AGP Executive Report

U.S. Courts: A federal judge ruled E. Jean Carroll can collect $5.8 million held in escrow from Trump’s sex-abuse and defamation case, while Trump’s lawyers immediately sought to block payment pending appeal. Philippines Impeachment: Prosecutors in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial said they won’t seek to sideline senator-judges, arguing neutrality rules already bind them. Judicial Conduct: South Africa’s Judicial Conduct Committee found Limpopo Judge President George Phatudi guilty of misconduct for failing to recuse in a land dispute tied to his former client work. Criminal Justice: Utah’s Charlie Kirk murder preliminary hearing continued with a judge ordering redactions to a roommate’s video testimony as prosecutors pursue the death penalty. South Korea: The Supreme Court finalized ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol’s seven-year prison term over the 2024 martial law crackdown. Housing & Social Policy: Spain’s Constitutional Court rejected Catalonia’s challenge to the Housing Law, and Vietnam released a draft to revise its Social Insurance Law to expand support for beneficiaries. Corporate/Legal Services: Epiq acquired Tenor Legal to expand access to legal talent across major markets.

Immigration & Criminal Justice: A 19-year-old arrested after an unintentional shooting in Wichita that injured a 12-year-old girl made his first court appearance, with prosecutors charging aggravated battery and holding him for federal immigration custody. Workplace Rights: A New Zealand court judgment examined allegations of race, pregnancy, and sexual harassment at WINC, focusing on the company’s grievance and anti-harassment systems. Human Rights / Decriminalization: The UK Privy Council is set to hear a final appeal that could decriminalize gay sex in Trinidad and Tobago, after years of litigation over colonial-era “buggery” laws. Personal Injury Litigation: A Southern California family sued a Bay Club after a daycare worker allegedly tossed their 23-month-old child about six feet, causing a traumatic brain injury and alleged misstatements to parents. Courts & Confidentiality: Shia LaBeouf asked a court to enforce arbitration and confidentiality against FKA Twigs, arguing she’s trying to keep attacking him publicly despite a settlement. Election Law: A D.C. judge refused to pause an order blocking DHS from using the SAVE citizenship database to certify voters, citing conflicting court orders and government missteps. Tech & Competition: Apple lost again in Europe over DMA gatekeeper rules, with the EU General Court upholding the designation. US Politics / Constitutional Law: Trump said he will seek Supreme Court rehearing of the birthright citizenship ruling, calling it a “miscarriage of justice.” Public Records: A lawsuit seeks North Miami Beach mayor investigation records, arguing the city must produce interview materials under public records law.

Philippines Impeachment: The Senate impeachment court will issue a subpoena to Vice President Sara Duterte’s chief of staff, Atty. Zuleika Lopez, as the prosecution presses testimony tied to alleged assassination threats. Vermont Public Lands: Vermont AG Charity Clark announced a settlement over illegal mountain bike trail construction in Mt. Mansfield State Forest, with damages and removal of trail features. Animal Cruelty Case: An Amish dog breeder’s bid to enter diversionary court was rejected again after charges over killing puppies. Criminal Procedure (UK): A Belfast man accused of attempted murder had proceedings moved back four weeks as the case heads toward Crown Court. Corporate/Employment Law: A court ruling on cleaning contracts clarified when workers can be treated as employees based on how services fit a client’s business. Defamation (US): A federal judge tossed Trump Media’s $3.8B defamation suit against The Washington Post, citing failure to meet the “actual malice” standard. EU Tech Regulation: Apple lost its EU challenge to being designated a gatekeeper under the DMA. Housing Funding (US): Multistate attorneys general sued HUD over alleged unlawful caps affecting permanent supportive housing funding. International Politics (Brazil): Federal police searched former President Bolsonaro’s home for weapons, finding nothing, according to his lawyer. International Courts (EU): The European Commission referred Hungary to the EU’s top court over retail margin caps. Kenya Rule-of-Law Push: The Law Society of Kenya called for a nationwide march for justice after the deaths of two lawyers, demanding a special multi-agency investigation.

