Vermont

Va. Supreme Court Requires Enforcement of Vt. Ruling in Same-Sex Dissolution

The Virginia Supreme Court has ruled that state courts must enforce a child custody order issued by a Vermont court in the dissolution of a same-sex civil union. The ruling requires recognition of the Vermont ruling, despite a Virginia law that says same-sex unions from other states are void there,…

Jun 9, 2008 11:30 AM CDT

Vermont Law Student and Cuban Wife Sue Over Travel Restrictions

A student at Vermont Law School and his Cuban wife have sued the U.S. government over restrictions that bar Cuban Americans from traveling home more than once every three years. Jared Carter argued the case last week in a federal courtroom in Burlington, the Burlington Free Press reports. He told…

Jun 3, 2008 2:22 PM CDT

Animal Rights Lawyers Seeking ‘Holy Grail’ Gain Smaller Victories

For animal rights lawyers, the holy grail is a court decision that would allow them to sue in the name of animals. They were hopeful a few years ago when the San Francisco-based 9th U.S Circuit Court of Appeals said Congress could give lawyers that ability, the New York Sun…

May 6, 2008 3:24 PM CDT

Vermont Inmates Claim Right to a Hearing Over Nutraloaf

The Vermont Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments today on whether serving inmates a concoction known as nutraloaf is punishment meriting a formal hearing. The mixture, served on a piece of paper, consists of cubed bread, nondairy cheese, carrots, spinach, raisins, beans, vegetable oil, tomato paste, powdered milk and…

Mar 24, 2008 1:31 PM CDT

Colo. Pedestrians Nabbed for Jury Duty

A number of pedestrians in Greeley, Colo., were stunned yesterday to be handed documents requiring them to report immediately for jury duty as they were out and about, attending to their own affairs. After only 40 of the 200 people summoned for jury duty by mail showed up in court,…

Jan 18, 2008 12:17 AM CST

Vermont Calm About Possible Same-Sex Marriage Law

Accustomed to civil unions allowing same-sex couples to form legally recognized partnerships, Vermont residents are now reportedly taking in stride a plan to put same-sex marriage on the legislative table. Part of the reason for the dialed-down debate this time around may be that no vote is planned in the…

Jan 15, 2008 1:14 AM CST

Officers Recruit Potential Jurors on Sidewalk

A Vermont judge ordered the sheriff and his deputies to go out and round up some jurors yesterday after a jury pool shrunk to only 20 people. Judge Harold Eaton ordered the roundup after 14 out of 34 potential jurors had to be excused because they said they could not…

Jan 11, 2008 5:56 PM CST

Judge Orders Divorcing Blogger to Take Down Posts on Marriage

A Vermont judge has ordered a divorcing spouse to take down all his Internet postings about his wife and their marriage, surprising some First Amendment experts. The lawyer for blogger William Krasnansky contends the order by Judge Thomas Devine violates her client’s right to free speech, the New York Times…

Jan 10, 2008 5:03 PM CST

Law Firm to Clients: Feds Tapped Our Phones

Lawyers at a Vermont firm that represents clients being held in the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay and in Afghanistan believe the federal government may be wiretapping their law office phones. So Gensburg, Atwell & Broderick sent a letter to other clients of the firm on Oct. 2, warning…

Oct 11, 2007 6:48 PM CDT

Judge Backs State Emissions Controls

Vermont’s attempt to regulate greenhouse gases in vehicle emissions is not pre-empted by federal fuel-economy standards, a federal judge has ruled. U.S. District Judge William Sessions III of Burlington yesterday rejected an attempt to block the rules, which are modeled on California standards requiring reduced emissions, the Washington Post reports.…

Sep 13, 2007 4:06 PM CDT

Proposed Laws Target Abusive Bosses

Nobody wants to work for a jerk. But unless abusive bosses violate specific prohibitions, such as discriminating against someone because of race or gender, treating employees badly generally isn’t illegal. That could be changing, however. At least four states are considering legislation that would give workers a right to sue…

Aug 21, 2007 4:37 PM CDT

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Casual Comment Causes Commotion as Cops Converge on Confused Customer

Aug 1, 2007 8:34 AM CDT

Union of Feuding Mothers Dissolved

A Vermont judge has dissolved a civil union between two women whose fight over the custody of their daughter produced court opinions in two states. The judge affirmed that both women were parents of the girl conceived by artificial insemination, Adam Liptak reports in the New York Times. Judge William…

Jun 19, 2007 1:54 PM CDT