Erik Uebelacker

courthousenews.comICE shot a man in New York City; his lawyers can’t find himThe agency claims Oscar Belgal "weaponized his vehicle” against agents in the Bronx, prompting them to fire seven shots at his car.

Lawyers representing Oscar Belgal, the 28-year-old father of two shot by ICE officers in the Bronx on Thursday, say they can’t find their client in the aftermath of the shooting. @uebey.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/ice-shot-a-m...

courthousenews.comIn final ruling against ICE, judge blasts ‘dreadful’ and ‘squalid’ conditions at 26 Federal PlazaU.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan entered a permanent injunction on behalf of detainees, granting them class certification and demanding the facility’s conditions be improved.

New: A judge issued a final, scathing order against ICE for 26 Federal Plaza's conditions, granting class certification for ALL current/future detainees inside. "ICE knew ... that how it was treating detainees was wrong, yet it continued to do it anyway."

courthousenews.comA year with Luigi Mangione: MDC inmate recounts time with CEO shooterLinus Fu told Courthouse News he saw Mangione every day for several months at the Brooklyn prison, where they bonded over books and their backgrounds.

18 Aug

New: I talked to one of Luigi Mangione’s former cellmates at the MDC. He recalled Mangione being asked for autographs and cranking out push-ups. He also said Mangione “basically admitted” to the shooting well before pleading guilty. More @courthousenews.bsky.social

courthousenews.comLuigi Mangione pleads guilty in federal case over killing of healthcare CEOMangione was charged in both state and federal court with shooting and killing 50-year-old Brian Thompson on Dec. 4, 2024.

14 Aug

New: Luigi Mangione admits to killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. "On the morning of Dec. 4, 2024, I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan and he died," Mangione said. His guilty plea was packed with potshots at the insurance industry.

Erik Uebelacker reposted

courthousenews.comAttorney’s fees — a hidden cost of Trump’s mass immigrant detention agendaCourthouse News has identified nearly 100 cases this year in which the government was ordered to pay attorney’s fees to an immigrant it unlawfully detained, totaling more than $1.1 million.

6 Aug

Courthouse News has identified nearly 100 cases this year in which the government was ordered to pay attorney’s fees to an immigrant it unlawfully detained, totaling more than $1.1 million. @uebey.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/attorneys-fe...

6 Aug

New: I found 97 cases around the country in which the Trump administration was ordered to pay attorneys’ fees after illegally detaining an immigrant. Another hidden cost of the mass deportation agenda — one that’s cost $1.1 million so far this year.

courthousenews.comRipped by judge, DOJ drops subpoenas of New York Times reportersJustice Department lawyers initially refused to withdraw the requests, despite admitting they were rife with “inadvertent errors.”

23 July

The DOJ has agreed to drop its subpoenas of the New York Times reporters relating to their coverage of Trump's Qatari jet, after Judge Arun Subramanian dressed down the department. More @courthousenews.bsky.social

16 July

New: Judge orders the release of Chidozie Wilson Okeke, a Nigerian man whose ICE arrest prompted a huge protest at Bushwick’s Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in May. The judge ruled Okeke’s arrest was warrantless and violated the Fifth Amendment.

9 July

New York is suing companies including 3M and DuPont over their use of "forever chemicals" on consumer products. The state claims these chemicals now pollute New York drinking water, causing cancer and birth defects. More TK @courthousenews.bsky.social

courthousenews.comTrump settles lawsuit with his niece over his tax recordsThe president claimed his now-61-year-old niece, Mary Trump, “smuggled” his financial records out of an attorney’s office in violation of a decades-old estate settlement.

16 June

Breaking: Donald Trump has settled a lawsuit against his niece Mary Trump, in which he accused her of colluding with New York Times journalists to publicize his tax records. More @courthousenews.bsky.social

Erik Uebelacker reposted

courthousenews.comNewark mayor calls for judge to shutter Delaney Hall ICE facilityNewark Mayor Ras Baraka, who was arrested outside of the New Jersey ICE facility last May, floated expanding an existing lawsuit to close Delaney Hall.

2 June

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka on Tuesday teased legal action against Delaney Hall, a controversial ICE facility in New Jersey rife with accusations of detainee mistreatment, that could force the building’s closure. @uebey.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/newark-mayor...

2 June

New: Newark’s mayor plans to use an existing lawsuit against Delaney Hall to shutter the controversial ICE facility. He said Delaney Hall “has no real grounds to be open and should be closed.”