Vermont & Gender-Affirming Care: Vermont joined a federal lawsuit challenging a Trump executive order and DOJ memo that would restructure gender-affirming healthcare for under-19s, arguing it violates the 10th Amendment by forcing states to choose between federal directives and state protections. Florida “Stop WOKE” Fight: A U.S. appeals court struck down parts of Florida’s 2022 law restricting how race- and sexism-related ideas can be taught in college classrooms, rejecting the state’s “salary-for-speech” theory while leaving K-12 limits in place. U.S. Election Subpoena Block: A federal judge quashed a grand jury subpoena seeking broad personal data on 2020 election workers in Fulton County, calling the request “staggering” and tied to a wider push to relitigate the 2020 election. B.C. vs. OpenAI: British Columbia hired lawyers to sue OpenAI over the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting, pointing to reported concerns raised by staff about ChatGPT-related posts before the attack. Anchorage Port Settlement: Anchorage and the federal government settled a long-running Don Young Port modernization dispute, with $180 million earmarked for construction. Child Safety & Courts: An Arkansas attorney general announced a guilty plea in a child pornography case; separately, a Los Angeles family sued a Bay Club over a toddler injury allegedly caused by an employee’s drop. Public Lands Enforcement: Vermont’s AG announced a settlement over illegal mountain bike trail construction in Mt. Mansfield State Forest, including $35,000 in timber trespass damages and removal of features. Impeachment in the Philippines: The Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte moved into evidence, with prosecutors presenting a first NBI witness and signaling they may call Duterte as a hostile witness.

Philippines Impeachment: The House prosecution in Vice President Sara Duterte’s Senate trial asked the impeachment court to issue subpoenas for her tax and bank records, with the defense getting five days to respond before oral arguments. US Immigration Lawsuit: An AP-reported filing alleges Trump-era immigration agencies shared confidential information about Iranian asylum seekers with Iran, raising claims of regulatory violations and risk to detainees. UK Media Privacy: Prince Harry, Elton John and others lost their High Court privacy case against Daily Mail publisher Associated Newspapers, with the judge finding the claimants failed to prove unlawful information gathering. France Far-Right Trial: A Paris appeals court upheld Marine Le Pen’s EU-funds conviction but shortened her ban on office, adding an electronic ankle tag that could complicate a 2027 run. South Africa Asylum Rights: The Constitutional Court confirmed parts of the Refugees Act invalid that had blocked new asylum seekers from applying, reinforcing protections against exclusion. Labor Trafficking (CA): Los Angeles County’s signed law lets prosecutors pursue labor trafficking and wage theft across county lines, effective Jan. 1, 2027. Connecticut Consumer Alert: After severe storms, Connecticut AG Tong and Consumer Protection Commissioner Cafferelli warned residents about clean-up scams and urged use of licensed, insured contractors. China Corruption: A Chinese court sentenced former Nanjing official Yang Youlin to death for bribes totaling over $325 million.

Impeachment in the Philippines: Vice President Sara Duterte skipped the opening day of her Senate impeachment trial, arguing her appearance is a legal-strategy and constitutional-right issue, while the Senate proceeded with her lawyers. US Supreme Court & First Amendment: The Court rejected emergency bids to block Texas’s app-store age-verification law, letting the requirement stand after lower courts found it likely constitutional. Online misinformation rules: South Korea’s revised law took effect, requiring large platforms to set procedures for handling falsified information and allowing takedowns and account suspensions. Pentagon press access: A federal judge blocked the Pentagon from enforcing a policy requiring journalists to be escorted at all times. Criminal courts (US): In Utah, the preliminary hearing began for Tyler Robinson in the killing of Charlie Kirk, with prosecutors presenting evidence and seeking the death penalty. Civil rights & policing: Worcester reached a settlement in a lawsuit over police conduct during the 2020 George Floyd protests, with the case dismissed pending paperwork. AI governance (Illinois): Illinois signed AI safety legislation requiring third-party audits for frontier models. International anti-corruption: Bulgaria’s Supreme Administrative Court elected Judge Mariana Shoteva to its Commission for Counteracting Corruption.

