DOJ Files Simultaneous Second Amendment Suits Against Virginia and CaliforniaJuly 6, 2026Law and PolicyThe DOJ filed twin Second Amendment lawsuits July 1, 2026, against Virginia and California, challenging new state gun bans and seeking permanent injunctions in both cases.
Federal Jury Convicts Petersburg Man on Child Sex Trafficking ChargesJuly 6, 2026VerdictsA federal jury in Alexandria convicted Marcus Keon Ruffin of child sex trafficking and felon in possession of a firearm in the Eastern District of Virginia on July 1, 2026.
Federal Jury Convicts North Carolina Man in Minor Catfishing CaseJuly 6, 2026VerdictsA federal jury in Alexandria, Virginia convicted Matthew Thomas Becker on two counts for catfishing a 14-year-old on X and receiving child sexual abuse material.
Judge Blocks Trump IRS Settlement Fund as Officials Defy Declaration OrderJuly 1, 2026Legal NewsA Virginia federal judge blocked a $1.776 billion Trump IRS settlement fund on June 12, and the government refused to submit court-ordered sworn declarations, citing separation of powers.
D’Marrell Mitchell Sentenced to 224 Months for Multi-State Robbery ConspiracyJune 19, 2026Law and PolicyD'Marrell Mitchell was sentenced to 224 months in federal prison for leading a multi-state robbery spree targeting pharmacies and phone stores across four jurisdictions.
Four Massachusetts Men Sentenced for Darknet Fentanyl Pill Conspiracy Tied to Dozens of DeathsJune 9, 2026Law and PolicyFour Lynn, Massachusetts men received a combined 57-plus years in federal prison for a darknet pill conspiracy involving fentanyl, Nitazenes, and over a dozen fatal overdoses.
American Journalist Thomas Pauken II Pleads Guilty to Acting as China’s AgentJune 9, 2026Law and PolicyAmerican journalist Thomas Pauken II pleaded guilty June 4 to acting as an unregistered Chinese government agent, facing up to 10 years at a September sentencing.
Two Federal Courts Block Trump-IRS Settlement Fund, Order Fraud InquiryJune 4, 2026Law and PolicyTwo federal courts blocked elements of the Trump-IRS settlement on June 1, 2026, freezing a $1.8 billion fund and ordering a fraud-on-the-court inquiry.
Virginia Supreme Court Weighs Whether Redistricting Amendment Was Lawfully EnactedMay 29, 2026Legal NewsVirginia's high court heard arguments April 27 on whether a timing defect voids a voter-approved redistricting amendment that could shift four U.S. House seats.
Supreme Court’s Callais Ruling Derails 28 Minority Voting Rights LawsuitsMay 29, 2026Legal NewsThe Supreme Court's Callais ruling has derailed 28 minority voting rights lawsuits and triggered mid-decade redistricting across the South ahead of the 2026 midterms.