22 May

In new filings in the Live Nation antitrust case, states are asking for Live Nation to split from Ticketmaster. Meanwhile, Live Nation wants a new trial. It claims some evidence — including the "robbing them blind baby" quote — was unfairly prejudicial. cc @courthousenews.bsky.social

courthousenews.comDaily Mail staff smeared poop on walls to protest sexist editor: LawsuitA New York-based reporter for the London tabloid accused two editors of sexual harassment and retaliation.

14 May

New: Daily Mail employees smeared poop on the bathroom walls of its Manhattan office to protest the tabloid's mistreatment of women, per a new lawsuit. More @courthousenews.bsky.social

28 Apr

MANHATTAN — Gannon Ken Van Dyke, the U.S. Army soldier accused of placing Polymarket bets on Maduro’s capture, leaves federal court after pleading not guilty to his five-count indictment. More TK @courthousenews.bsky.social

courthousenews.com'Unaccompanied': Migrant kids spent months languishing in foster care as their parents fought to get them outInside a New York Cayuga Centers foster facility, six children who crossed the border to reunite with their families say staff used threats of deportation to discourage them from misbehaving — or comp...

21 Apr

NEW: In a Harlem foster home, migrant kids say staff threatened to deport their parents if they misbehaved. I talked to a family of six kids, ages 3-15, who say HHS unlawfully kept them in the foster center, refusing to release them to their parents.

courthousenews.comDOJ to judge: Ignore Trump’s statements on Hudson Tunnel in fight over funding“You’re telling me not to look behind the curtain,” U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas told a government attorney.

16 Apr

New: A federal judge today scrutinized Donald Trump's past statements about the Hudson Tunnel's funding freeze. The DOJ's response? Ignore them.

Erik Uebelacker reposted

7 Apr

@uebey.bsky.social spoke with @jrussjruss.bsky.social about Luigi Mangione's legal victories ahead of his state and federal murder trials. Full @sidebarcns.bsky.social episode: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

courthousenews.comDrake’s manager showers Ticketmaster, Live Nation with praise at antitrust trial“I will always trust you,” Adel Nur texted Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino in 2025.

8 Apr

New: Drake's manager showered Live Nation and Ticketmaster with praise at the antitrust trial. He also broke down these "Pound Cake" lyrics that named Live Nation's CEO: "Contract like ‘91 Dan Marino, I swear this guy Michael Rapino’s boosting my ego."

3 Apr

New: California Attorney General @agrobbonta.oag.ca.gov announces that 23 states are suing Donald Trump for his executive order to restrict mail-in voting. It "violates the separation of powers," Bonta says. It's the 66th lawsuit California has filed against the second Trump admin.

2 Apr

New: A federal judge has gutted Blake Lively's lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, tossing most of her claims including harassment and defamation. The only remaining claims are retaliation, aiding & abetting retaliation and breach of contract. cc @courthousenews.bsky.social

nydailynews.comVideo shows MDC Brooklyn inmates ‘fishing’ for contraband through windowInmates in the federal jail tried to climb a gymnasium wall in a clumsy attempt to pull a rope packed with contraband through a window, the video shows.

31 Mar

New: Mahmoud Khalil moves for an en banc review of the Third Circuit ruling that paved the way for him to be deported. "If left to stand, that decision would permit the government to detain any noncitizen on retaliatory or punitive grounds, without lawful justification."

Erik Uebelacker reposted

John Annese

@johnannese.bsky.social

29 Mar

If you ever wanted to see a 20-minute video of a bunch of guys trying (and failing) to fish a 50-foot rope full of jail contraband through a window at MDC Brooklyn, this is the story for you! (Sadly, you'll have to turn off ad blockers to get the vid to work.) www.nydailynews.com/2026/03/29/v...

Erik Uebelacker reposted

courthousenews.comNYPD reality show, produced by Dr. Phil’s son, can be released after settlement with NYCThe city sued Jordan McGraw earlier this year to stop him from releasing “extremely problematic” NYPD footage that stemmed from his production of a pro-cop TV show.

27 Mar

A behind-the-scenes reality show about the NYPD may see the light of day after the show’s producer, son of TV psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw, settled a lawsuit with the city on Friday. @uebey.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/nypd-reality...

