Woman who led police on low-speed chase on her mobility scooter wins reversal of her conviction

A woman who led police on a low-speed chase on her electric mobility scooter wasn’t operating a motor vehicle and should not have been convicted for fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, an Oregon appeals court has ruled.

Jun 10, 2021 10:25 AM CDT

Requirement for jury unanimity in serious cases isn’t retroactive, Supreme Court rules

The requirement for unanimous jury verdicts in serious criminal cases doesn’t apply retroactively to overturn final convictions on federal collateral review, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday.

May 17, 2021 12:28 PM CDT

Lawyer gets 5-year suspension for firing gun into colleague’s law office

A lawyer who practices in Portland, Oregon, has received a five-year suspension for firing six bullets into the law office of a colleague, narrowly missing the law firm manager who was in the building.

Apr 27, 2021 12:08 PM CDT

Prosecutors move to drop charges against former Littler associate charged in Portland demonstration

Prosecutors are asking a federal court in Oregon to drop charges against a former Littler Mendelson associate accused of disorderly conduct on federal property during demonstrations in Portland last summer.

Mar 3, 2021 3:30 PM CST

9th Circuit revives Oregon lawyers’ freedom-of-association challenge to mandatory bar membership

The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has revived a First Amendment challenge to the Oregon State Bar's mandatory membership requirement.

Mar 1, 2021 3:00 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Lawyer regrets pepper-spray incident; ex-FBI lawyer avoids prison

Lawyer expresses regret after he is pepper-sprayed by mayor

A lawyer who was pepper-sprayed by the mayor of Portland, Oregon, has expressed regret for the incident that provoked the response.…

Jan 29, 2021 3:49 PM CST

Mayor of Portland, Oregon, pepper-sprays lawyer in parking lot

Portland, Oregon, Mayor Ted Wheeler pepper-sprayed a lawyer who confronted him in a restaurant parking lot Sunday about COVID-19 risks, according to police.

Jan 27, 2021 12:05 PM CST

Charges tossed against hammer-attack suspect after accuser refuses to testify without a mask

An Oregon judge dismissed charges against a suspect in a hammer attack Monday after his accuser refused to testify against him without a mask.

Jan 27, 2021 11:19 AM CST

Voters across US approve measures on police reform and criminal justice

Ballot measures intended to reform policing gained approval in jurisdictions across the country last week, while several other criminal justice reforms also won approval.

Nov 9, 2020 2:55 PM CST

Oregon voters legalize psychedelic mushrooms, decriminalize drugs; 4 other states OK recreational marijuana

Voters in several states loosened drug laws Tuesday, going so far in Oregon as to legalize psychedelic mushrooms and to decriminalize small amounts of heroin and other drugs.

Nov 4, 2020 11:39 AM CST

Oregon Supreme Court rejects climate change lawsuit that cites public trust doctrine

The Oregon Supreme Court has rejected claims that the public trust doctrine imposes broad duties on the state to protect the environment from greenhouse gas emissions.

Oct 23, 2020 10:39 AM CDT

Oregon and Louisiana grapple with past criminal convictions made with split verdicts

In April, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Ramos v. Louisiana that split verdicts in state trials for serious criminal offenses violated the Sixth Amendment right to a fair trial, overturning a high court ruling in 1972 that upheld them. The effect of the court’s ruling in Ramos is that state courts will now vacate cases with split verdicts on direct appeal. Prosecutors will next decide whether to retry them. What is unclear is whether the ruling will apply retroactively.

Oct 1, 2020 2:10 AM CDT

First Black Oregon Supreme Court justice blazes a trail for lawyers—and students

On a hot day in June 2019, Oregon Supreme Court Justice Adrienne Nelson stood up and made a promise to her community. “This is going to be a place where students know they are enough, and they can build from that and grow from that,” she said.

Sep 30, 2020 2:21 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Mueller prosecutor has regrets in tell-all book; federal courthouse is a hurricane casualty

Book by Mueller prosecutor says more could have been done

A book by Andrew Weissmann, a former prosecutor for special counsel Robert Mueller said the office failed to fully investigate…

Sep 22, 2020 4:45 PM CDT

Another ‘shadow docket’ decision? SCOTUS once again blocks relaxed election procedures

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed an injunction that would have made it easier to place a measure on the ballot seeking to reform Oregon’s redistricting process.

Aug 12, 2020 9:57 AM CDT