A federal judge in North Carolina has ruled that no amicus, or friend-of-the-court, briefs will be accepted in the case against former FBI Director James Comey.
U.S. District Judge Louise Flanagan of the Eastern District of North Carolina issued a one-page order Friday stating that neither federal nor local criminal rules provide for amicus filings and that both Comey and the government are represented by competent counsel. The court noted that allowing such filings is a matter of judicial discretion and announced that no amicus briefs will be considered. Any future requests to file such briefs will be denied.
Comey is charged with two federal counts of threats against the president stemming from a May 2025 social media post showing seashells arranged to spell “86 47” on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Prosecutors allege the message referenced eliminating the 47th president.
The case, United States v. James Brien Comey Jr., is scheduled for arraignment Sept. 30 in New Bern, with trial set for Oct. 21.
