State Government

Federal judge orders district attorney to write apology letters to families of murder victims

Updated: A federal judge has ordered Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner to write apology letters to the families of the victims of a double murder after concluding that supervisors in his office made misleading statements to the court.

Sep 14, 2022 12:06 PM CDT

Oberlin College will pay over $36M to bakery that alleged school aided false claim of racism

Oberlin College will pay $36.59 million to an Ohio bakery claiming that it was defamed when school officials supported students who accused the business of racial profiling.

Sep 13, 2022 3:44 PM CDT

This state wants to know why fewer experienced applicants are seeking judgeships

The Idaho Supreme Court has surveyed active attorneys in the state to learn why fewer highly qualified candidates are applying to fill district court vacancies.

Sep 13, 2022 1:48 PM CDT

Former New York attorney general gets his law license back

Former New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has regained his law license after a one-year suspension for physically abusing a lawyer and two other women with whom he was romantically involved.

Sep 12, 2022 8:43 AM CDT

Michigan Supreme Court decision puts abortion rights on November ballot

The Michigan Supreme Court said Thursday voters can decide whether to enshrine the right to abortion in the state constitution, rejecting a challenge that a ballot proposal was defective because of typographical errors.

Sep 9, 2022 2:00 PM CDT

Weekly Briefs: DOJ urges SCOTUS to turn down citizenship case; cop asks second justice to block vaccine mandate

Don’t accept citizenship case, DOJ tells SCOTUS The U.S. Department of Justice filed a brief Monday urging the U.S. Supreme Court to deny review in a case on citizenship rights for people born in American Samoa. The brief said Congress should make citizenship decisions, and the case would be a…

Sep 2, 2022 1:40 PM CDT

Top St. Louis prosecutor is reprimanded for discovery missteps, misstatements in then-governor’s prosecution

St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner was reprimanded Tuesday for her handling of a 2018 investigation into then-Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens for alleged invasion of privacy.

Sep 1, 2022 8:44 AM CDT

Dentons’ $32.3M malpractice loss remains intact after top Ohio court declines to hear case

Updated: The Ohio Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to hear Dentons’ appeal of a malpractice verdict requiring it to pay $32.3 million to a former corporate client that had to find new lawyers after the law firm was tossed from a patent case.

Aug 31, 2022 10:12 AM CDT

California bill sealing criminal records for many offenders awaits governor’s signature

A bill sent to Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom for his signature would automatically seal conviction and arrest records of many felony offenders in the state if they avoid conviction for another felony for four years after their sentences end.

Aug 30, 2022 8:46 AM CDT

Ban on gender-affirming procedures for transgender youths is sex discrimination, 8th Circuit says

A federal appeals court has upheld an injunction blocking Arkansas’ ban on “gender transition procedures” for youths younger than age 18.

Aug 29, 2022 2:57 PM CDT

Mississippi scrubbed racial taint from its constitutional ban on voting by some felons, 5th Circuit rules

The lifetime ban on voting for some felons in Mississippi’s 1890 constitution no longer has a racist taint following later changes that added additional crimes to the list, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at New Orleans has concluded.

Aug 26, 2022 10:10 AM CDT

Defendants waiting too long for public defenders are entitled to dismissal of charges, suit says

Eight Wisconsin plaintiffs who have waited weeks or even months for appointed lawyers have filed a class action lawsuit claiming a violation of their right to counsel under the federal and state constitutions.

Aug 25, 2022 1:00 PM CDT

Federal judges issue conflicting rulings on emergency abortions when health of mothers is at risk

Federal judges in Idaho and Texas have issued conflicting decisions on whether a federal law requiring stabilizing emergency care conflicts with abortion bans.

Aug 25, 2022 11:10 AM CDT

Federal appeals court bars libel prosecution based on state attorney general’s campaign ad

The campaign organization for North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein has obtained an injunction that bars a local district attorney from prosecuting people involved in producing a negative advertisement about Stein’s opponent in the 2020 election.

Aug 24, 2022 12:49 PM CDT

New Mexico allows immigrants here illegally to obtain law licenses

Immigrants who are in the country illegally won’t be barred from law practice in New Mexico, according to a rule change approved by the New Mexico Supreme Court.

Aug 24, 2022 11:48 AM CDT