Erie County man sentenced for threatening members of Congress
An Erie County man has been sentenced to five years in prison for threatening members of Congress. Carlos Bayon, 64, of Grand Island, who was convicted after a jury trial of two counts of retaliating against a federal official and two counts of making a threat by interstate communication, was sentenced Thursday by Chief U.S. […]
Impeachment hearings go live on TV with the first witnesses
WASHINGTON (AP) — The closed doors of the Trump impeachment investigation are swinging wide open. When the gavel strikes at the start of the House hearing on Wednesday morning, America and the rest of the world will have the chance to see and hear for themselves for the first time about President Donald Trump’s actions […]
The House is using the courts to challenge the White House, to an uncertain end
WASHINGTON – The White House is challenging the core powers of Congress across a host of issues, from the power of the purse in the border wall controversy, to refusing to turn over the president’s tax returns, to invoking executive privilege so lawmakers can’t read the unredacted version of the Mueller report. And there is […]
How Congress got its power to investigate and subpoena
Back in his day, Robert Morris was a pretty big deal. He was just one of two men to sign all three our nation’s founding documents: the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation and the U.S. Constitution. Morris came to prominence in Colonial America by making a pile of money in the shipping industry. […]
Analysis: Trump turns to Supreme Court to stop nationwide injunctions
The Constitution established one court and one court only and called it Supreme. The framers authorized Congress to establish “inferior courts,” which it did starting in 1789, in the form of U.S. district courts and circuit courts. In theory, Congress could disestablish all of them. And no doubt there are times that President Donald Trump […]
Allies worry Trump isn’t ready for gathering storm
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump’s advisers and allies are increasingly worried that he has neither the staff nor the strategy to protect himself from a possible Democratic takeover of the House, which would empower the opposition party to shower the administration with subpoenas or even pursue impeachment charges. Within Trump’s orbit, there is consensus that […]
Congress at crossroads after another GOP health care failure
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress is at a crossroads after Republicans’ stinging failure to repeal Barack Obama’s health care law. But what’s next — more partisan conflict, or a pragmatic shift toward cooperation? Unless Republicans and Democrats in Congress can work together — and bring along an often unpredictable President Donald Trump — political conflict over […]
Pope Francis makes appeals to Congress
Pope Francis plunged into the melting pot of New York on Thursday after reminding the country of its immigrant origins in the first papal speech before Congress. At an evening prayer service in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, he thanked American nuns for their strength and courage in a deeply meaningful acknowledgement of their service following a […]
Aetna, Anthem make case for health insurance mergers
WASHINGTON — The leaders of two major health insurers planning separate multi-billion dollar acquisitions made the case for the deals to Congress as senators questioned whether they would hurt competition and raise prices for consumers. Blue Cross-Blue Shield insurer Anthem plans to buy Cigna for $48 billion, and rival Aetna is looking to buy Medicare […]
Schumer talks about stalled judicial nominations
The nomination of Buffalo attorney Lawrence J. Vilardo for a federal judgeship should come up for a vote on the Senate floor before the end of the year, according to Sen. Charles E. Schumer. New York’s senior senator Thursday told media in a conference call with members of the Alliance for Justice that Vilardo’s nomination […]
Schumer’s pope lottery
The office of U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer is conducting a statewide lottery for one ticket to the joint meeting of Congress which Pope Francis will address on Sept. 24. Schumer received one guest ticket. Requests are pouring in from across New York from those trying to see Pope Francis and experience a piece of […]
Pope and Congress: Francis is certain to challenge lawmakers
A political pope is sure to seize his opportunity when he addresses a political body. So both Democrats and Republicans are looking forward to Pope Francis’ remarks to Congress next month — and bracing for them, too. The pope thrills Democrats with his teachings on climate change, social justice and immigration. At the same time, […]
Case Digests
- Fourth Department – Breach of contract: Hausrath Landscape Maintenance Inc. v. Caravan Facilities Management LLC
- Second Circuit – New York Child Victim’s Act: Kane v. Mount Pleasant CSD; Coe v. Eastport Union Free School
- NYS Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics – Appointing law clerk: Opinion 22-149
- Fourth Department – Bill of particulars: Harris v. Rome Memorial Hospital, et al.
- NYS Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics – Accusations against co-judge: Opinion 22-148
- Fourth Department – Medicaid: Washington Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing Home v. NYS Dept. of Health
- Fourth Department – Criminal possession of a firearm: People v. Wilson
- Fourth Department – Promoting prostitution: People v. Watts
- Second Circuit – Class certification: Arkansas Teachers Retirement System V. Goldman Sachs Group Inc.
- Fourth Department – Show-up identification: People v. Waggoner
- Fourth Department – Association: Victory Village Tenants Assoc. v. Evergreen Communities, et al.
- Second Circuit – In personam jurisdiction: Kaplan v. Bank Saderat PLC
Law News
- Greenlight Networks selects Buffalo-based attorney as general counsel
- Barclay Damon hires attorney Matt Smith
- Rochester man sues Geneseo police, alleging false arrest, assault
- The Daily Record’s Power List for Intellectual Property 2023
- NY ethics panel says judges can join NRA
- Harter Secrest & Emery LLP names partner-in-charge of Buffalo office
- Banned professor sues SUNY Fredonia leaders
- Hochul signs law requiring unemployment insurance information from employers