Sat Aug 02 23:30:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text:
**Headline: Judge T.S. Ellis III, Who Presided Over Manafort, Jefferson Trials, Dies at 85**
**ALEXANDRIA, Va. -** Judge T.S. Ellis III, a federal judge renowned for his legal expertise and commanding courtroom presence, has died at the age of 85 after a prolonged illness. Ellis served on the bench for over 35 years, during which time he presided over numerous high-profile cases.
Among the most notable were the trials of former Donald Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and former U.S. Rep. William “Dollar Bill” Jefferson. He also oversaw the plea deal of John Walker Lindh, the “American Taliban.”
Ellis’s legal scholarship and impactful presence made him a respected figure in the legal community.
First Piper 