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Legal Cases

Venezuelan journalist Rory Branker denied amnesty: 'The State’s viciousness is insatiable'

"The Venezuelan judicial system has once again closed the doors to the complete freedom of journalist and former political prisoner Rory Daniel Branker. On April 6, 2026, through a judicial order issued by the First Court of First Instance (Trial Jurisdiction) with competence in Terrorism cases, the denial of his amnesty request was made public. […]

Journalists' association warns 20 journalists in 'legal limbo' in Venezuela

"The National Association of Journalists (CNP, for its Spanish initials)—Capital District Chapter—presented its updated assessment of the state of freedom of expression in Venezuela, warning of the consolidation of control mechanisms that stifle professional practice. According to the professional association, the use of the justice system has evolved into a tool of 'silent harassment' aimed […]

Guatemala Supreme Court confirms release of journalist José Rubén Zamora

"Magistrates of the Chamber of Amparo and Preliminary Proceedings of the Supreme Court of Justice upheld the release of journalist José Rubén Zamora Marroquín. This decision followed the resolution of several amparo (protective) petitions through which the defense sought to maintain alternative measures for the journalist. [...] Pursuant to the resolution issued by the Chamber of […]

Brazilian court orders site to remove mention and image of police chief from article

"A court in Bahia has ordered the digital newspaper Poder360 to remove the name and image of a police chief mentioned in a report by the outlet. This information, published by the outlet, was confirmed by CNN Brasil with the Court of Justice of Bahia. According to the newspaper, the police chief in question was […]

Journalists denounce judge for 'abuse of power' towards journalists accused of defamation

"Journalistic guilds and institutions today accused Patricia Padilla—the presiding judge of the Second Investigating Court of the National District—of 'abuse of power,' alleging that she imposed precautionary measures against media professionals Nelson Gutiérrez and Joan René Santana (known as 'El Francotirador') in order to 'appease' Ramón Antonio Guzmán Peralta, the former director general of the […]

Journalist chased by Zambelli will have to financially compensate her for defamation

"A São Paulo court ordered journalist Luan Araújo to pay one minimum wage (R$ 1,621, or about US $300) for the crime of defamation against former congresswoman Carla Zambelli, currently imprisoned in Italy. Luan Araújo is the man who, in 2022—on the eve of the second round of the presidential elections—was chased by Zambelli in […]

Peruvian judge seeks court order forcing journalists to delete reports

“Journalists Analí Andrade Pareja, of Fuerza Informativa Apurímac, and Edwin Ramírez Delgado, of the Portada.pe website, are facing legal proceedings after Judge Wilmar de la Cruz Gutiérrez filed a constitutional injunction. The judge intends to force the journalists to remove several publications that reported on serious allegations against him for alleged influence peddling and abuse […]

Lula loses case against journalist who compared him to ‘the devil’

Brazil “President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva lost a lawsuit he had filed against former Globo journalist Luís Ernesto Lacombe, who published a video in 2024 comparing the politician to 'the devil.' The ruling, obtained by VEJA, was issued by Judge Paulo Cerqueira Campos of the Federal District Court of Justice and published in late […]

Colombian journalist seeking asylum in the US detained by ICE

“Estefany Rodríguez Florez, a journalist with Nashville Noticias who has produced critical reporting on [the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency] ICE, was arrested Wednesday [March 4] during a traffic stop, according to documents filed in federal court in Nashville. Her attorney requested her immediate release, but the federal agency asked a judge to deny […]

Brazilian journalist sentenced to eight months over post criticizing pro-Bolsonaro lawmaker

“Known as one of the very few journalists in the state of Acre recognized for his critical and independent stance toward local political and economic powers, journalist Leonildo Rosas was sentenced to eight months in prison under a semi-open regime for criticizing federal Rep. Roberto Duarte, a member of the Republicanos party. The pro-Bolsonaro lawmaker […]

Men sentenced to more than 46 years in prison for murder of Mexican journalist Marco Aurelio Ramírez

"Following the ruling issued this Thursday [Feb. 26] by the Trial Court in Puebla, those responsible for the murder of journalist Marco Aurelio Ramírez in Tehuacán were sentenced to 46 years and five months in prison each. They are Jesús Armando N. and José Francisco N., who received the sentence after a judicial process that […]