State Government

GOP targets state courts with campaign cash, laws that change judicial elections

Seeking a more favorable climate in fights over election maps, Republicans are planning to spend record amounts on state supreme court races and introducing legislation to make judicial elections more political.

Apr 15, 2022 10:04 AM CDT

GOP opposition blocks bill to name federal courthouse after Black judge, a ‘legal legend’

A measure to name a federal courthouse after the first Black judge on the Florida Supreme Court was recently blocked in the U.S. House of Representatives after one lawmaker found a news clip on a prayer ruling.

Apr 13, 2022 10:50 AM CDT

South Dakota attorney general is impeached over fatal car crash

The South Dakota House of Representatives impeached the state attorney general by a 36-31 vote Tuesday in response to a September 2020 car crash in which he killed a pedestrian.

Apr 12, 2022 4:13 PM CDT

Can Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene be banned from reelection? 14th Amendment at issue

Georgia voters who want to ban a reelection bid by Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene got a boost Friday, when a federal judge in Atlanta indicated that she will likely allow the election challenge.

Apr 12, 2022 11:17 AM CDT

New York attorney general asks court to hold Trump in civil contempt, fine him $10K per day

New York Attorney General Letitia James has asked a state court judge to hold former President Donald Trump in contempt and fine him $10,000 per day until he turns over subpoenaed documents in her civil probe of his business.

Apr 7, 2022 2:44 PM CDT

SCOTUS should not restrict counsel’s investigations in death penalty cases, ABA says

In an amicus brief filed Monday, the ABA urged the U.S. Supreme Court to reaffirm that counsel representing habeas petitioners should be able to investigate new evidence without first proving that the evidence will provide relief to their clients.

Apr 5, 2022 9:34 AM CDT

Law that keeps racist covenants in separate public record helps preserve history, top state court says

The Washington Supreme Court has said a new state law strikes a balance between removing racial covenants from a home’s title while keeping them part of the public record.

Apr 4, 2022 10:29 AM CDT

Biden administration offers recommendations in new report to improve voting access for Native Americans

In a report released Thursday, the Biden administration details the barriers that Native Americans face in the voting process, as well as best practices and recommendations for eliminating those barriers.

Mar 25, 2022 9:59 AM CDT

First Latina justice confirmed to California Supreme Court

Judge Patricia Guerrero will become the first Latina justice of the California Supreme Court following her confirmation by the California Commission on Judicial Appointments earlier this week.

Mar 24, 2022 12:26 PM CDT

In emergency order, SCOTUS sides with Wisconsin GOP lawmakers over voting map in redistricting case

The U.S. Supreme Court’s controversial “shadow docket” was in the spotlight Wednesday, as the high court sided with Wisconsin Republican lawmakers opposed to a voting map chosen by their state’s highest court.

Mar 24, 2022 9:05 AM CDT

County attorney takes responsibility for 180 botched cases after first blaming her staff

Maricopa County Attorney Allister Adel in Arizona has said she takes full responsibility for 180 misdemeanor cases that were dropped because prosecutors failed to file charges before the statute of limitations expired.

Mar 17, 2022 10:41 AM CDT

Idaho lawmakers pass abortion bill copying Texas; what can abortion-rights states do?

Lawmakers in Idaho have approved an abortion bill modeled after Texas legislation that allows private citizens to enforce it.

Mar 15, 2022 11:11 AM CDT

Weekly Briefs: Controversial Florida education bills advance; ban on homebuyer ‘love letters’ blocked

Florida lawmakers pass ‘Don’t Say Gay,’ anti-woke bills Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to sign two controversial bills passed by the legislature this week. The “Don’t Say Gay” bill, approved by lawmakers Tuesday, bans public school instruction about sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.…

Mar 11, 2022 12:33 PM CST

In ‘devastating blow’ to abortion rights, top Texas court stymies suit to overturn restrictive law

The Texas Supreme Court ruled Friday that state licensing officials have no authority to enforce a law banning abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, apparently foreclosing a lawsuit by abortion providers that seeks to block the law.

Mar 11, 2022 11:45 AM CST

Alleged phony lawyer practiced law at New York law firm

A Buffalo, New York, law firm hired a phony lawyer who represented at least nine clients, according to a press release announcing charges against the alleged fraudster.

Mar 10, 2022 9:38 AM CST