Harris mixed criminal justice reform with tough-on-crime stance, LA court closed post ransomware attack, Hunter Biden trial to start Sept. 9 and more?
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?? Good morning from The Legal File! Here is the rundown of today's top legal news:
??As a prosecutor, Harris mixed criminal justice reform with tough-on-crime approach
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, whom Joe Biden has endorsed to replace him on the Democratic presidential ticket, started her political career as a California prosecutor who blended criminal justice reforms with a tough stance on some crimes.
Over more than a dozen years as San Francisco's district attorney and then as California's attorney general, Harris took some stances welcomed by the party's left flank, including opposition to the death penalty and staking out a hard line during negotiations with big banks over home foreclosure abuses.
As district attorney, Harris drew praise from progressives for implementing a program to help young people arrested on non-violent offenses get job training, substance abuse treatment and housing. As attorney general, she launched bias training for state police officers.
But she rankled progressive critics with other moves, including a policy of criminally prosecuting parents of children who skipped school and rejecting a request for DNA testing from a Black man on death row who says he was wrongfully convicted of murder.
??Los Angeles court closed after ransomware attack
The Los Angeles Superior Court, the largest single unified trial court in the country, was closed on July 22 after it announced that a ransomware attack affected its systems late last week.
The court said on July 21 that all 36 courthouse locations in the county would not open on July 22 as court personnel and security experts work to repair network systems that were "severely impacted" by a ransomware attack that was detected on July 19.
Parts of the website for the court remained offline on July 22 afternoon. The attackers have not been publicly identified, and a court spokesperson on Monday declined to offer an update on the timeline for reopening other than to refer to an earlier statement that said operations are expected to resume today.
The affected systems include the court's jury duty portal and internal systems for case management and other functions, the court said.
After the attack, "every electronic platform containing court data was rendered inaccessible as was any device that was connected to the internet, including the Court's telephone systems," according to a July 21 order signed by Los Angeles Superior Court Presiding Judge Samantha Jessner.
??Former attorney general Holder to vet Harris' potential running mates
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Former attorney general Eric Holder and his law firm, Covington & Burling, will conduct vetting of potential running mates for Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign for the U.S. presidency , according to two sources familiar with the matter.
Harris is running for the Democratic presidential nomination after President Joe Biden announced on July 21 he was stepping aside.
Holder served as attorney general for President Barack Obama for six years and was the first African American to hold the country's top law enforcement job.
Holder is a civil rights advocate and chairs the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, which works to oppose Republican gerrymandering - efforts by politicians to redraw voting maps in U.S. states to give their party an advantage. The group argues that Republicans have used the power of "redistricting" to disenfranchise voters, especially people of color.
His involvement in the vetting process may reassure Democrats that a longtime political and legal hand is helping to ensure Harris' pick, should she win the nomination, is free of major conflicts. Any choice needs also to be suited to help her beat Republican Donald Trump and potentially assume the presidency someday if she were to triumph in November but then at some point be unable to complete her duties.
??Hunter Biden's criminal tax trial to begin Sept. 9, judge says
The criminal tax trial for President Joe Biden's son Hunter will begin on Sept. 9, the U.S. federal judge presiding over the case said in a filing on July 22.
The Department of Justice charged Hunter Biden in December with failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes between 2016 and 2019, while allegedly spending millions of dollars on drugs, escorts, exotic cars and other big-ticket items.
Hunter Biden has pleaded guilty to the charges. In June, he was convicted by a federal jury in Delaware on separate charges of lying about his illegal drug use to buy a gun. That made him the first child of a sitting U.S. president to be convicted of a crime.
?? That's all for today, thank you for reading?The Legal File, and have a great day!
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4 个月FTC must hold Amazon and UPS responsible for stealing customers money and not refunding after receiving returns.? Amazon keeps customers refunds and then resales returned used items as new without telling customer they are buying used goods.?Care about the American people? Hold Indias customer service and Bezos responsible for not refunding in full Amazons refunds to Americans for goods they returned in perfect condition back to Amazon. Their online states gift cards will be refunded in 2-4 hours after return is received. My gift card return was mailed to Amazon at UPS by me on July 8. They received it July 10 and India CS says it will take 6 months to get a refund because it takes India CS that long to locate returns. They also state online they are taking out $7.99 for UPS pick up but UPS did not pick the 3 pckgs up. They left tags on my door even though I waited home ALL DAY and had Huge sign on my door telling them to knock on door so I could give them my pckgs. They never knocked on door and are colluding with Amazon in defrauding Americans of their money. What is Biden, Harris abd Trump doing about getting Americans their money back from these illegal practices by Amazon and UPS?
In the community and keeping it R.E.A.L. (Relationship, Encourage, Authentic and Loving)
4 个月I'm Not For The Death Penalty!!! She Shares She's Smart On Crime! My Question Is Has Crime Across The United States Dropped During Her Time As vp? A Friend Of Mine Is A Retired Lawyer Who Was A Partner At A Large Law Firm! This Law Firm Did International Law This Person Looked At Lawyers As Scum And The Only Way A Lawyer Could Be Worse Scum Was To Go Into Politics! I Have Family And Friends Who Are AMAZING LAWYERS!!! As Well I'm An Independent Associate With LegalShield! I Celebrate R.E.A.L. Healthy Productive Completing Mindset Lawyers!!! R. Relationships E. Encourage A. Authentic L. Loving