Philippines Impeachment Trial: The Senate impeachment court opened Vice President Sara Duterte’s case with a defense win after it rejected the prosecution’s push for arraignment on Day One, while prosecutors and defense sparred over procedure and the handling of a sealed box of Duterte’s tax records, which the court ordered returned to the Bureau of Internal Revenue because it hasn’t been placed under the court’s custody or admitted as evidence. Rule-of-Law Clash: Palace officials told Duterte to “practice what she preaches” after Marcos Jr. said it would be easier for her to appear, and impeachment advisers stressed that winning votes doesn’t excuse breaking the law. Malaysia Competition Reform: Malaysia’s Dewan Rakyat passed the Competition Commission (Amendment) Bill 2026 to strengthen MyCC powers, including broader market review authority. Singapore Speech Case: Malaysia’s High Court dismissed a challenge by Lawyers for Liberty seeking a declaration that Singapore’s POFMA has no extraterritorial effect. Iowa Police Training Repeal: Iowa’s implicit bias training requirement for law enforcement was repealed, ending annual de-escalation and bias training tied to the 2020 law. Israel Courts vs Government: Israel’s High Court dispute over the media regulator continues to escalate as officials signal they may not comply, raising constitutional crisis concerns. Kenya Legal Community: Kenya’s Law Society mourned the murder of advocate Edward Muthee Kariuki and urged swift, impartial investigations.

US Courts & Rights: A federal judge ordered the USDA to reinstate 24 land access grants worth $127M after the agency terminated them, including awards to Native-led groups, while litigation continues. Elections Law: Kenya’s IEBC is seeking sweeping legal reforms for the 2027 election, aiming to close gaps exposed in 2022 across campaign finance, party nominations, election tech, results handling, and disputes. Supreme Court Watch: The US Supreme Court set up next-term arguments on guns, voting restrictions, and LGBT rights, with additional major corporate disputes also in the mix. Rule-of-Law Crisis (Israel): Netanyahu’s government says it will ignore a High Court ruling over Israel’s broadcast regulator, escalating into a constitutional crisis. Local Press & AI: Small newspapers sued OpenAI and Microsoft over alleged use of news content to train AI, arguing the outcome could shape the survival of local journalism. Consumer Protection: Texas AG Ken Paxton opened an investigation into StubHub over reports of “ghost ticketing” for World Cup matches. Human Rights/Justice: The Philippine Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte is set to begin, with possible permanent disqualification if convicted. Access to Justice (US): North Carolina faces criticism for budget moves that weaken civil legal aid funding for low-income residents. Workplace Law (Australia): Victoria’s new work-from-home law could spread nationally by making flexible arrangements harder to refuse.

Impeachment Watch (Philippines): Lawyers say Vice President Sara Duterte could still resign to avoid her Senate impeachment trial, but a Bayan Muna lawyer argues resignation won’t erase “perpetual disqualification” once the Articles reach the Senate. Media Regulator Clash (Israel): Israel’s cabinet says it will not recognize actions by the Second Authority for Television and Radio if quorum requirements aren’t met, directly challenging an interim High Court order and escalating a cabinet-vs-judiciary power fight. US Election Law (Supreme Court): The Supreme Court rejected a Republican push to restrict mail voting by barring ballots arriving after Election Day, a key win in the broader anti-voting litigation push. Trans Athletes (US): The Court upheld state bans requiring athletes to compete based on sex at birth, drawing sharp reactions from trans athletes and advocates. Human Rights Detention (Gaza/Israel): A lawyer for detained doctor Hussam Abu Safiya says he’s in critical condition after alleged abuse in captivity. Criminal Justice Data (California): AG Rob Bonta released 2025 criminal justice statistics, including homicide and property crime declines. UK Postal Law: A reminder that opening someone else’s misdelivered mail can be a criminal offense under the Postal Service Act 2000.

Surrogacy & Family Law: A New Zealand Family Court granted an adoption order to a same-sex US couple so they can bring a US-born surrogate child to NZ, after NZ law failed to recognize the men as legal parents and blocked citizenship. Criminal Justice: In Bukidnon, a man surrendered after allegedly stabbing his brother-in-law over an unpaid debt, with charges pending before prosecutors. Constitutional & Rule-of-Law Debate: Fiji’s HRADC warned that indefinite immunity in the 2013 Constitution could undermine accountability and constitutional supremacy. Urban Planning & Rights: India’s Supreme Court “right to walk” ruling is being framed as a broader mandate to prioritize streets and pedestrian safety over vehicle-focused road building. US Courts: A federal judge denied Trump’s bid to delay paying E. Jean Carroll $5.8M, setting a short deadline for his response. Tech & Consumer Protection: New Jersey passed a surveillance-pricing ban as JetBlue faces federal class actions alleging individualized fare setting via tracking. International Elections: Armenia’s Constitutional Court upheld June 7 parliamentary election results, rejecting challenges by seven political forces. Human Rights & Violence: France saw tens of thousands march demanding stronger laws against sexual violence after the killing of an 11-year-old girl. Legal System Capacity: Pakistan’s new anti-drug court in Rawalpindi reportedly can’t start hearings due to courtroom assignment delays, leaving hundreds of cases stalled.

