State Government

Florida now has nation’s lowest death-penalty threshold; second bill allows execution of child rapists

Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday signed a bill that allows juries to recommend capital punishment with an 8-4 vote.

Apr 20, 2023 12:02 PM CDT

Michigan justice encourages struggling lawyers to get help as he announces mental health treatment

Michigan Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein announced Tuesday that he will miss a special oral argument session April 26 because he is getting mental health treatment.

Apr 19, 2023 9:17 AM CDT

Weekly Briefs: Murder cases move slowly in Chicago; Neuriva decision could limit attorney fees

Justice is slow in Chicago Most murder cases in the county that includes Chicago take four years or longer to resolve, according to a series of investigative stories by the Chicago Tribune. “As defendants sit in jail, police can take years to turn over all their evidence to prosecutors,” the…

Apr 14, 2023 2:21 PM CDT

Is honking your car horn expressive conduct protected by First Amendment? 9th Circuit weighs in

A federal appeals court has upheld a California law that bans honking your car horn—except when reasonably needed to warn of a safety hazard.

Apr 11, 2023 8:50 AM CDT

Weekly Briefs: Justice Thomas responds to luxury trips story; suit filed over Idaho AG’s abortion referrals opinion

Justice Thomas: I was following colleagues’ advice on luxury trips U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said he was following guidance from colleagues and others in the judiciary when he didn’t report luxury trips financed by a good friend, Republican megadonor Harlan Crow. ProPublica’s report on the trips said Thomas…

Apr 7, 2023 2:13 PM CDT

Former district attorney disbarred for ‘mass dismissal’ of hundreds of cases, ‘drastic reduction’ in services

A former Laramie County, Wyoming, district attorney has been disbarred following her “mass dismissal” of about 400 cases, including a case in which a defendant was already serving his sentence and another case in which a defendant was awaiting sentencing after entering a guilty plea.

Apr 6, 2023 8:36 AM CDT

Spending on Wisconsin Supreme Court race sets nationwide record

Wisconsin voters elected a liberal Milwaukee judge to the state supreme court Tuesday in the most expensive judicial election in U.S. history.

Apr 5, 2023 10:38 AM CDT

Why Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records for one $130K hush-money payment

Former President Donald Trump has been charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records as part of an alleged scheme to influence the 2016 presidential election and mischaracterize payments for tax purposes.

Apr 5, 2023 8:36 AM CDT

‘King Charles clause’ limits new board overseeing Disney World, put in place after DeSantis’ feud

An agreement enacted by Disney World’s oversight board before its control was turned over to political appointees preserves power for Disney at the expense of the new board—and for quite a long time, thanks to a "King Charles clause."

Mar 31, 2023 3:33 PM CDT

Experts see these problems with felony-records case against Trump over hush-money payments

The prosecution of former President Donald Trump could pose even more problems than that of former U.S. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, a former Democratic presidential candidate. Experts saw these potential problems with the prosecution.

Mar 31, 2023 11:24 AM CDT

Colorado will license paraprofessionals to perform limited legal work

The Colorado Supreme Court has approved a new rule that allows licensed nonlawyer paraprofessionals to perform limited legal work in some divorce and child-custody matters.

Mar 30, 2023 11:26 AM CDT

Disbarred lawyer who tried to ‘explain away the discipline’ can’t be substitute teacher, appeals court says

A disbarred lawyer can’t become an emergency substitute teacher in Pennsylvania after education officials found that he doesn’t satisfy the requirement for good moral character, a Pennsylvania appeals court has ruled.

Mar 28, 2023 11:17 AM CDT

Ethics lawyer who was fired over tweets about Islam can pursue damages, 6th Circuit says

A federal appeals court has ruled that a Tennessee legal ethics lawyer who was fired for tweeting about Islam can seek damages against his former supervisor.

Mar 24, 2023 9:10 AM CDT

Lawyer’s suit over disclosure of ABA Journal subscription tossed by federal judge

A federal judge in Detroit has tossed a Michigan lawyer’s lawsuit contending that the American Bar Association disclosed his membership, and therefore his ABA Journal subscription, to list brokers and others in violation of state law.

Mar 23, 2023 12:58 PM CDT

State constitution protects right to abortion to protect life of mother, top Oklahoma court rules

Women in Oklahoma have a state constitutional right to an abortion when needed to save their lives, the Oklahoma Supreme Court has ruled.

Mar 22, 2023 3:09 PM CDT