judge - The Salt Lake Tribune

Trump prevails in civil case over woman, 87

Thu, 23 May 2013 18:30:03 MDT

Trump prevails in civil case over woman, 87

By MICHAEL TARM The Associated Press

Updated May 23, 2013 06:30PM MDT

Chicago • An 87-year-old grandmother took on billionaire Donald Trump. And on Thursday — she lost. Jurors sided with the real estate mogul-turned-TV showman in a weeklong civil trial focused on Jacqueline Goldberg’s claim that Trump cheated her in a condo bait-and-switch scheme in a Chicago skyscraper he built. The federal jury in Chicago returned with a finding in Trump’s favor after deliberating for more than five hours over two days. Goldberg, of Evanston, had sought damages totaling around ...

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Jurors deadlock on Jodi Arias penalty; retrial set

Thu, 23 May 2013 18:05:14 MDT

Jurors deadlock on Jodi Arias penalty; retrial set

By BRIAN SKOLOFF and JOSH HOFFNER The Associated Press

Updated May 23, 2013 06:05PM MDT

Phoenix • The jury in Jodi Arias’ murder trial was dismissed Thursday after failing to reach a verdict against the woman they convicted of murdering her one-time boyfriend in a case that captured headlines worldwide with its sex, lies, violence. A new panel likely will be seated to try again to reach a decision on a sentence — unless the prosecutor takes death off the table agrees to a life sentence. The judge scheduled a retrial for July 18. “Sorry,” one female juror mouthed to the family of th...

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Arena Football League set to touch down in China

Thu, 23 May 2013 13:15:17 MDT

Arena Football League set to touch down in China

The Associated Press

Updated May 23, 2013 01:15PM MDT

Philadelphia • The AFL is set to go long — really long — and touch down in China. The Arena Football League is taking expansion to a global level with plans to export their 50-yard fields and high-scoring offenses to Asia. Are you ready for some “Mei shi gan lan qiu!?” That’s the loose translation of “football” in Chinese and Philadelphia Soul ownership, led by former NFL quarterback Ron Jaworski, believed the time was right to give the world’s most populous country an untraditional taste ...

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Judge: No hearing on warrant that led to death of Utah officer

Thu, 23 May 2013 00:31:08 MDT

Judge: No hearing on warrant that led to death of Utah officer

By jessica miller The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 23, 2013 12:31AM MDT

Ogden • Attorneys for Matthew David Stewart on Wednesday failed to convince a judge to hold a special hearing on their claim that a police officer lied to obtain the “knock-and-announce” warrant that led to the death of an Ogden police officer during a 2012 drug raid. Attorneys for Stewart, who is accused of killing Agent Jared Francom and wounding five others during a shootout at his Ogden home, had asked Judge Noel Hyde for a hearing to determine whether Weber Morgan Strike Force Agent Jason...

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FBI: Arrest made in Washington ricin scare last week

Wed, 22 May 2013 20:28:46 MDT

FBI: Arrest made in Washington ricin scare last week

By NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS The Associated Press

Updated May 22, 2013 08:28PM MDT

Spokane, Wash. • A 37-year-old man was arrested Wednesday in connection with a case in which a pair of letters containing the deadly poison ricin were discovered in Washington state last week. A grand jury indictment accused Matthew Ryan Buquet of mailing a death threat to U.S. District Judge Fred Van Sickle at the federal courthouse on May 14. A search of federal court records turned up no indication that Buquet had ever appeared before Van Sickle, or had any connection to the judge. The indict...

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Jury deciding Arias’ sentence adjourns for day

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:59:45 MDT

Jury deciding Arias’ sentence adjourns for day

By BRIAN SKOLOFF and JOSH HOFFNER The Associated Press

Updated May 22, 2013 05:59PM MDT

Phoenix • Jurors in the Jodi Arias murder trial said Wednesday they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict on whether she should be sentenced to life in prison or death for killing her one-time boyfriend, prompting the judge to instruct them to keep trying. The jury reported its impasse after only about two and a half hours of deliberations. Judge Sherry Stephens told jurors to try to identify areas of agreement and disagreement as they work toward a decision. The jurors then continued deliber...

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Susan Powell’s brother-in-law went from affable to suspicious

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:27:17 MDT

Susan Powell’s brother-in-law went from affable to suspicious

By brooke adams and nate carlisle The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 22, 2013 11:27AM MDT

Tacoma, Wash. • Of the Powell men, Michael Powell was the one people liked, and often trusted. Steve Powell wrote of missing his son Michael while he was gone. Josh Powell relied on Michael, his brother, to help him move and later to watch his children. Susan Powell’s father, Chuck Cox, wrote West Valley City police worrying his missing daughter was held prisoner by Steve Powell. But Cox specified that Michael Powell probably wouldn’t go along with it. Kiirsi Hellewell on Monday told reporte...

