Lawyers for former FBI Director James Comey are urging a judge to dismiss the case against him. In court papers Monday, they called it a vindictive prosecution motivated by “personal animus” and orchestrated by a White House determined to seek retribution against a perceived foe of President Donald Trump. The lawyers separately called for the indictment’s dismissal because of what they said was the illegitimate appointment of the U.S. attorney who filed the case days after being hastily named to the job by Trump. The double-barrel attack on the indictment, which accuses Comey of lying to Congress five years ago, represents the opening salvo in what is expected to be a protracted court fight ahead of a trial currently set for Jan. 5.

A Mississippi man convicted of kidnapping, raping and killing a 20-year-old community college student was put to death Wednesday evening at the Mississippi State Penitentiary in Parchman. Fifty-nine-year-old Charles Crawford received a lethal injection after more than 30 years on death row. Crawford had also been convicted of raping a 17-year-old girl and attacking her friend with a hammer. In both attacks, he said he blacked out and did not recall what happened. Crawford’s execution is the state’s second this year. Mississippi executed Gerald Jordan, the state’s longest-serving death row inmate, in June. Both killings come in a year of increasing executions nationwide.

A lawyer for the family of Tyler Skaggs says the Los Angeles Angels should be held responsible for the drug overdose death of the star pitcher. The team's attorney, however, said they were not aware of drug use by Skaggs or they would have done something to help. The comments came in opening statements Tuesday in the trial for a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Skaggs' family. Plaintiffs' attorney Shawn Holley told jurors that Angels officials knew communications director Eric Kay was supplying drugs to Skaggs and other players. The Angels argue Skaggs' actions were his own and not preventable by the MLB team. The trial could include testimony from players like Mike Trout and Wade Miley.

Lawyers for Luigi Mangione say a New York federal judge should dismiss criminal charges, including a death-eligible count, from a federal indictment brought against him in the December assassination of UnitedHealthcare's chief executive. In papers filed Saturday, the lawyers said prosecutors should also be prevented from using at trial his statements to law enforcement officers and his backpack where a gun and ammunition were found. They said he was not read his rights before he was questioned by law enforcement officers after Brian Thompson was fatally shot as he arrived at a Manhattan hotel for an investor conference. And they said a warrant was not obtained before his backpack was searched.

Former FBI Director James Comey has pleaded not guilty in a criminal case that has highlighted the Justice Department’s efforts to target adversaries of President Donald Trump. Comey's lawyers said Wednesday they plan to argue the prosecution is politically motivated and should be dismissed. The Comey case amplifies concerns Trump's Justice Department is being weaponized in pursuit of the Republican president’s political enemies. Comey was arraigned at the federal courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia. Comey's indictment two weeks ago followed an extraordinary chain of events that saw Trump publicly implore Attorney General Pam Bondi to take action against Comey and other perceived adversaries. Comey's trial is set for Jan. 5.

The Supreme Court has opened its new term. The court Monday rejected more than 800 pending appeals, including a challenge by Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein's imprisoned ex-girlfriend. In its first arguments, the court also appeared to be inclined to rule against a criminal defendant from Texas in a case about the constitutional right to a lawyer. A major thrust of the next 10 months is expected to be the justices’ evaluation of President Donald Trump’s claims of presidential power. Pivotal cases on voting and LGBTQ rights also are on the agenda. On Tuesday, the justices will hear arguments over bans passed by many states on therapy aimed at changing sexual orientation or gender identity.