Judge Delivers First Big Decision in James Comey’s Case
A federal judge ruled Friday that outside groups and individuals will not be allowed to weigh in on the criminal case accusing former FBI Director James Comey of threatening President Donald Trump through a 2025 social media post.
U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan issued an order rejecting any attempts to file friend-of-the-court briefs, known legally as amicus curiae briefs, from organizations or individuals who are not directly involved in the case.
In her order, Flanagan said both sides are already adequately represented.
“Defendant and the government are ably represented by competent counsel,” she wrote.
The ruling limits participation in what has become one of the highest-profile criminal cases involving a former senior federal law enforcement official.
Friend-of-the-court briefs allow outside parties with an interest or expertise in a case to present legal arguments or policy perspectives for a judge’s consideration, even though they are not litigants.
Such filings are common before federal appeals courts and the U.S. Supreme Court but are used much less frequently in federal district courts.
Flanagan’s decision marks a different approach from another recent criminal case involving Comey.
In 2025, when Comey faced charges alleging he lied to Congress about leaks to the media, numerous outside organizations sought to participate by filing friend-of-the-court briefs.
Those filings came from groups that included former senior Justice Department officials, law professors, legal scholars, current and former members of Congress, retired federal judges and former U.S. attorneys.
That prosecution ultimately ended after just two months when a judge ruled the prosecutor who obtained the indictment had been unlawfully appointed, resulting in the dismissal of the case.
Legal experts say Flanagan’s latest order is unusual but not unprecedented.
Scott Holmes, a law professor at North Carolina Central University, said district court judges often have practical reasons for limiting outside participation.
Unlike appellate courts, which primarily decide legal questions, federal trial courts must manage busy calendars while moving cases efficiently toward trial.
Holmes suggested allowing outside briefs in a nationally watched case involving a former FBI director could invite an overwhelming number of filings.
“I can imagine that the court is worried about the floodgates opening, and everybody who wants to weigh in on this does,” Holmes said.
At the same time, Holmes noted that friend-of-the-court briefs can sometimes provide valuable legal analysis and research that may assist judges confronting complex legal issues.
“It would be nice if the court would be willing to read really educated folks who have a real interest in the court getting it right and offering a lot of research,” he said.
Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond, also described Flanagan’s ruling as uncommon.
He said judges frequently find such briefs useful because they often come from individuals with specialized expertise or substantial experience related to the legal issues before the court.
“They would be people who would have expertise about the issues that are raised and probably feel strongly about them,” Tobias said.
While Flanagan’s order does not affect the merits of the prosecution itself, it narrows the voices that will be heard as the case moves forward.
Instead of receiving legal arguments from outside organizations or experts, the court will rely exclusively on the filings submitted by prosecutors and Comey’s defense team.
The underlying criminal case centers on allegations that Comey threatened the president through a social media post made in 2025. Comey has denied wrongdoing, The News And Observer reported.
Friday’s order represents an early procedural ruling, but it signals the court intends to keep the litigation focused on the arguments presented by the parties directly involved rather than inviting broader public participation in a case already attracting national attention.
BREAKING: Dolly Parton’s Cause Of Death Revealed: ‘Brief Battle’
Dolly Parton’s death came after a brief battle with cancer, her representatives revealed Tuesday.
The country music legend died Aug. 25 at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville. She was 80.
Parton had been admitted to the cancer center Friday, four days before her death. Her representatives confirmed the cancer diagnosis in a statement to PEOPLE but did not disclose what type she had.
“Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched. Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand,” the statement read.
“Whether it be the hundreds of millions of books donated through her invaluable Imagination Library or funding research that helped create a lifesaving vaccine used around the world, Dolly’s unconditional love for all people was the guiding force for her lasting impact. After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones,” the statement concluded.
The “Jolene” singer had also been dealing with kidney and autoimmune issues before her death, PEOPLE previously reported.
Just days earlier, Dolly Parton opened up about her declining health and acknowledged that she had put off addressing some medical issues while caring for her husband, Carl.
“As I’ve shared in video messages throughout the past year, I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over [my husband] Carl. You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to manage something like this. Back in the early ’80s, I was down for several months with female issues, and I was struggling with my weight at the time too, so it’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health,” Parton told PEOPLE.
Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced her death in an Instagram video Tuesday on behalf of the Parton and Owens family.
“My name is Bryan Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next,” he says in the video.
Seaver, who served as Parton’s head of security for more than two decades, said she had asked him years earlier to deliver the announcement.
“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” he continued. “As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now.”
Seaver said the moment brought immense pride and heartbreak, but he took comfort in his faith that Parton had been reunited with Carl and other loved ones.
Seaver added: “It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents and countless othe
Shocking 'truth' behind Prince Harry's decision to quit major role
Prince Harry should have "resigned in disgrace" from the board of a controversial African wildlife charity, a commentator says. James Walker makes the bombshell remark in Wednesday's episode of this publication's podcast, Daily Expresso.
He and the show's host, JJ Anisiobi, delve into the Duke of Sussex's dramatic decision to step down from African Parks. James, commenting on the controversy, said: "When you hear about this stuff and how long it's been going on for, you should be resigning in disgrace. [Harry] should be saying: 'I'm not touching that with a barge pole. That is a failed entity. We're going nowhere near it'.
"But no. He's still saying he's going to 'support their mission'. And again this Caroline Pearce, executive director of Survival International, goes on to say: 'His departure doesn't undo that record'.
"She alleged that African Parks was aware of the abuses for years, but it was only after Survival complained to Harry that the charity finally commissioned an investigation."
James added: "Well, she's got a point."
It emerged on Monday (August 24) that Harry was no longer a board member of the wildlife charity.
The conservation organisation has admitted that human rights abuses were committed by its rangers against members of the semi-nomadic Baka group in Congo-Brazzaville.
African Parks has said since that it has improved its safeguarding processes both in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park and institutionally.
Its admission followed an independent human rights investigation into allegations guards managed and paid by the charity had beaten, raped and tortured indigenous people in Odzala-Kokoua National Park.
Harry was president of the charity for six years before he became a member of its board of directors in 2023.
A spokesman for the Duke said he remains an active and avid supporter of African Parks. He added: "The Duke is proud of his 10 years with African Parks and fully supports the ongoing strengthening of its board.
"His commitment to conservation in Africa continues and he remains a supporter of African Parks’ mission."
Human rights organisation, Survival International, said it had been calling on Harry to step down from African Parks for years.
The group's director, Caroline Pearce, said in a statement: "It’s outrageous that for 10 years Prince Harry has served African Parks while the organisation has been responsible for abuse and violence against Indigenous people.
"His departure doesn't undo that record — African Parks itself must now be held accountable, and must abandon this model of fortress conservation for good."
Survival International said indigenous peoples know how best to manage their land and the idea outsiders know better is racist and colonial.
