in New York, with Roberts and the liberals in dissent.
In September of last year, the court decided 5-4 not to block a new Texas law banning most abortions in the state. The dissenters were once again Roberts and the three liberal justices.
It was the same lineup in February when the Supreme Court put on hold a lower court ruling that Alabama must draw new congressional districts before the 2022 elections to increase Black voting power. And in April when the court reinstated a Trump-era water rule.
“Roberts Has Lost Control of the Supreme Court,” was the title of an article written that month by professor Stephen I. Vladeck of the University of Texas School of Law.
It remains to be seen how divided and how sweeping the court will be in other decisions, including a major gun ruling, that are still to be released before the court breaks for summer.
Unknown too is how closely the final opinion in the abortion case will mirror the leaked draft, which was written by Justice Samuel Alito and distributed to other members of the court in February. Politico reported that Alito had the votes of four other conservatives to overturn Roe v. Wade and a later decision that reaffirmed a constitutional right to abortion services, Planned Parenthood v. Casey. The three liberals planned to dissent, Politico said, while Roberts’ ultimate vote was unclear.
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Crimes and Courts
Orlando Halloween Mass Shooting Leaves 2 Dead, 6 Injured; 17-Year-Old Suspect in Custody
Published
2 days agoon
November 1, 2024By
Willie DavidORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) – The Orlando Police Department (OPD) is investigating a tragic mass shooting that shook Downtown Orlando early Friday morning, leaving two dead and six injured. Officers responded at approximately 1:07 a.m. on November 1, 2024, following reports of shots fired near Central Blvd. and Orange Ave. Moments later, another shooting was witnessed by officers south of Washington Street on Orange Ave. A total of eight individuals were shot, with two victims succumbing to their injuries.
The six remaining victims, ranging in age from 19 to 39, were transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC), where they are reported to be in stable condition. “Our hearts go out to all those affected by this terrible incident,” OPD said in a statement, underscoring its commitment to public safety and the swift response of officers on duty.
Suspect Apprehended at Scene
A suspect was apprehended shortly after the shooting at Washington St. and Orange Ave. The alleged shooter, identified as 17-year-old Jaylen Dwayne Edgar, had a prior arrest for grand theft in 2023. Officers with OPD’s Downtown Detail, who were on hand due to Halloween celebrations, detained Edgar near the scene, bringing some immediate relief to the shaken community.
Commitment to Safety Amid Tragedy
OPD emphasized that safety remains its top priority and noted the presence of nearly 100 officers patrolling Downtown at the time, with large crowds expected for Halloween festivities. In response to this tragic incident, OPD is evaluating plans to increase patrols throughout the weekend, ensuring additional security for residents and visitors alike.
Key Takeaways
- Location and Time: The shooting occurred around 1:07 a.m. near Central Blvd. and Orange Ave., with a second incident observed nearby.
- Casualties: Eight people were shot, two fatally; six victims remain in stable condition.
- Suspect: 17-year-old Jaylen Dwayne Edgar, who was previously arrested in 2023 for grand theft, was taken into custody.
- Increased Patrols: OPD is considering additional patrols Downtown for the weekend to enhance public safety.
__________________________________-
J Willie David, III contributed to this report.
news@FloridaNationalNews.com
Central Florida News
Fake Cop Accused of Armed Robbery and Handcuffing Woman in Orlando Hotel Room
Published
2 weeks agoon
October 17, 2024By
FNN NEWSORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) – The Orlando Police Department has issued an arrest warrant for Michael Darren Jesse Rodriguez, a New York man accused of impersonating a police officer and committing armed robbery at an Orlando hotel on August 23, 2024. Rodriguez, 27, of Poughkeepsie, NY, was apprehended by Georgia police and is facing multiple charges across Florida.
Crime Details:
- Incident Date & Location: On August 23, 2024, the Orlando Police responded to reports of an armed robbery at a hotel near Universal Blvd. and International Dr.
- Suspect’s Actions: The victim reported that an unknown man, wearing a badge around his neck, forced his way into her room, claiming to be a police officer. He restrained her with handcuffs, stole her wallet, and displayed what appeared to be a handgun in his waistband.
- Surveillance Evidence: The victim’s account was supported by hotel surveillance footage, which also helped officers identify the suspect’s vehicle. The vehicle was seen in multiple Florida cities during August.
Crime Spree:
- Similar Incidents: Rodriguez is also wanted for an armed robbery under investigation by the Lantana Police Department.
- Apprehension: On September 8, 2024, Rodriguez was apprehended in Georgia by Gwinnett County Police while driving the same vehicle spotted in the Lantana and Orlando incidents.
- Evidence Recovered: Orlando detectives recovered a fake police badge, handcuffs, and other items linking Rodriguez to both robberies.
Charges:
Rodriguez faces the following charges once extradited to Orange County:
- Falsely Personating an Officer to Commit Felony with a Weapon
- False Imprisonment with a Weapon
- Robbery with a Firearm
The Orlando Police Department is encouraging anyone who believes they may have been victimized by Rodriguez to come forward and contact law enforcement.
Crimes and Courts
Former Louisiana ADA Gary Haynes Indicted on Bribery and Money Laundering Conspiracy Charges
Published
1 month agoon
September 19, 2024By
FNN NEWSLAFAYETTE, LA. (FNN) – The U.S. Department of Justice announced today that a federal grand jury in Lafayette, Louisiana, has indicted former Assistant District Attorney Gary Haynes, 66, on multiple felony charges, including conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery, money laundering conspiracy, and obstruction of justice. Haynes, who served in the 15th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, faces a maximum sentence of 65 years if convicted.
According to court documents, Haynes conspired with Dusty Guidry, Leonard Franques, and others to solicit bribes and kickbacks through the Pretrial Intervention (PTI) program he oversaw. The program offered an alternative to criminal prosecution for certain offenders. In exchange for approving participants into the PTI program, Haynes directed defendants to take paid courses offered by Franques’ companies, receiving kickbacks for his involvement. Charges against the defendants were subsequently dismissed after completing the courses.
The indictment also alleges that Haynes and his co-conspirators concealed the kickback proceeds, including reactivating a defunct company to disguise the income. Additionally, Haynes is accused of obstructing justice by directing a co-conspirator to destroy or alter documents to hinder future investigations.
Franques pleaded guilty in January 2023 to conspiracy to commit bribery, while Guidry pleaded guilty in March 2023 to multiple bribery-related charges. Both are scheduled for sentencing on October 24, 2024.
The case is being investigated by the FBI New Orleans Field Office and IRS Criminal Investigation, with Trial Attorneys Steven Loew and Trevor Wilmot of the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Luke Walker and John Nickel prosecuting.
CorruptionCharges, BriberyScandal, JusticePrevails, FBIInvestigation, Louisiana
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