DOE filing says clean-energy grants were selected by state politics
A July 15 court stipulation says 284 DOE grants were selected based solely on recipient-state politics, conflicting with the agency’s earlier review rationale.
Federal Courts
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Federal Jury Convicts Bronx Gang Member in Infant Shooting Case
A federal jury convicted Samuel Bautista in the 2022 Bronx shooting that wounded an 11-month-old girl. Sentencing is set for Dec. 2.
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Google Search Remedies Move Into Compliance Phase as Staff Rules Remain Unresolved
A July 22 federal filing shows Google’s search remedies are entering implementation, while parties still negotiate rules protecting and limiting Technical Committee staff.
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Federal judge dismisses challenge to Trump religious panel’s makeup
A federal judge dismissed an interfaith coalition’s challenge to the makeup of President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission under federal advisory-committee law.
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Illinois DOJ Review of 1,000-Plus Grand-Jury Presentations Raises Oversight Questions
A Chicago federal prosecutor review covers more than 1,000 grand-jury presentations, including selected older cases, but its methods and remedies remain unclear.
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Judge’s Release Order Limits ICE Detention of Houston Witness
Jose Trinidad Rojas Pliego was released July 29 after a federal judge barred his deportation and required notice and a hearing before any new ICE detention.
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Federal Judge Puts Minnesota Prediction-Market Ban on Hold
A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction July 27 blocking Minnesota from enforcing specified prediction-market restrictions before their August 1 effective date, allowing Kalshi and Polymarket to operate in the state for now.
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Kentucky Federal Judge Dismisses DOJ Lawsuit Over Unredacted Voter List
A federal judge dismissed the Justice Department’s Kentucky lawsuit seeking an unredacted statewide voter-registration list, but the department’s appeal keeps the dispute active.
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Tennessee Immigration Law Faces New Federal Challenge After Taking Effect
Tennessee’s new immigration offense is in effect while a renewed federal lawsuit seeks to block enforcement and represent potentially affected noncitizens.
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Appeals Court Leaves $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee Blocked for Now
A First Circuit order keeps the $100,000 H-1B payment requirement blocked while the administration appeals a Massachusetts ruling that vacated it.
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Comey Defense Motion Challenges FBI Warrants in Threat Case
James Comey’s lawyers seek a Franks hearing and dismissal, alleging warrant omissions and inaccurate statements. The government has not yet responded.
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Court Ruling Limits Federal Power to Cancel Minnesota Grants
A federal judge ruled agencies cannot use a grant-termination clause to cancel awarded grants solely because later priorities changed, but Minnesota programs already cut are not automatically restored.
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Federal Judge Declares Illinois In-State Tuition and Aid Rules Invalid, Pauses Enforcement for 14 Days
A federal judge declared several Illinois in-state tuition and state-aid provisions invalid for people who are not lawfully present in the United States, but paused enforcement of the injunction for 14 days while Illinois considers a stay or appeal.
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California leads lawsuit over federal conditions on public-safety grants
California is leading a multistate lawsuit over federal election and immigration conditions tied to grants that fund emergency communications, training and preparedness.
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Elyria business named as alleged victim in federal ransomware case
A federal indictment unsealed July 14 identifies an unnamed Elyria business as an alleged 2020 ransomware victim; officials have not disclosed the company or damage.
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Judge orders ICE to release witness in Houston shooting
A federal judge ordered ICE to release Houston shooting witness Jose Trinidad Rojas Pliego within 48 hours, citing Fifth Amendment due-process protections.
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Federal Judges Question DOJ Credibility in Trump Administration Cases
A ProPublica review and federal court records show judges demanding sworn, verified evidence from Justice Department lawyers in cases affecting executive power.
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First Circuit Keeps $100,000 H-1B Payment Requirement Blocked for Now
A First Circuit panel refused to reinstate a $100,000 payment requirement for certain new H-1B petitions while the Trump administration appeals.
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States Sue Over FEMA Grant Conditions Tied to Elections and Immigration
A multistate coalition sued in Rhode Island over FEMA and DHS grant conditions linking emergency funding to election rules, immigration enforcement and agency priorities.
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DOJ Seeks to Revoke Citizenship in 10 Naturalization Cases
DOJ filed 10 civil denaturalization cases in nine federal districts. Citizenship is not revoked unless a federal court rules for the government.
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Judge blocks DOJ subpoena for Fulton election-worker data tied to Union City
A federal judge rejected a Justice Department subpoena for personal data on Fulton County 2020 election workers, a ruling tied to the county’s Union City elections hub.
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Judge Temporarily Pauses USCIS Work-Permit Restrictions for Asylum Seekers and TPS Holders
A Massachusetts federal judge temporarily paused four USCIS actions affecting some asylum seekers and TPS holders, while leaving the $100 annual fee in place.
