State Government

Can Mississippi trump FDA regulations to restrict abortion pills? Federal judge considers the issue

A federal judge in Mississippi is considering whether abortion-pill regulations by the Food and Drug Administration preempt Mississippi’s restrictions on dispensing the medication.

May 26, 2022 11:48 AM CDT

Texas AG Paxton faces state ethics petition for alleged ‘dishonest’ statements in election litigation

Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is accused of making “dishonest” statements in election litigation in an ethics petition filed by the Commission for Lawyer Discipline of the State Bar of Texas.

May 26, 2022 9:47 AM CDT

Second Loss for Rep. Madison Cawthorn: 4th Circuit revives claim that he is an insurrectionist unfit for office

Congress didn’t give amnesty to future insurrectionists who are barred from office under the Constitution’s disqualification clause, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday.

May 25, 2022 11:08 AM CDT

Diversity on state supreme courts shows little improvement, report finds

State supreme courts still fail to reflect the diversity of the communities they serve, according to an update published Friday by the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law.

May 24, 2022 8:56 AM CDT

Florida law banning social media censorship is likely unconstitutional, 11th Circuit says

A federal appeals court on Monday blocked parts of a Florida law that prevent social media companies from banning political candidates, deprioritizing political messages or censoring content by journalistic enterprises.

May 24, 2022 8:55 AM CDT

Justice Thomas’ wife urged Arizona lawmakers to choose ‘clean slate of electors’ after Trump’s loss

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ wife apparently pushed two Arizona lawmakers to choose electors for former President Donald Trump following his 2020 election loss in the state, according to emails obtained by the Washington Post.

May 20, 2022 3:14 PM CDT

Supreme Court justices get around-the-clock security after leak of draft abortion opinion; 25 state AGs call for action

U.S. Supreme Court justices began getting around-the-clock security last week, as protesters who fear an end to abortion rights gathered outside the homes of conservative justices.

May 20, 2022 10:17 AM CDT

Federal judge strikes down sign law requiring transgender bathroom warnings

A federal judge in Nashville, Tennessee, has struck down a state law requiring businesses to post warning signs if they allow transgender people to use restrooms that match their gender identity.

May 19, 2022 1:16 PM CDT

Weekly Briefs: Judge lifts Trump sanction, for now; $997M settlement offered in condo collapse

Judge willing to accept $110K, cooperation to end Trump sanction A trial-level judge in New York lifted a $10,000 daily civil contempt sanction against former President Donald Trump on Wednesday. But Judge Arthur Engoron warned that the sanction could be reinstated if Trump doesn’t pay $110,000 in accumulated fines and…

May 13, 2022 2:37 PM CDT

Texas law banning censoring of social media users for viewpoints can take effect, 5th Circuit says

A federal appeals court has allowed a Texas law to take effect that prohibits larger social media platforms from censoring users based on their political views.

May 13, 2022 9:06 AM CDT

California bill would discourage secrecy in court orders and settlements

A bill that cleared California’s Senate Judiciary Committee last month would discourage secrecy about safety hazards discovered in litigation.

May 12, 2022 8:31 AM CDT

New Arizona law will require state bar to pay attorney fees in lost legal discipline cases

A new law requires the State Bar of Arizona to pay legal fees of lawyers targeted for legal discipline who prevail in their ethics cases.

May 10, 2022 9:13 AM CDT

Citing Purcell principle, 11th Circuit reinstates voting restrictions in Florida

A federal appeals court on Friday reinstated provisions in Florida’s restrictive election law, saying a lower court judge had blocked the restrictions too close to the August primary.

May 10, 2022 8:57 AM CDT

Bid to block Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene from ballot fails after state judge rules in her favor

An administrative law judge in Georgia ruled Friday that there is insufficient evidence to show that Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia engaged in insurrection, dealing a defeat to challengers who claimed that the U.S. Constitution banned her reelection.

May 9, 2022 3:44 PM CDT

Texas state prosecutor faces ethics complaint over election suit; AG Paxton says he’s next

Texas disciplinary authorities on Friday filed a lawsuit against a Texas assistant attorney general for alleged “dishonest” assertions in a U.S. Supreme Court case claiming that voting machines had switched votes.

May 9, 2022 1:23 PM CDT