Louisiana

Using N-word at home is not lawyer ethics violation, hearing committee says

A now-former judge who used the N-word in a video taken at her home did not violate lawyer ethics rules, according to a hearing committee of the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board.

Jan 26, 2023 11:16 AM CST

Unanimous jury requirement applies to older criminal cases, top state court rules

The Oregon Supreme Court recently ruled that the constitutional requirement for unanimous juries in serious criminal cases applies to older verdicts challenged in state post-conviction proceedings.

Jan 4, 2023 2:34 PM CST

Western District of Louisiana is preferred venue for conservative states challenging Biden policies

Republican-led states banding together to challenge Biden administration policies are filing their cases in the Western District of Louisiana, where they can “virtually guarantee” that a GOP-appointed judge will be hearing their cases, according to an exclusive article by Bloomberg Law.

Dec 22, 2022 10:17 AM CST

‘Major questions’ doctrine applies to presidential authority, 5th Circuit says in federal contractor vaccine case

President Joe Biden didn’t have authority under the Procurement Act of 1949 to require federal contractors to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for their employees, a federal appeals court has ruled.

Dec 21, 2022 8:33 AM CST

Chief justice temporarily continues Title 42 policy that expelled asylum-seekers based on COVID-19 dangers

Chief Justice John Roberts on Monday temporarily kept in place a policy that quickly turned back asylum-seekers on the ground that they could contribute to the spread of COVID-19.

Dec 20, 2022 10:08 AM CST

Judge’s failure to recuse because of stock ownership doesn’t require vacating decision, 5th Circuit says

A federal appeals court has refused to disturb a judge’s ruling in favor of Walmart, despite her ownership of company stock.

Dec 12, 2022 10:49 AM CST

Lawyer used deceptive ‘mobile claim center’ to solicit Hurricane Ian clients, Florida Bar alleges

A lawyer is denying allegations that she solicited Hurricane Ian clients using a truck designed to look like an operation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency or a state-run site. The lawyer said the Florida Bar’s petition for her emergency suspension is based on “a clear misunderstanding of the underlying facts and circumstances in this matter.”

Nov 23, 2022 9:35 AM CST

Texas governor invokes obscure constitutional provision to repel ‘border invasion;’ judge strikes down Title 42 next day

Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Monday he is invoking the U.S. Constitution’s invasion clause and taking “unprecedented measures” to repel a “border invasion.”

Nov 16, 2022 10:22 AM CST

Voters ban slavery as a form of punishment in 4 states; what is the impact?

Voters in Alabama, Tennessee, Oregon and Vermont have approved state constitutional amendments banning the use of slavery as a punishment.

Nov 9, 2022 3:17 PM CST

Justice Jackson writes her first Supreme Court opinion, says justices should have heard death-penalty case

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote her first Supreme Court opinion Monday—a dissent from the high court’s refusal to hear a death-penalty case.

Nov 7, 2022 3:38 PM CST

Weekly Briefs: Cardozo Law will fight junk science with $15M; sheriff convicted for restraint-chair misuse

Cardozo Law will use $15M gift to fight junk science convictions Yeshiva University’s Cardozo School of Law plans to use a $15 million donation to create a justice clinic that will fight wrongful convictions based on the misuse of scientific evidence. The money will also be used to create a…

Oct 28, 2022 2:13 PM CDT

Ban on nonunanimous juries is not retroactive in Louisiana, top state court says

The Louisiana Supreme Court ruled Friday that inmates convicted by nonunanimous juries can’t challenge their convictions if they were final before the U.S. Supreme Court held that the Sixth Amendment required jury unanimity to convict in serious cases—in federal and state courts.

Oct 25, 2022 8:55 AM CDT

Weekly Briefs: Bulls proposal leads to prison time; conviction obtained in death of lawyer hero

Ex-prosecutor gets prison time for bulls proposal Jeffrey Siegmeister, the former state attorney for Florida’s Third Judicial Circuit, was sentenced Tuesday to 40 months in federal prison, partly for asking a criminal defense lawyer to buy one of his bulls in exchange for favorable treatment of the lawyer’s client. He…

Oct 21, 2022 2:40 PM CDT

Lawyer who hinted about accused priest is sanctioned $400K for violating protective order

A bankruptcy judge in New Orleans has imposed a $400,000 sanction on a lawyer who represents victims of priest abuse for hinting about allegations against a Catholic priest in violation of a protective order.

Oct 17, 2022 8:54 AM CDT

Supreme Court should uphold Indian Child Welfare Act, ABA says in amicus brief

The ABA has urged the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the Indian Child Welfare Act, writing in an amicus brief filed Thursday that Congress enacted the statute “under valid constitutional authority and on the basis of an extensive body of evidence and law.”

Aug 19, 2022 9:28 AM CDT