State Government

Privileged Penance: Courts don't get to decide who is clergy or what a confession covers, Arizona Supreme Court says

In a ruling closely watched by both religious freedom and child protection advocates, the Arizona Supreme Court in July found that church leaders are shielded by the state’s clergy-penitent privilege from reporting child abuse disclosed to them. The case involves Paul Adams, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer who was arrested in 2017 after he posted videos of himself abusing his children.

Aug 24, 2026 9:02 AM CDT

Former public defender faces sentencing for healthcare fraud

A former public defender from Iowa who had previously been arrested for shoplifting will be sentenced in September for defrauding Medicaid and cancer patients.

Aug 21, 2026 9:44 AM CDT

Judge suspended after 17 alleged conduct violations, including not disclosing stepson’s appearance in his court

The Ohio Supreme Court justices have suspended a county judge from the bench for two years without pay because of 17 alleged conduct violations, including presiding over cases that involved his stepson, according to a Wednesday press release from the court.

Aug 20, 2026 10:13 AM CDT

Will Missouri Supreme Court drop pass score for July bar exam?

The Association of Academic Support Educators is asking the Missouri Supreme Court to drop the pass score and reimburse bar applicants who took the July 2026 NextGen Uniform Bar Examination after facing disruptions during the inaugural administration of the skills-based exam designed to be taken by a personal computer.

Aug 18, 2026 3:11 PM CDT

Lawyer disbarred after borrowing $16K from client, not paying it back

A Florida lawyer has been disbarred for borrowing $16,000 from a client and then failing to repay it.

Aug 13, 2026 12:14 PM CDT

California Supreme Court orders electronic recording for indigent litigants

The California Supreme Court said Monday state trial courts lacking sufficient court reporters to staff courtrooms must provide electronic case recordings to civil litigants who can’t afford to hire their own stenographers.

Aug 13, 2026 10:02 AM CDT

Whistleblower’s suit against state judicial system dismissed

A federal judge dismissed a whistleblower complaint Tuesday accusing the Colorado government and judicial officials of coordinating their efforts to cover up a 2019 bribery scheme.

Aug 12, 2026 12:33 PM CDT

Judge in Luigi Mangione case speaks out about public access during proceedings

A New York judge has addressed a series of motions filed by Luigi Mangione’s lawyers regarding public access to the murder case’s proceedings.

Aug 12, 2026 12:14 PM CDT

Lawyer suspended following conviction for stealing valuable coins

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has suspended a lawyer who was convicted earlier this year for stealing $1.6 million worth of valuable coins from a safe-deposit box.

Aug 11, 2026 9:50 AM CDT

Walmart faces lawsuit over alleged collection of customers’ voice prints

Walmart is being accused by a group of customers of illegally collecting their biometric information. In a class action complaint filed in the Northern District of Illinois on Tuesday, the plaintiffs allege that whenever customers call into a Walmart customer service line, the retail giant uses artificial intelligence to create…

Aug 7, 2026 9:06 AM CDT

Appeals court suspends lawyer who denied sex with client

A New York appellate court last month suspended a Buffalo, New York-area attorney from practicing law for two years on revelations that he had a sexual relationship with a client and then lied about it during the disciplinary process.

Aug 5, 2026 10:59 AM CDT

New pathway to bar approved in this state

The New Mexico Supreme Court has officially adopted a skills-based pathway to the bar, which aims to increase the number of lawyers who could service people living in the state’s legal deserts.

Aug 3, 2026 10:27 AM CDT

Anti-cop license plates are protected as free speech, 4th Circuit rules

A Virginia driver who argued that the government wrongly restricted his anti-government license plate won his case before the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at Richmond, Virginia, on Friday.

Aug 3, 2026 9:38 AM CDT

Former top public defender in Minneapolis disbarred after felony tax conviction

The Minnesota Supreme Court on Wednesday disbarred the former chief public defender for Hennepin County, Minneapolis, following his conviction for tax evasion and misappropriating client funds.

Jul 31, 2026 9:30 AM CDT

Washington law deans demand diploma privilege after aborted NextGen UBE administration

Updated: The deans of all three ABA-accredited law schools in Washington have each written to the state supreme court, asking that nearly 700 candidates unable to take the new NextGen Uniform Bar Examination this week because of technical issues be granted diploma privilege.

Jul 30, 2026 1:49 PM CDT