Tucson Shootings

Video Of Tucson Shooting Shows Judge Protecting Giffords Aide

Rachel Slajda | January 19, 2011, 11:17AM

Judge John Roll

Surveillance video from the shooting in Tucson reportedly show federal Judge John Roll trying to save the life of one of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' aides before he himself was fatally shot.

According to an officer in the Pima County Sheriff's Department, the video shows Roll trying to guide the aide, Ron Barber, to safety.

"It's very clear to me the judge was thinking of his fellow human more than himself," said Richard Kastigar, the investigative and operational bureau chief of the department.

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Jared Lee Loughner

Due To Arizona Conflicts, California Judge Takes Over Loughner Case

Ryan J. Reilly | January 12, 2011, 6:25PM

Judge John Roll

U.S. District Court Judge for the Southern District of California Larry A. Burns will handle the case against Jared Lee Loughner, the alleged gunman behind the mass shooting on Saturday, according to documents filed with the court on Wednesday.

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Jared Lee Loughner

Loughner Conviction Could Come Down To Why Judge Was At Giffords Event

Ryan J. Reilly and Melissa Jeltsen | January 10, 2011, 12:05PM

Judge John Roll

Whether Jared Lee Loughner is convicted federally of killing federal judge John McCarthy Roll could come down simply to why he showed up to Saturday's event with Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ).

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Jared Lee Loughner

'Unabomber' Lawyer Will Represent Alleged Giffords Shooter Jared Lee Loughner

Ryan J. Reilly | January 9, 2011, 9:48PM

Judy Clarke, who represented "Unabomber" Ted Kaczynski and assisted in the case of confessed al-Qaeda operative Zacarias Moussaoui, has been appointed to represent Jared Lee Loughner, the man charged by federal authorities with two murders as well as the attempted assassination of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) and two others.

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Jared Lee Loughner

Feds Formally Charge Jared Loughner For Murders, Attempting To Kill Gabby Giffords

Ryan J. Reilly | January 9, 2011, 3:44PM

The Justice Department just filed charges against Jared Lee Loughner for a count of attempting to kill Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), two counts of first degree murder of federal employees and two counts of attempted murder of federal employees. We've got a copy of the complaint from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona posted here.

FBI Special Agent Tony M. Taylor writes in a statement of probable cause that John M. Roll, the chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona who was killed yesterday, had worked with Giffords within the last several months to resolve issues related to the volume of cases filed in the District of Arizona. It seems to confirm the theory that Roll was simply at the wrong place at the wrong time and that Loughner was targeting Giffords.

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John Roll

Marshals: We're Taking 'Appropriate Actions' Following Murder Of Federal Judge John Roll

Ryan J. Reilly | January 8, 2011, 7:25PM

Judge John Roll

Following the murder today of Arizona's Chief Federal Judge John McCarthy Roll at the shooting incident in Arizona, a spokesman for the U.S. Marshals Service told TPM the federal agency is taking "appropriate actions to ensure the security of the federal judiciary."

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Eric Holder

Holder: We'll Hold Those Responsible Accountable For 'Heinous' Shootings

Ryan J. Reilly | January 8, 2011, 5:45PM

Attorney General Eric Holder

Attorney General Eric Holder just issued a statement on the shooting of several individuals in Arizona on Saturday, including Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-AZ) and the killing of federal judge John Roll.

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Robert Mueller

Obama Sends FBI Director Robert Mueller to Scene Of Gifford Shootings

Ryan J. Reilly | January 8, 2011, 5:31PM

Robert S. Mueller III

Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Bob Mueller is in route to the scene of the shootings in Arizona where Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D) and 17 others were injured, President Barack Obama said at a news conference on Saturday afternoon.

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John Roll

Federal Judge John Roll Killed In Arizona Shooting

Ryan J. Reilly | January 8, 2011, 3:21PM

Judge John Roll

John Roll, Arizona's chief federal judge, was killed in the same incident in which Rep. Gabby Giffords was shot on Saturday morning.

A federal law enforcement official first confirmed to TPM that a federal judge was shot. The U.S. Marshals Service is on the scene of the shooting, the federal official told TPM. The Marshals Service employees responded to the scene after the shooting, the official said.

WNBC reporter Jonathan Dienst confirmed Roll was killed. A statement from Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said in a statement that Roll had been attacked.

Roll faced death threats in 2009 after presiding over a $32 million civil-rights lawsuit, the Arizona Republic reported:

When Roll ruled the case could go forward, Gonzales said talk-radio shows cranked up the controversy and spurred audiences into making threats.

In one afternoon, Roll logged more than 200 phone calls. Callers threatened the judge and his family. They posted personal information about Roll online.

"They said, 'We should kill him. He should be dead,' " Gonzales said.

Roll, who is the chief federal judge in Arizona, said both he and his wife were given a protection detail for about a month.

"It was unnerving and invasive. . . . By its nature it has to be," Roll said, adding that they were encouraged to live their lives as normally as possible. "It was handled very professionally by the Marshals Service."

At the end of the month, Roll said four key men had been identified as threat makers.

The Marshals Service left to him the decision to press charges but recommended against it. Roll said he had no qualms about following their advice.

The recommendation was based on the intent of those making the threats.

"I have a very strong belief that there is nothing wrong with criticizing a judicial decision," he said. "But when it comes to threats, that is an entirely different matter."

Editor's Note: This post has been updated since it was first published.