State Government

In apparent first, teachers union sues Florida governor to stop schools from reopening during COVID-19 crisis

A teachers union sued Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state education commissioner on Monday in a bid to block the reopening of schools.

Jul 21, 2020 1:39 PM CDT

After lawyers charged for waving guns at protesters, Missouri attorney general plans to intervene

Husband and wife lawyers Mark and Patricia McCloskey were each charged with unlawful use of a weapon Monday for waving guns at protesters outside their St. Louis home last month. The Missouri governor and attorney general opposed the charges.

Jul 21, 2020 11:48 AM CDT

Oregon sues US agencies over protest arrests; what gave feds authority to intervene?

Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum alleged in a lawsuit Friday that federal agencies dispatched to Portland, Oregon, demonstrations are violating protesters’ constitutional rights.

Jul 20, 2020 11:00 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Governor sues over mask mandate; court openings paused

Georgia governor sues Atlanta to block mask mandate Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has filed a lawsuit seeking to block a mask mandate by the city of Atlanta. The July 16 suit says Kemp has the power to suspend mask mandates that are contrary to his directive encouraging, but not requiring,…

Jul 17, 2020 4:10 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Protesters charged in state AG protest; Zoom comment aftermath

87 protesters charged with trying to intimidate prosecutor Eighty-seven protesters arrested at the home of Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron have been charged with felony intimidation for trying to influence a prosecutor’s decision. The protesters held a sit-in Tuesday to seek the prosecution of police officers in the death of…

Jul 16, 2020 6:25 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Michael Cohen sent back to jail; former state chief justice’s suit against actor can proceed

Trump’s former personal lawyer returns to jail after refusing home confinement terms Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer, was returned to jail Thursday after refusing to sign a document that would have prevented him from speaking to the media or publishing a book during his home confinement. Cohen,…

Jul 10, 2020 4:56 PM CDT

Courthouses in this state grapple with rise in judges and staff testing positive for COVID-19

Several courthouses across Georgia shut down this week as judges and staff tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

Jul 10, 2020 2:12 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: PACER gets a redesign; SCOTUS turns down border wall case

PACER is redesigned to be easier to use PACER, the federal judiciary’s website for electronic court filings, has gotten a redesign. The site has new navigational tools, simplified instructions for account registration, and easy-to-use directions for searches. (Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts June 26 press release) Supreme Court turns…

Jun 29, 2020 3:51 PM CDT

Police union sues state attorney general over plans to publish names of disciplined cops

The union that represents New Jersey state troopers is suing New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal to stop his plan to publicly release the names of troopers who have been disciplined.

Jun 26, 2020 12:50 PM CDT

Indiana attorney general is suspended for 30 days for inappropriate touching at party

Updated: Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill has been suspended from law practice for 30 days for the inappropriate touching of four women during a 2018 party at a bar.

May 11, 2020 12:37 PM CDT

Second lawmaker sues over Illinois stay-at-home order; first plaintiff won limited TRO

The co-chairman of President Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign in Illinois has filed a lawsuit that challenges the state’s COVID-19 stay-at-home order, calling it “as broad as an ocean.”

Apr 30, 2020 10:10 AM CDT

Lawyer is accused of threatening governor in social media posts

A Kentucky lawyer was arrested Tuesday on a charge of terroristic threatening for comments that he made about the Democratic Kentucky governor on Facebook.

Apr 24, 2020 4:17 PM CDT

In new opinion, 5th Circuit halts medication abortions in Texas under nonessential surgery ban

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at New Orleans reinstated a ban Monday on medication abortions in Texas under the governor’s order banning nonessential surgeries during the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Apr 21, 2020 10:18 AM CDT

Pandemic power plays: Civil liberties in the time of COVID-19

The power to respond to a public health crisis exists in the U.S. Constitution, state constitutions, regulations and case law. But the way they fit together is not always clear, especially in the wake of a modern-day global crisis.

Apr 21, 2020 8:00 AM CDT

Meet the groups helping to get women elected

“It’s very important that as women, we have leadership roles in the law. … If we’re not participating, if we’re not in leadership roles, our voices aren’t being heard, and our experiences aren’t being taken into consideration,” says Rebecca Dallet, who spent nearly 11 years as an assistant district attorney in Milwaukee County in Wisconsin.

Apr 1, 2020 3:30 AM CDT