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May 2, 2026
Judge Rules Military Lawyers Can Prosecute Civilians in Landmark Decision
- U.S. Magistrate Judge Shannon Elkins ruled that military lawyers can prosecute civilians for non-military offenses, citing congressional exceptions to the Posse Comitatus Act.
- The case involves Paul Johnson, charged with assaulting a federal agent during an immigration enforcement operation, and his legal team plans to appeal the decision.
- The ruling has drawn national attention, with support from former military lawyers who argue it undermines civilian legal protections.
2 Sources
- US Justice Department can use military lawyers to prosecute civilians, judge rulesMay 2, 2026 at 1:42 AM · Reuters
- Judge decides DOJ can use a military lawyer to prosecute civilians in landmark rulingMay 2, 2026 at 6:26 PM · Independent