State Government

Google has monopoly in digital advertising technology, DOJ antitrust suit claims; are consumers harmed?

The U.S. Department of Justice has joined with eight states in a civil antitrust lawsuit alleging that Google is monopolizing the digital advertising industry, bringing harm to website publishers, advertisers and ultimately consumers who get less content for free.

Jan 25, 2023 9:06 AM CST

DeSantis violated Florida Constitution by suspending prosecutor, but federal court can’t act, judge says

A federal judge in Florida has ruled that the 11th Amendment prevents him from ordering the reinstatement of a reform prosecutor suspended by Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Jan 24, 2023 8:54 AM CST

Reed Smith asks to drop representation of former Baltimore state’s attorney after judge threatens sanctions

Four lawyers from Reed Smith are asking a judge to allow them to withdraw from the representation of former Baltimore State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby after a judge threatened sanctions against a law firm partner for violating local court rules.

Jan 23, 2023 2:51 PM CST

Prosecutors face obstacles in prosecution of Alec Baldwin and armorer for cinematographer’s death

New Mexico’s involuntary manslaughter caselaw could raise obstacles for prosecutors who plan to charge actor Alec Baldwin and his armorer for the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Jan 23, 2023 9:34 AM CST

Judge sanctions Trump and his lead lawyer nearly $1M for ‘pattern of misuse of the courts’

A federal judge in West Palm Beach, Florida, has sanctioned former President Donald Trump and his lead lawyer nearly $1 million for a lawsuit filed against Hillary Clinton and other defendants claiming “a malicious conspiracy” to spread false information and rig the 2016 presidential election.

Jan 20, 2023 11:25 AM CST

Former BigLaw associate gets suspension for inflating time spent on document review project

A former Dentons associate in Chicago has received a short suspension for his claim that he had reviewed 425 documents for a client, when in reality he had reviewed only 20 of those documents.

Jan 19, 2023 1:14 PM CST

Supreme Court will hear case of convicted stalker to decide mental state needed for ‘true threats’ conviction

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to consider what kind of mental state a speaker must have to be convicted for “true threats” that aren’t protected by the First Amendment.

Jan 17, 2023 2:24 PM CST

Bankruptcy judge suspends lawyer for ‘bizarre gamesmanship,’ urging clients to infect trustee with ‘nasty disease’

A bankruptcy judge in Colorado has suspended a Denver lawyer from practicing before the court for three years as a sanction for “egregious lawyer misconduct” that included asking his clients to infect the trustee with COVID-19 or another “nasty disease.”

Jan 12, 2023 12:38 PM CST

GEICO gets chance to fight $5.2M award for STD contracted in insured car

The GEICO General Insurance Co. should have been given a chance to intervene before a trial judge confirmed a $5.2 million arbitration award to a woman who contracted a sexually transmitted disease during car sex, the Missouri Supreme Court has ruled.

Jan 11, 2023 2:51 PM CST

Ex-con resigns as law clerk at Michigan Supreme Court following criticism

A former inmate convicted for robbing a store and shooting at a police officer has resigned his new job as a law clerk for a Michigan Supreme Court justice.

Jan 6, 2023 11:11 AM CST

Six-week abortion ban violates right to privacy, South Carolina Supreme Court rules

The South Carolina Supreme Court on Thursday struck down the state’s ban on abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy.

Jan 5, 2023 3:27 PM 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

Relax with our favorite long reads of 2022

Feel like curling up next to the fireplace with a good read? ABA Journal Managing Editor Kevin Davis has curated a selection of our favorite feature stories that ran in the magazine and online in 2022.

Dec 23, 2022 8:40 AM 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

Physician-assisted suicide is not protected by Massachusetts Constitution, top state court rules

The Massachusetts Declaration of Rights does not provide a due process or equal protection right to physician-assisted suicide for terminally ill patients, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled Monday.

Dec 21, 2022 3:52 PM CST