Judge Issues Split Decision in Case Involving LaPierre, NRA

A New York judge on Monday banned Wayne LaPierre, the former head of the National Rifle Association, from holding a paid position with the organization for a decade, but declined to appoint an independent monitor to oversee the gun rights group, the AP reports. The split decision from Judge Joel Cohen came on the final day of arguments in the second stage of a civil trial brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who sued the NRA and its executives in 2020 under her authority to investigate not-for-profits registered in the state. The first phase of the trial, decided in February by a Manhattan jury, found LaPierre and another deputy liable for misspending millions of dollars on lavish trips and other personal expenses. LaPierre, who led the group for more than three decades, resigned ahead of the trial.

Ruling from the bench, Cohen said the state's request for a monitor was not the correct remedy, suggesting the oversight mechanism would be "time-consuming, disruptive and will impose significant costs on the NRA without corresponding benefits." Cohen also said he had concerns about "speech-chilling government intrusion on the affairs of the organization." He said the same First Amendment concerns did not apply to whether LaPierre, 74, could return to the organization anytime soon. "This relief is about the privilege, not the right, to serve as an officer or director of a New York not-for-profit," he said. James had sought to have LaPierre banned from returning to lead the group or any affiliate for life, NBC News reports. (More Wayne LaPierre stories.)