Prison Agreement: District Court Judge Lance Africk has ordered the Department of Justice and law enforcement in New Orleans to come up with an agreement to bring the reportedly over-crowded and dangerous Orleans Parish Prison under federal supervision, bestofneworleans.com reported. The DOJ has been negotiating a deal for more than a year.
Execution Stopped: District Judge Nancy Atlas has blocked the execution of a Texas man that was scheduled for this week, the Associated Press reported. Jonathan Green, 44, was scheduled for a lethal injection for his conviction in the 2000 abduction, rape and strangling of a 12-year-old girl. "It is clear from the record that, at a minimum, the trial court prevented Green from presenting testimony by treating mental health professionals, relied on an order solicited from and drafted by the state to which Green had no opportunity to object, and applied at least one incorrect legal standard," Atlas ruled.
Abortion Law Debated: District Judge Neil Wake is being asked to stop Arizona from enforcing a new law targeting Planned Parenthood funding, KNAU Arizona public radio reported. Planned Parenthood argued the legislation appears designed to force it to choose between either dropping the Medicaid women as clients - or getting out of the abortion business.
New Chief: District Judge Thomas Varlan will become the chief judge in the Eastern District of Tennessee, WBIR reports. Varlan succeeds Judge Curtis Collier of Chattanooga.
Pleasure Denied?: District Judge Henry Autrey is deciding whether a small town south of St. Louis must give a business license to Pure Pleasure Boutique, an adult-themed shop, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
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