National Roundup

New York NYC officials sue police over response to protests NEW YORK (AP) -- Four New York City lawmakers are suing the city over its treatment of the Occupy Wall Street protests. The civil rights suit was filed Monday in a Manhattan federal court. It says police conduct is so problematic that the force needs an outside monitor. The city Law Department had no immediate comment Monday. Mayor Michael Bloomberg has defended police handling of the protests. Occupy demonstrators have gone to court before over particular episodes. The new lawsuit is a compendium of complaints. It says the city and police violated demonstrators' free speech and other rights, used excessive force and interfered with journalists' and council members' efforts to observe. City Council members Letitia James, Melissa Mark-Viverito, Ydanis Rodriguez and Jumaane Williams are among the plaintiffs. New York Judge dismisses lawsuit over Grammy cuts NEW YORK (AP) -- A lawsuit filed against the Recording Academy over its decision to trim the Grammy Award categories from 109 to 78 has been dismissed by a judge in New York. The motion last week by New York State Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Oing granted the Academy's motion to reject a lawsuit brought by Grammy-nominated jazz musician Bobby Sanabria and three others. Sanabria had been the loudest opponent of the Academy's decision last year to reduce its categories and fold some genres into larger fields. Academy President and CEO Neil Portnow says he's gratified by the court's decision. Sanabria says he's disappointed and he held out the possibility of an appeal. Texas Dead Mexican teen's family to pursue suit v. agent EL PASO, Texas (AP) -- A lawyer for the family of a 15-year-old Mexican boy killed by a U.S. Border Patrol agent in 2010 says they will press on with their lawsuit against the agent despite U.S. prosecutors' decision not to charge him. Attorney Robert Hilliard said Sunday that there is no evidence that Sergio Hernandez-Guereca threw rocks at agent Jesus Mesa Jr. from Mexico before Mesa fatally shot him. The U.S. Department of Justice said Friday there was insufficient evidence to pursue charges. U.S. authorities say Mesa shot the boy while trying to arrest illegal immigrants crossing the Rio Grande near El Paso. The shooting was captured on cellphone video. A Texas judge last year dismissed a wrongful death lawsuit against the U.S. government but allowed the lawsuit against Mesa to proceed. Mississippi Doctor charged with hiring 2 men to kill lawyer GREENWOOD, Miss. (AP) -- Authorities say a 70-year-old Mississippi oncologist is accused of hiring two men to kill the lawyer who represented his ex-wife when they divorced in the 1990s. Greenwood city police told the Greenwood Commonwealt that Dr. Arnold Smith of Greenwood and William Paul Muller, a 54-year-old brick mason from Morgan City, were arrested Sunday and held without bond on a charge of conspiracy to kill attorney Lee Abraham. Police said 23-year-old Keaira Byrd and 25-year-old Derrick Lacy entered Abraham's law office Saturday night, but agents from the Mississippi attorney general's office were waiting. Leflore County Coroner Debra Sanders said Byrd was fatally shot during an exchange of gunshots. Sanders said Lacy was shot in the lower back. She said one of the agents suffered a less-serious wound. Mayor Carolyn McAdams said Abraham was not hurt. Arkansas Retrial to begin for Ark. man charged in 4 deaths POCAHONTAS, Ark. (AP) -- Jury selection began Monday in the retrial of an Arkansas man charged with killing a family from Dalton in 1998. Billy Green was convicted and sentenced to death in 2004, but the Arkansas Supreme Court overturned his sentence, prompting the new trial. The Jonesboro Sun reports that prosecutors will again seek the death penalty against Green. Billy Green's son, Chad Green, has been convicted of four counts of capital murder in connection with the case and sentenced to life in prison. Chad Green is expected to testify in his father's trial. Prosecutors claim that the father and son killed Carl and Lisa Elliott and their two children because of a drug deal gone bad. Attorneys say jury selection for Billy Green's trial could take several days. Colorado Trial set for inmate held in solitary confinement DENVER (AP) -- A federal trial is set to begin for a Colorado inmate who claims an untreated mental illness has caused the disruptions that have led to his being held in solitary confinement for more than 10 years. Forty-two-year-old Troy Anderson's case goes to trial Monday in U.S. District Court. A group of University of Denver Sturm College of Law students filed a lawsuit seeking a court to order prison officials to provide mental health treatment to Anderson. The lawsuit says Anderson has been diagnosed with at least two disorders which can lead to panic attacks, and has showed traits of other disorders that can lead to explosive behavior. It also says that prison officials have not properly diagnosed and treated Anderson. Anderson is in prison for attempted murder and other convictions from 2000. Pennsylvania Janine Orie trial set for Aug. 13 in dual cases PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Two separate criminal cases against the sister of state Sen. Jane Orie and Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin has been scheduled to begin Aug. 13 in Pittsburgh. Fifty-seven-year-old Janine Orie is charged in a conspiracy with Sen. Orie to misuse the lawmaker's staff to do political work that benefited Melvin. Sen. Orie has already been convicted at a separate trial and is scheduled for sentencing May 21. Janine Orie is also charged with illegally directing Melvin's former Superior Court staff to do work on Melvin's unsuccessful 2003 campaign and her winning 2009 campaign for a spot on the state's highest court. Melvin has not been charged, although court papers in Janine Orie's case quote witnesses as saying Melvin knew about the illegal work. Melvin and her attorney haven't commented on that information. Published: Tue, May 1, 2012