Top 8 today

Top eight stories for today including President Biden called on Congress to pause the federal gas tax for 90 days; A new flash point erupted between Russia and the West after Lithuania said it is blocking sanctioned Russian goods from reaching a Baltic Sea enclave; A Texas judge refused to dismiss a disciplinary action against a former Trump attorney, and more.

National

Gun control work by 6th Circuit pick draws GOP shelling

The Senate Judiciary Committee put their focus Wednesday on four judicial nominees, including a Sixth Circuit contender whose history on gun control cases and pro bono work drew Republican criticism.

Rachel Bloomekatz, Biden's nominee to serve as a judge on the Sixth Circuit, testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee during her confirmation hearing on June 22, 2022. (Screenshot via Courthouse News)

Putting brakes on the gas tax? Lawmakers pushed to get ’er done!

President Joe Biden called on Congress Wednesday to pause the federal gas tax for the next 90 days during the summer travel season, promising a seal of approval on legislation that’s been proposed in both chambers of the body.

High gas prices are shown in Los Angeles on June 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

Regional

Texas judge refuses to dismiss disciplinary case against former Trump attorney

A Texas judge refused Wednesday to dismiss a disciplinary action by the State Bar of Texas against former Trump attorney Sidney Powell, who told the judge she is the victim of a “political hitjob” by Democrats.

The Collin County Courthouse in McKinney, Texas, on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, before a hearing on a motion to dismiss a lawsuit against attorney Sidney Powell. (David Lee/Courthouse News)

Driver with schizophrenia ruled not responsible for Times Square rampage

A New York City jury returned a verdict on Wednesday finding that the U.S. Navy veteran who sped his Honda Accord through three blocks of Times Square in 2017, killing one tourist and injuring at least 20 others, was not responsible for 24 counts of murder and assault.

Richard Rojas appears in court for the start of his trial in New York on May 9, 2022. Prosecutors are largely relying on the testimony of victims to make a case against Rojas that could put him behind bars for decades. His lawyers are saying he had a mental breakdown that day and had no capacity to understand what he was doing. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Cop who killed hero who stopped active shooter sued

An Arvada, Colorado, police officer shot and killed a good Samaritan even though he looked nothing like the shooting suspect. Now the man’s family is suing the officer.

Police mistook Johnny Hurley, right, for an active shooter, left, on June 21, 2021 in Arvada, Colo. (Matthew Cron).

International

Russia-EU clash over Kaliningrad enclave blockade as war rages on

Russia made an unspecified warning that it will retaliate against a move from Lithuania, a member of EU and NATO, to block large volumes of sanctioned Russian goods from reaching the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea.

Ukrainian soldiers fire at Russian positions from a U.S.-supplied M777 howitzer in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region on June 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky, File)

Denmark to offer fourth Covid vaccine dose amid surge in infections

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and health authorities introduced a new strategy Wednesday to prevent a serious Covid-19 outbreak that includes offering vulnerable Danes a fourth vaccine shot.

In this Wednesday, April 21, 2021, file photo, young people sit outside a restaurant for outdoor service in Roskilde, Denmark. (Claus Bech/Ritzau Scanpix via AP, File)

EU court tosses Ryanair challenge to Covid bailout for rival airline

Irish airline Ryanair failed to convince the European Union’s second-highest court that Finland’s financial support for carrier Finnair violated state aid rules.

A Ryanair plane takes off from Budapest Airport in Budapest, Hungary, on June 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Anna Szilagyi)

Categories / Closing Arguments

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.