Legal

It seems Denise Richards knew she would get some blowback for a leather skirt she wore to court earlier this year ... but the actress says haters can pound their gavels elsewhere.

DR posted a video Tuesday of her getting ready for court back from back in February ... and said some glam was necessary for her courtroom showdown with estranged hubby Aaron Phypers.

Denise figured some would say the Gucci skirt she wanted to rock was not appropriate for court ... but who cares when it fits so perfectly!

Former U.S. Congressman George Santos is in hot water again with the feds ... the Department of Justice is reportedly investigating him for alleged insider trading.

Santos, a convicted felon, is now facing possible new federal charges for making a suspicious trade in a prediction market on one of President Trump's speeches, according to the Associated Press.

The outlet reports that Santos bragged about attending Trump's State of the Union address on February 24, but he then bet against showing up for it.

The woman who wrote California's survivor-protection law is calling out Blake Lively's legal strategy in her fight with Justin Baldoni ... saying the legislation was never intended to be used this way.

Watch the video ... Victoria Burke joined "The Megyn Kelly Show" Tuesday and explained why she believes Lively's use of the law goes beyond its original intent. She also details why she says it was never meant to block every defamation claim.

Burke wrote the law after learning she could be sued for defamation if she spoke publicly about her own sexual assault. She then spent more than a year researching lawsuits against survivors before taking the proposal to lawmakers.

"How I Met Your Mother" actor Nick Pasqual is headed to prison for a long time after being sentenced for the attempted murder of his ex-girlfriend, makeup artist Allie Shehorn.

A judge handed down a 32-year to life sentence Tuesday following Pasqual's conviction last month stemming from the brutal May 2024 attack.

Prosecutors said Pasqual broke into Shehorn's Sunland home during the early morning hours and stabbed her more than 20 times in the neck, chest, back, abdomen, arms, and wrists before fleeing toward the U.S.-Mexico border.

Former "American Idol" contestant Antonella Barba copped to violating the terms of her supervised release by smoking marijuana ... but she's getting a puff, puff pass here.

According to court docs, obtained by TMZ, Antonella reported to the probation office in Camden, New Jersey on May 5 for a scheduled visit and urine drug screening ... and officers apparently became suspicious when she appeared to be stalling before the test. They say she ultimately admitted she had recently used marijuana.

Antonella -- who rose to fame as a contestant on Season 6 of 'Idol' and later served prison time in a federal drug trafficking case -- is currently on supervised release stemming from that conviction.

Josh Duggar just got shut down in his bid to throw out his conviction after a judge called his excuse for filing his docs too late "not credible."

The "19 Kids and Counting" star filed a motion looking to vacate his conviction for possession of child sexual abuse material, claiming his constitutional rights were violated.

But the judge rejected his bid after finding he filed his appeal too late … according to court docs obtained by People.

Nicole Curtis' ex Shane Maguire is dragging the former HGTV star to court to try to change their custody arrangement … months after she was fired from the network for using the n-word.

In court docs, obtained by TMZ, Shane asks the court to modify the current custody plan from one that involves frequent exchanges to one that allows their 10-year-old son, Harper, to have one week with him followed by one week with Nicole.

Shane claimed the current custody arrangement is creating "conflict" and “instability” for Harper and exposing him to “ongoing parental conflict.”

Josh Duggar is on the move within the federal prison system, getting transferred to a penitentiary that caters to inmates who need medical and mental health services ... TMZ has learned.

The "19 Kids and Counting" star turned convicted sex offender was transferred May 29 from a minimum-security facility, FCI Seagoville in Texas, to the Federal Medical Center in Forth Worth ... according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Duggar had been locked up at FCI Seagoville from June 2022 to May 2026 ... but the BOP refused to explain the reason behind the move, citing security concerns.

A South Carolina convenience store owner has been cleared in the shooting death of a Black 14-year-old boy back in 2023, after a jury found him not guilty of murder.

ICYMI, Asian business owner Chikei Rick Chow shot and killed Cyrus Carmack-Belton in June 2023 after he allegedly stole from his store. Prosecutors alleged Chow chased the teen 130 yards from his store and sent a bullet through his back in an act of rage after he wrongly assumed he had taken four bottles of water, according to reports.