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Box Elder judge censured, ordered to pay back excess salary

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:50:40 MDT

Box Elder judge censured, ordered to pay back excess salary

By Jim Dalrymple II The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 21, 2013 07:50PM MDT

The Utah Supreme Court censured a judge Tuesday because he made too much money for three consecutive years. Box Elder County justice court judge Kevin Christensen’s salary exceeded the legal limit of $132,150 from 2009 through 2011, a Utah Supreme Court decision states. Christensen will now have to pay back the extra salary and has been formally censured. Judicial Conduct Commission (JCC) executive director Colin R. Winchester said Tuesday that Christensen will have to pay back $22,172. He has...

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Utah man gets prison for shooting, killing his father

Tue, 21 May 2013 06:56:35 MDT

Utah man gets prison for shooting, killing his father

By jessica miller The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 21, 2013 06:56AM MDT

Farmington • When Joseph Nance shot and killed his father on March 19, 2011, the act tore their family apart. Nance’s sisters believe their brother acted in self-defense — snapping after suffering years of physical abuse at the hands of their father, 52-year-old Gregory Nance. Other family members, including Gregory Nance’s brother and parents, think the 30-year-old Joseph Nance should have been convicted of murder. “The family is split on what they should see happen,” said prosecutor Brandon P...

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Salt Lake City doctor remains behind bars as Utah murder case proceeds

Mon, 20 May 2013 23:14:28 MDT

Salt Lake City doctor remains behind bars as Utah murder case proceeds

By Marissa Lang The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 20, 2013 11:14PM MDT

The pediatrician accused of murdering his ex-wife at her Salt Lake City home will remain behind bars — for now. John Brickman Wall, 49, declined to argue for the opportunity to make bail Monday after 3rd District Judge Robin Reese said he was unlikely to lower it as he is not the judge assigned to Wall’s case. Wall is being held in the Salt Lake County Jail in lieu of $1.5 million, cash-only bail on first-degree felony charges of murder and aggravated burglary in the alleged 2011 killing of his...

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Arias attorneys will put one witness on: Arias

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:47:33 MDT

Arias attorneys will put one witness on: Arias

By BRIAN SKOLOFF The Associated Press

Updated May 20, 2013 09:47PM MDT

Phoenix • Complaining that Jodi Arias’ sensational murder case has become a modern-day “witch trial,” her lawyers tried to quit in the middle of the death-penalty phase Monday, then said they will call only one witness: Arias. When Arias addresses the jury on Tuesday, the big question will be whether she pleads for mercy or repeats what she told a TV reporter minutes after she was convicted: that she would rather be executed than spend the rest of her life in prison. The courtroom fireworks cam...

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Jodi Arias sentencing trial wraps for day after series of motions

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:55:50 MDT

Jodi Arias sentencing trial wraps for day after series of motions

By BRIAN SKOLOFF The Associated Press

Updated May 20, 2013 02:55PM MDT

PHOENIX • Defense attorneys for Jodi Arias asked the judge to remove them from the case and declare a mistrial Monday, arguing the frenzy surrounding the case has created a modern-day witch hunt. The judge denied both motions, and Arias planned to take the stand Tuesday. Jurors will find out then if she tells them the same thing she told a local reporter: She’d rather be executed than spend her life in prison. Defense attorneys told the judge they would call no witnesses after a key witness refu...

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Prep boys’ track: Park City elite runner catches his idol

Sat, 18 May 2013 00:02:30 MDT

Prep boys’ track: Park City elite runner catches his idol

By Aaron Falk The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 18, 2013 12:02AM MDT

Provo • Luke Puskedra had to “chase ghosts” in high school. As the state’s top distance runner in 2008, the Judge Memorial star lacked the competition to test him on the track. So his coach had him look elsewhere for something that would push him, like the clock or the last man in the heat after lapping the competition. Ben Saarel swears his ghost is real. He’s met Puskedra, shook his hand. And on Friday morning, Saarel still was chasing him. It was cool and gray as Saarel and the rest of the fi...