27 Mar

New: “Behind the Badge,” a pro-NYPD TV show commissioned by Eric Adams, can see the light of day. The city just settled its suit against Dr. Phil’s son, who produced it. “I think [the NYPD] is going to show very well on these programs,” his lawyer says.

courthousenews.comFeds admit to misleading judge about ICE arrests at immigration courtsFederal prosecutors claimed a 2025 ICE memo justified the agency’s arrests at immigration courts — they profusely apologized this week after realizing it did not.

25 Mar

New: Federal prosecutors admit ICE misled a judge about immigration court arrests. They say ICE “specifically” told them that a 2025 memo allowed them to make arrests at immigration courts — but that’s not actually true, they say in a new filing.

Erik Uebelacker reposted

courthousenews.comJudges orders release of NYC migrant who blames YouTuber Nick Shirley for ICE arrestMamadou Ndoye says the right-wing influencer urged ICE officers to arrest him during an October 2025 raid in New York City.

18 Mar

A Malian man, who told Courthouse News last week that right-wing content creator Nick Shirley told ICE to arrest him, has been ordered released from immigration custody by a federal judge. @uebey.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/judges-order...

courthousenews.comImmigrant says ICE invoked MAGA YouTuber Nick Shirley during arrestMamdou Ndoye, who was ordered released by a judge in February, says he was rearrested by ICE later that month by agents who asked him why he was “aggressive to Nick Shirley.”

11 Mar

Update: Mamdou Ndoye tells me from detention that Nick Shirley, himself, pointed at him during the Canal Street raids and urged ICE to detain him. "ICE didn’t even try to talk to me, but then he pointed me out to ICE and they ran to me and arrested me."

Erik Uebelacker@uebey.bsky.social

New: ICE name-dropped MAGA YouTuber Nick Shirley when arresting an immigrant in NYC, per court docs. “The only thing they asked me about is why I was being aggressive to Nick Shirley…” More @courthousenews.bsky.social

New: Alleged terrorist Asif Merchant told the FBI that he thought Iran was behind the 2024 shooting of Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. Why'd he think that? "Because that’s the same thing he was sent here to do," and FBI agent testified.

courthousenews.comFBI: Accused terrorist thought Iran was behind Trump assassination attempt“That’s the same thing he was sent here to do,” FBI special agent Jacqueline Smith testified about her conversations with Asif Merchant.

Erik Uebelacker reposted

courthousenews.comAt antitrust trial, ex-Barclays Center exec says Ticketmaster used Billie Eilish to punish himJohn Abbamondi, the former CEO of the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center, testified that Ticketmaster and Live Nation retaliated against him for choosing a different ticketing service.

4 Mar

At antitrust trial, ex-Barclays Center exec says Ticketmaster used Billie Eilish to punish him @uebey.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/at-antitrust...

4 Mar

New: Ticketmaster pulled a 2021 Billie Eilish concert from Barclays Center as retaliation for the arena swapping to SeatGeek, a witness claimed today at a federal antitrust trial. via @courthousenews.bsky.social

3 Mar

New: A federal judge has rejected the Trump administration's effort to kill congestion pricing in NYC, calling it "unlawful." "An unelected administrative agency may not make decisions affecting large segments of the public based on what comes to mind at the moment."

courthousenews.comFowl ball: Feds say Emmanuel Clase used cockfighting lingo to hide rigged pitches“Throw a rock at the first rooster in today’s fight,” the MLB pitcher was instructed via text, according to federal prosecutors.

13 Feb

FOWL BALL: MLB pitcher Emmanuel Clase used cockfighting-themed lingo in texts to hide rigged pitches, feds say. “Throw a rock at the first rooster in today’s fight.” “Chicken number 3, after I kill the first 2, play the 3.”

courthousenews.comJudge slams ICE for ‘stalling’ case over 26 Federal Plaza conditionsThe scrutinized Manhattan detention facility is now housing clients on multiple floors, lawyers told a federal court on Monday.

10 Feb

New: ICE is now holding immigrants on MULTIPLE floors at 26 Federal Plaza, in addition to the infamous 10th floor cells. A federal judge, tasked with overseeing the facility's conditions, had no idea. More @courthousenews.bsky.social

courthousenews.com‘Be ready’: NY judge sets June trial for Luigi Mangione, leapfrogging feds“This is double jeopardy by any commonsense judgment,” Mangione shouted to the courtroom gallery following Friday’s hearing.

6 Feb

New: A judge had one message for Luigi Mangione's defense team after setting a speedy June 8 trial date: "Be ready." "One plus one equals two. It’s double jeopardy by any commonsense judgment," Mangione yelled while leaving the courtroom.