Impeachment Procedure (Philippines): The Senate, acting as an impeachment court, ordered Vice President Sara Duterte to appear in person (or via counsel) as her trial opens July 6, with security and hall arrangements already set. Criminal Procedure (Nigeria): A Federal High Court in Warri ordered a church founder to pay ₦200m and rebuild a destroyed Niger Delta shrine, finding the act violated constitutional religious freedom. Bail & Riot Case (India): A Delhi court rejected fresh bail pleas by Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the 2020 riots “larger conspiracy” case, saying it was bound by the Supreme Court’s earlier denial and that the applications were not maintainable. Environmental Regulation (Serbia): Serbia adopted a draft Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control law, aiming to simplify and digitize integrated permit issuance and boost transparency and inspections. AI Regulation (India): India’s IT Secretary said existing laws may need a dedicated AI regulatory framework, with discussions already underway. Law & Order (Louisiana, US): Louisiana’s Supreme Court vacated an arrest warrant for Attorney General Liz Murrill, pausing the state’s next steps pending further court direction. Family Law (Karnataka, India): Karnataka High Court set aside a visitation order for a father who had voluntarily relinquished visitation rights in a divorce settlement. Labor/Employment (UK): A former waiter at a Mayfair casino filed an employment tribunal complaint over service-charge and tip sharing rules, citing fairness and transparency requirements.

Impeachment Watch (Philippines): The Senate has ordered Vice President Sara Duterte to appear in person (or via counsel) for her impeachment trial starting Monday, July 6, with security and the session hall already rearranged. Deepfakes & Speech (India): Preity Zinta has asked the Bombay High Court for urgent orders to stop and remove AI deepfake videos and other unauthorised content, targeting platforms and intermediaries. Criminal Justice (Kenya): Kenya’s Supreme Court said the killing of journalist Arshad Sharif by police violated his right to life, but refused to force prosecutions or raise compensation. Animal Poisoning Case (US): A Minnesota judge ordered two residents to remove rat poison after the state alleged they placed it illegally and with intent to harm dogs. Corporate Restructuring (UK): High Court approval clears TGJones’ restructuring, including store closures and rent cuts for landlords and suppliers. Defamation & Media (Ireland/UK): Bob Vylan has launched High Court defamation proceedings against the BBC over how it handled comments during their Glastonbury set. Politics & Courts (France): Marine Le Pen is awaiting a July 7 ruling that could decide whether she can run for president after an election ban appeal. Sports Policy (US): Penn faculty are reacting to the Supreme Court’s transgender-athlete decision, noting it upheld state bans under Title IX while leaving broader constitutional questions unsettled. Cybercrime (Nigeria): EFCC chief Ola Olukoyede says fraudsters compromised a serving judge’s bank account and withdrew millions, underscoring risks to the justice system. Election Law (Pakistan): Pakistan’s Supreme Appellate Court ordered re-polling at eight stations in Diamer after findings of violence and interference. Criminal Procedure (India): India’s Supreme Court refused to stay bail for Sonam Raghuvanshi in the murder case, while hearing the state’s challenge. Local Government (US): A federal judge ordered new election district lines for Louisiana’s DeSoto Police Jury, appointing a special master to redraw boundaries. Human Rights/Detention (Brazil): Brazil’s top court kept and expanded Bolsonaro’s house arrest after a pistol was found with his escort. Defamation (Armenia): “Mother Armenia” leader Andranik Tevanyan filed a defamation suit seeking retractions and damages against Armenia’s parliament speaker.