Chow's defense lawyer said he fired at the teen because he allegedly pointed a gun at his son. Carmack-Belton was confirmed to have a semiautomatic pistol at the time of the incident, but it fell to the ground during the chase, according to prosecutors. He allegedly never threatened anyone with it.

Mackenzie Shirilla is mocking her hometown as she rots in prison ... ripping the good folks of Strongsville, Ohio.

TMZ obtained audio from a prison call between Mackenzie and her mother, Natalie, mocking the community she once called home.

Give it a listen ... Mackenzie is heard complaining about residents of the Cleveland suburb ... describing Strongsville residents as "sad and depressing."

Mackenzie and her mother even suggest folks back home are spreading false information about Mackenzie online ever since she was arrested and convicted of murdering her boyfriend Dominic Russo and his friend Davion Flanagan.

Taylor Frankie Paul just scored a major win in her custody battle with ex Dakota Mortensen ... because a judge has expanded her time with their 2-year-old son, Ever.

During a court hearing Monday, a judge scrapped the requirement that Taylor's parenting time be supervised, allowing her expanded time with Ever.

Under the updated arrangement, Paul will have parenting time on a designated day each week, plus alternating weekends. Dakota, meanwhile, will continue serving as Ever's primary custodial parent and will retain custody during holidays, according to the judge's ruling.

Mackenzie Shirilla's dad was in full damage-control mode after her arrest ... repeatedly warning police not to question his daughter.

Body cam footage, obtained by TMZ, shows Steve Shirilla arriving at the Strongsville Police Department shortly after Mackenzie was arrested in November 2022 in connection with the crash that killed her boyfriend, Dominic Russo, and friend Davion Flanagan. Check out the video ... Steve yells about cops supposedly not being allowed to question his daughter as he demands to see her immediately.

At one point, an officer reminds him Mackenzie is legally an adult and can speak for herself. Steve's response? "Yeah, but she's a dumb 18-year-old."

Chud The Builder is making an emotional plea in court to get his Ford truck back … claiming cops seized it during his recent arrest but have yet to return it ... TMZ has learned. 

We obtained new court docs showing Chud asked for his 2018 White Ford F250 to be turned over to him. The vehicle was taken into custody by cops after Chud's May arrest.

Chud says the seized car was not contraband or evidence in the arrest. He says the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office continuing to hold on to his car “without legal justification” is causing undue hardship to him and his fiancée, who needs the pickup to get around.

Cassie is slamming the former male model who claims she and Diddy drugged him during freakoffs ... she says the man initially supported her after she spoke out against the disgraced mogul and changed his tune when Diddy cut her a fat check.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Cassie says Edmond Laurent’s claims against her should be thrown out.

Cassie claims that after telling her story about Diddy’s abuse in 2023, Edmond reached out to her via text and wrote, “Hi hope you ok i’m sorry I didn’t know he was doing that to you. I will definitely be a witness for you. Edmond. L.”

Sean "Diddy" Combs is facing a new D.A. probe, and potentially new criminal charges ... and it's all tied to an L.A. sexual battery claim made against the mogul ... TMZ has learned.

The case involves publicist Jonathan Hay, who filed a police report in September 2025, claiming Diddy sexually battered him in 2020, and again in 2021. Detectives have presented their findings to the L.A. County District Attorney, and it's now under review ... according to the D.A.'s spokesperson, Venusse Dunn.

Hay initially filed the report in his hometown of Largo, Florida, but it later got transferred to authorities in L.A., where Diddy allegedly committed the crimes.

Janel Parrish and her ex Chris Long hashed out a divorce settlement and she scored a big win … because the actress is keeping all the money she makes from her TV and film gigs.

TMZ obtained the deal executed by the exes on May 21 ... and the divorce agreement says Janel will keep her residuals and royalties from all her projects, including money from "Pretty Little Liars." She's also keeping her SAG pension plan.

Janel doesn't have to cut her ex monthly checks either ... they both waived their right to collect spousal support.

She also walks away with her 2019 Audi SQ7, all jewelry, and clothes in her possession, her credit card points, several bank accounts, and one-half of their $3.2 million home, which they plan to unload ASAP.