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Assault on Brown athlete was self-defense says lawyer

Sat, 18 May 2013 00:02:31 MDT

Assault on Brown athlete was self-defense says lawyer

The Associated Press

Updated May 18, 2013 12:02AM MDT

Providence, R.I. • The lawyer for a Connecticut man charged with an assault on a Brown University basketball player that left him hospitalized with severe head injuries has told a judge it was self-defense. Tory Lussier of Vernon, Conn., made his initial appearance in Providence District Court on Friday on a felony assault charge. He was released on $10,000 surety bail. He had no comment outside court. Lussier is accused of assaulting 21-year-old Joseph Sharkey of Norwood, Mass., early Sunda...

Candice Glover wins ‘American Idol,’ defeating Kree Harrison

Fri, 17 May 2013 08:03:06 MDT

Candice Glover wins ‘American Idol,’ defeating Kree Harrison

By DERRIK J. LANG The Associated Press

Updated May 17, 2013 08:03AM MDT

Los Angeles • The third time’s the charm for Candice Glover on “American Idol.” The booming 23-year-old R&B vocalist from St. Helena Island, S.C., won the Fox singing competition after auditioning a trio of times and making it to the finals this year. Glover looked stunned when “Idol” host Ryan Seacrest announced she bested soulful 22-year-old country singer Kree Harrison from Woodville, Texas. “Three times,” exclaimed a weepy Glover under a wave of confetti. After her crowning, an emotional Glo...

Teary testimony from victim’s family in Jodi Arias case

Thu, 16 May 2013 18:41:39 MDT

Teary testimony from victim’s family in Jodi Arias case

By BRIAN SKOLOFF The Associated Press

Updated May 16, 2013 06:41PM MDT

Phoenix • Jurors deciding the fate of convicted murderer Jodi Arias became visibly shaken by dramatic statements from the victim’s family members as they described how their lives were ripped apart by the killing. Travis Alexander’s younger brother Steven told the panel he was hospitalized for ulcers, lost sleep and separated from his wife. He paused to choke back tears and regain his composure as he recounted the phone call he got from his sister the day his brother’s body was found. “She told ...

Obama names Utah state judge to 10th Circuit bench

Thu, 16 May 2013 18:49:14 MDT

Obama names Utah state judge to 10th Circuit bench

By Thomas Burr The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 16, 2013 06:49PM MDT

Washington • President Barack Obama on Thursday nominated Utah Court of Appeals Presiding Judge Carolyn B. McHugh to the federal 10th Circuit Court of Appeals to replace a more senior judge taking on a smaller caseload. Sens. Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee suggested McHugh, who joined the Utah appellate court in 2005, and both Utah Republicans support the nomination. “Judge McHugh is smart, qualified, and really represents everything we look for in a judge,” Hatch said in a statement. “Carolyn has p...

Idaho man gets prison for beating zoo monkey to death

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:04:07 MDT

Idaho man gets prison for beating zoo monkey to death

By TODD DVORAK The Associated Press

Updated May 16, 2013 12:04PM MDT

BOISE, Idaho • An Idaho man convicted of breaking into a Boise zoo and beating to death a Patas monkey will spend up to a year in state prison, where he’ll take part in a treatment program. A state judge sentenced 22-year-old Michael Watkins on Thursday for his role in the Nov. 17 crime that caused shock and outrage in Idaho’s capitol city and beyond. Watkins gave a brief statement before sentencing, apologizing for his actions. Fourth District Judge Lynn G. Norton rejected defense attorney requ...

Former Davis County deputy attorney sues his old boss

Wed, 15 May 2013 23:22:38 MDT

Former Davis County deputy attorney sues his old boss

By Jessica Miller and Michael McFall The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 15, 2013 11:22PM MDT

A former Davis County deputy attorney is suing his old office alleging there was a hostile work environment that involved cover-ups, and that he was fired without due process. Tyler James Larsen filed a lawsuit against Davis County Attorney Troy Rawlings last month, demanding damages of at least $1 million. The lawsuit — which has been transferred from 2nd District Court to federal court, and which also names several other county officials as defendants — details an alleged battle between Larse...

Judge reinstates Wells Fargo fine tied to overdraft fees

Wed, 15 May 2013 17:21:02 MDT

Judge reinstates Wells Fargo fine tied to overdraft fees

REUTERS

Updated May 15, 2013 05:21PM MDT

A federal judge has again ordered Wells Fargo to pay $203 million to settle class-action litigation accusing it of imposing excessive overdraft fees on checking account customers, reviving an award that had been thrown out last year. U.S. District Judge William Alsup reinstated a penalty he first imposed in August 2010, saying the fourth-largest U.S. bank violated a California law that protects consumers against fraudulent misrepresentations. “Wells Fargo was profiting off its most vulnerable cu...