Philippines Impeachment: The Senate impeachment court has ordered Vice President Sara Duterte to appear in person (or via counsel) for the formal start of her trial on July 6, setting the opening schedule and confirming the Senate is ready to proceed. Human Rights/Police Accountability: Lawyers for drug-war victims asked the Philippine Supreme Court to act on consolidated writ of amparo petitions tied to alleged harassment in 26 Manila communities, seeking protection for affected families. U.S. Education Debt: A federal court permanently blocked a U.S. Department of Education rule that would have tightened eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness, backing a coalition led by Attorney General Kwame Raoul. EU Rights & Identity: The European Court of Human Rights ruled Poland violated a child’s rights by refusing to register a UK birth certificate listing two women as parents, leaving the child in legal uncertainty. India Election Integrity: Karnataka’s High Court questioned claims of postal ballot tampering, pointing to the Election Commission’s custody of ballots. Regulation vs Deadlines (India): The Supreme Court sharply criticized India’s Pharmacy Council for repeatedly missing approval/admission timelines. Corporate Insolvency (South Korea): A Seoul bankruptcy court ended Homeplus’s rehabilitation plan after it failed to secure required funding, pushing the retailer toward liquidation. Louisiana AG: Louisiana’s Supreme Court temporarily blocked the arrest of AG Liz Murrill after an indictment, signaling she may succeed on procedural or legal grounds.

US Voting Rights: A federal judge ordered the government to end a plan to use the SAVE immigration database to purge voter rolls, warning it trampled privacy and threatened the right to vote. Elections & Mail Voting: Nevada AG Aaron Ford backed a Supreme Court ruling allowing mail ballots to count if postmarked by and received within five days of Election Day, calling it a win for state election control. Trump Administration in Court: A federal appeals court lifted a key legal hold on the Trump administration’s plan to install new “President’s House” exhibits at Philadelphia’s National Park site, clearing the way for work to begin. Public Service Loan Forgiveness: A judge permanently blocked the administration from denying PSLF to teachers, nurses, and other public servants over employer “ideology” alignment. AI & Defense: Anthropic sued the Pentagon after it labeled the company a “supply chain risk” over Claude safety limits on autonomous weapons and mass surveillance. Florida Terror Designations: Civil rights groups sued over Florida’s new “domestic terrorist” designation regime after DeSantis moved to label CAIR and others. Environment Court: Auckland’s Milenta restaurant won a temporary stay against an order requiring removal tied to consent disputes. Criminal Justice: A Thane court acquitted a woman in a human trafficking case, citing the prosecution’s failure to examine key victims and a decoy customer. Local Law & Policy: Iowa counties face implementation headaches after a new state speed limit law raised many roads from 55 to 60 mph.

US DOJ & Extremism Law: After the Tacloban school shooting, the Philippines’ Department of Justice urged lawmakers to pass a statute targeting “nihilistic violent extremism,” saying online grooming of youth may be part of the pattern. UK Sentencing Appeal: The Court of Appeal increased detention for two teen rapists, finding a trial judge was wrong to avoid custody as “last resort.” Nigeria Rights Case: An Abuja court adjourned Emeka Ike’s ₦10bn privacy suit against INEC and a Wike aide, ordering INEC to be properly served. EU Antitrust: The EU’s top court upheld Google’s record €4.1bn Android fine, ending another appeal over alleged throttling of competition. Access to Justice: UNDP and Ireland donated electric tuk-tuks to expand legal aid outreach in Zanzibar. US Immigration & Voting: The Supreme Court’s birthright citizenship ruling is now driving DOJ “birth tourism” enforcement focus, while a separate decision preserved states’ mail-ballot grace periods. China Minorities Law: China’s new “ethnic unity” law took effect, raising fears of accelerated assimilation and overseas reach.

US Supreme Court Immigration: The Court voted 6-3 to uphold birthright citizenship, rejecting Trump’s executive order that would have stripped citizenship from many children born in the US to parents on illegal or temporary status—an outcome Iowa groups are celebrating as a constitutional win. US Gun Rights Litigation: The Supreme Court agreed to hear challenges to state assault-weapon bans, while the Justice Department sued Virginia over a new semi-automatic rifle restriction, arguing it violates the Second Amendment. Courtroom Conduct: In the Karen Read wrongful death case, a judge ordered all lawyers to certify whether they leaked impounded medical information about ex-trooper Michael Proctor after it appeared on X. Public Safety & Policing: A federal appeals court ruled ICE’s “no bond” guidance unlawful and ordered release of a long-detained man, and a judge blocked New Hampshire’s voter-roll handover demand. Mass Violence Sentencing: In the UK, the Attorney General argued “only appropriate sentence” for teens who raped two girls should be detention after they were spared jail. Corporate/Consumer Legal: Red Lobster creditors revived scrutiny of the “Endless Shrimp” deal via a new lawsuit alleging a supplier-driven scheme.