CiVL News: Apr 11, 2026, 1:04 PM PDT -- Home Stills, Sealed Records, and a Tweet That Grew Into a RICO Case

Here's your latest episode from the Reason Magazine CiVL News Roundup produced by CiVL.com. This episode covers significant court rulings, including a federal ban on home distilling being struck down, a denied request to seal old restraining order records, and a new civil RICO complaint in a copyright dispute. • The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals struck down an 1868 federal ban on home alcohol distilleries in McNutt v. United States Department of Justice. • Judge Edith Jones' opinion stated the ban exceeded Congress' authority under the taxing power and the Necessary and Proper Clause. • The court found the ban was an anti-revenue measure, reducing potential tax income. • A California man's request to seal or destroy 2016 domestic violence restraining order records was denied. • The California Court of Appeal cited First Amendment principles and the presumption of open court records. • Regret, reconciliation, and reputational concerns did not meet the standard for sealing records. • Lawyer Sonya Shay-koon filed a 34-page civil RICO complaint against Al Jazeera Media Network. • Shay-koon alleges a "Market Erasure" campaign by a Transnational Criminal Organization. • The complaint claims the organization uses law firms and media to suppress her findings and interfere with her "Three Plinths." • She alleges the campaign was triggered by her 2019 attempt to expose Osama Abu De-hay. Join CiVL and be part of building the future you want to live in. Be an early adopter. We're just getting started. Human respect, a core tenet of CiVL's vision, recognizes that the path to a flourishing civilization does not lie in more efficient forms of coercion, but in the widespread adoption of human respect as a primary value. By moving away from the "Conflict Machine" and toward a culture of voluntary cooperation, we align ourselves with the natural requirements for human well-being. We built CiVL News out of our passion for free and open access to information. Follow the topics you care about, and don't be subjected to algos! You're invited to build a hub with us for ideas that upgrade civilizations.