State Government

In ‘monumental moment,’ Montana Supreme Court rules for youths claiming right to clean environment

The Montana Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down a state law banning consideration of greenhouse gas emissions in fossil-fuel-permitting decisions, citing a state constitutional provision that guarantees a “clean and healthful environment.”

Dec 19, 2024 9:01 AM CST

Texas AG sues out-of-state doctor over mail-order abortion pills

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) sued a New York doctor this week for allegedly prescribing abortion pills to a suburban Dallas woman in violation of Texas law—setting up the first major legal challenge to “shield laws” enacted by some Democratic-led states to protect doctors providing abortion access after Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022.

Dec 16, 2024 10:30 AM CST

Florida Bar drops diversity and inclusion language from its internal policy

The Florida Bar’s board of governors on Friday eliminated diversity, equity and inclusion language from its organizational policy, a move that follows the Florida Supreme Court’s February mandate for the bar to stop funding diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Dec 16, 2024 10:07 AM CST

Opioid suits can’t be based on nuisance law in Ohio, top state court rules in $650M win for pharmacies

A decision by the Ohio Supreme Court on the state’s product-liability law is good news for three national pharmaceutical chains ordered to pay more than $650 million for contributing to the opioid epidemic.

Dec 12, 2024 3:23 PM CST

Top Montana court allows gender-affirming care for trans minors during litigation, citing privacy protections

The Montana Supreme Court on Wednesday cited state constitutional privacy protections when it upheld a judge’s decision to block a law that bans gender-affirming care for transgender minors.

Dec 12, 2024 11:52 AM CST

Indiana’s former AG says dropped groping suit ends ‘odyssey of unfounded allegations’

Four women who accused then-Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill of groping them at a 2018 party have dropped their civil lawsuit against him, citing their conclusion that a trial would not make him take responsibility for his alleged actions.

Dec 10, 2024 3:00 PM CST

Bar admission denied for applicant who won’t take constitutional oath

A bar applicant who won’t take an oath to support the U.S. Constitution and the New York Constitution has failed to demonstrate that she has the character and fitness to become an attorney, according to a New York appeals court.

Dec 9, 2024 2:22 PM CST

Pilot project allowing nonlawyer legal providers gets OK in Washington

The Washington Supreme Court has authorized a pilot project that will allow nonlawyer entities to provide legal and law-related services in Washington.

Dec 9, 2024 11:13 AM CST

Judge acknowledged his ‘profane outburst’ shocked himself, Florida court says in imposing suspension

A Florida judge has been suspended partly for a “profane outburst” in which he used the F-word and called a man in his courtroom an “a- -hole.”

Dec 3, 2024 3:03 PM CST

Lawyer convicted of tampering with corpse has law license revoked at her request

A Florida lawyer who pleaded guilty to tampering with a corpse of a woman killed in Dallas has had her license revoked at her request.

Dec 2, 2024 3:34 PM CST

5th Circuit again blocks US from cutting razor-wire fence installed by Texas at border

Texas is entitled to a preliminary injunction that blocks the federal government from cutting razor wire that the state had installed along the border, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at New Orleans ruled last week.

Dec 2, 2024 10:05 AM CST

ABA Legislative Priorities Survey helps members set the agenda

As lawyers and legal professionals, the importance of our collective voice in shaping the future of our profession and society cannot be overstated. The American Bar Association is once again inviting its members to participate in the Legislative Priorities Survey, a critical tool that helps determine the focus of the ABA’s advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C.

Dec 1, 2024 12:20 AM CST

Lawyer suspended for ‘predatory style of taking on client representation’

A Philadelphia lawyer has been suspended for five years after a state disciplinary board concluded that he lacked an “ethical compass” and provided no evidence of “genuine concern for his clients.”

Nov 21, 2024 2:52 PM CST

Illinois Supreme Court reverses actor Jussie Smollett’s conviction

The Illinois Supreme Court announced Thursday that it had overturned the 2021 felony conviction of Jussie Smollett, a television actor who became even more of a household name five years ago after falsely reporting that he had been the victim of a violent hate crime.

Nov 21, 2024 10:30 AM CST

Attorney discipline records short of disbarment would be expunged after 8 years under state bar plan

The California Supreme Court is being asked to automatically expunge records of attorney discipline other than disbarment after eight years, provided that there is no further discipline during that period.

Nov 21, 2024 9:00 AM CST