Erik Uebelacker reposted

courthousenews.comJudge advances $10 million sexual harassment case against Rudy GiulianiGiuliani forced an employee to have oral sex with him and went on “alcohol-drenched rants” that led to an unbearable work environment, according to a lawsuit.

2 Feb

A $10 million workplace harassment claim in which Rudy Giuliani stands accused of “demanding” oral sex from an employee will move forward to discovery, a Manhattan judge ruled Monday. @uebey.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/judge-advanc...

2 Feb

New: The $10 million sexual harassment case against Rudy Giuliani — the one where he's accused of sharing his sexual fantasies about Wendy Rhoades from "Billions" with an unenthusiastic employee — is moving forward to discovery. More @courthousenews.bsky.social

courthousenews.comJudge rules feds can’t seek death penalty against Luigi MangioneMangione’s attorneys have criticized the government’s pursuit of the death penalty, claiming it was a political move to make an example out of their client.

30 Jan

No death penalty for Luigi Mangione:

courthousenews.com‘That's one of us’: NRA board members react to immigration shooting in Minneapolis“The situation is pretty indefensible,” one board member told Courthouse News following Saturday's slaying of Alex Pretti.

27 Jan

New: NRA board members are distraught at the "indefensible" response by Trump Admin officials to the shooting of Alex Pretti. One called comments from Kristi Noem and Kash Patel a "huge misstep" and hopes they walk them back. More @courthousenews.bsky.social

23 Jan

An ICE detainee describes being repeatedly tased during his arrest by an infamous NYC agent, who then called him a "fucking Mexican." "Looking back, I can see that there is no equality in this world." (via court records)

courthousenews.comNYC sues Dr. Phil’s son to block release of ‘extremely problematic’ NYPD footageThe sensitive footage comes from a now defunct city-backed TV show helmed by Jordan McGraw.

22 Jan

How did Dr. Phil's son get ahold of "extremely problematic" clips of the NYPD? Per a new lawsuit, Eric Adams' admin hired him to make a pro-cop TV show. Rough cuts were rife with sensitive info: faces of witnesses, undercover cops, etc. NYC is suing to block its release.

courthousenews.comJudge slams government for conspiring to chill free speech of pro-Palestine studentsU.S. District Judge William Young said he’d force the Trump administration to “jump through hoops” if it wants to deport more pro-Palestine protesters.

15 Jan

New: “This is the modern Fugitive Slave Act,” said a judge when describing ICE behavior nationwide.

courthousenews.comThird Circuit paves the way for Mahmoud Khalil’s rearrest and deportationIn a 2-1 ruling, the appellate panel ruled that the lower court judge protecting Khalil from removal lacked the jurisdiction to interfere in the proceedings.

15 Jan

Now: Judge William Young in MA is tearing into the Trump admin for trying to deport pro-Palestinian protestors. "They don't seem to understand or willfully ignore the provisions of the First Amendment." Says Noem, Rubio and others engaged in a "conspiracy" to chill speech.

The government is claiming that this morning's Third Circuit ruling against Mahmoud Khalil prevents the judge from taking ANY action. The judge is outraged. "These cabinet secretaries have failed in their sworn duty to uphold the constitution."

courthousenews.comJudge rips ICE targeting of pro-Palestinian protesters as unconstitutionalThe ruling comes after a two-week bench trial in July, where college professors testified that ICE going after student protesters chilled First Amendment rights on campuses across the country.

15 Jan

Geez. Judge Young says this of ICE: "This is the modern day Fugitive Slave Act."

This comes after Young's scathing ruling against the practice in September. Now, Young is trying to determine what the proper remedy is -- as he puts it, a "sanction for the misuse of government power." courthousenews.com/judge-rips-i...

courthousenews.comJudge demands response after lawmakers accuse DOJ of dragging feet with Epstein filesMeanwhile, another federal judge is urging prosecutors to prioritize more pressing cases. “Epstein is dead,” she said Tuesday.

13 Jan

NEW: One judge is demanding answers after two congressmen claimed the DOJ is slow-rolling the Epstein files. Another judge wants prosecutors pulled off of Epstein to handle more pressing trial work. "Epstein is dead," she said Tuesday.

courthousenews.comLuigi Mangione federal murder trial could start as early as OctoberIf Mangione’s case remains death penalty-eligible, the start date could be pushed further to early 2027.

9 Jan

New: More than a year after his arrest, Luigi Mangione finally has a (tentative) trial date. More @courthousenews.bsky.social