Government

Illinois uses grant money to encourage libraries not to ban books; law touted as first of its kind

Democrat Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed legislation that uses grant money to encourage public libraries to refrain from banning books because of “partisan or doctrinal disapproval.”

Jun 15, 2023 10:47 AM CDT

Indian adoption law upheld by Supreme Court, but equal protection issue remains undecided

The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld a federal law giving preferences to tribes in Native American adoptions but left consideration of challengers’ equal protection argument for a future case in which plaintiffs have standing to raise it.

Jun 15, 2023 10:23 AM CDT

Nonlawyer advocates can help tenants facing eviction in program approved in 2 states

The Arizona Supreme Court and the Utah Supreme Court have approved proposals to allow trained, nonlawyer advocates to provide free limited-scope representation to tenants facing housing instability.

Jun 14, 2023 9:30 AM CDT

What could AI regulation in the US look like?

In the United States, there has been very little movement toward establishing a regulatory framework at the federal level for artificial intelligence. Why is that?

Jun 14, 2023 8:51 AM CDT

Banana-on-wall artwork didn’t infringe another artist’s work, federal judge says

A federal judge in Miami has tossed an artist’s lawsuit contending that his copyrighted artwork consisting of a plastic orange and a banana duct taped to a green panel was infringed by a second banana display.

Jun 13, 2023 12:12 PM CDT

Disability rights advocates challenge California’s bar exam accommodation process

Updated: Two disability rights groups have filed a U.S. Department of Justice complaint against the State Bar of California alleging that the agency “consistently” violates the Americans With Disabilities Act regarding bar exam accommodation requests.

Jun 13, 2023 8:52 AM CDT

Radio host faces hurdles in ChapGPT defamation suit

A lawsuit filed by a Georgia gun rights radio host alleges that he was defamed when OpenAI’s artificial intelligence platform ChatGPT made up fake accusations against him.

Jun 12, 2023 2:43 PM CDT

Notes from Trump’s lawyer cited as evidence of obstruction in classified documents case

Notes from a lawyer for former President Donald Trump may constitute some of the most damning obstruction evidence against Trump in the classified documents case against him.

Jun 12, 2023 12:31 PM CDT

How Rule 29 motion could save Trump in classified documents case; what are other possibilities?

Lawyers for former President Donald Trump could obtain an unappealable victory in the classified documents case if a motion for a directed verdict of acquittal is granted during the right stage of the criminal trial.

Jun 12, 2023 10:22 AM CDT

Did pending Supreme Court case affect special counsel’s decision to move Trump grand jury to Florida?

Updated: A “little-noted” case pending before the U.S. Supreme Court may have changed the special counsel’s calculus on where to bring charges against former President Donald Trump, according to a blog post by Just Security.

Jun 9, 2023 11:49 AM CDT

CNN obtains transcript of tape that is highlighted in unsealed espionage charges against Trump

Updated: A recording in which former President Donald Trump discusses a “secret” document about attacking Iran is referenced in the indictment unsealed Friday that includes alleged violations of the Espionage Act.

Jun 9, 2023 10:14 AM CDT

In ‘stunning development,’ Supreme Court rules Alabama election map violates Voting Rights Act

The U.S. Supreme Court has struck down a congressional voting map that dilutes Black voting strength in Alabama, stating that it would “decline to recast” its caselaw as urged by the state.

Jun 8, 2023 11:39 AM CDT

Proposal to require Michigan courts to use preferred pronouns has some critics

The Michigan Supreme Court has received some pushback on its proposal to require state courts to use preferred pronouns when identifying parties or lawyers.

Jun 7, 2023 2:05 PM CDT

Would nearly all felon gun bans be struck down under new 3rd Circuit opinion? Dissenter thinks so

An en banc federal appeals court has ruled that a man convicted for food stamps fraud has a Second Amendment right to possess a gun—despite a federal law to the contrary.

Jun 7, 2023 12:02 PM CDT

Lawyer censured for using TeamViewer to snoop on former firm’s business activity

A lawyer in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, has been censured after acknowledging that he “fell into stupid” and accessed his former law firm’s computer system to monitor his former partner’s business activity.

Jun 6, 2023 3:24 PM CDT