Dakota Datebook: New constitution rejected

Prairie Public: "On this date in 1972, voters had some heavy measures to consider in a special election. They were asked to adopt or reject a new, shorter state constitution, which would replace the one from 1889."

Federal courts begin to consider guidelines for reopening

U.S. Courts: "The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts has distributed to the courts guidelines for restoring operations that rely heavily on conditions in local communities and on objective data from local and state public health officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."

Appeals court finds constitutional right to literacy for schoolchildren in Detroit case

Detroit Free Press: "A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that the U.S. Constitution includes a right to 'a basic minimum education,' which lawyers claim the state of Michigan denied to a group of Detroit Public School students."

U.S. Supreme Court opinions: April 27

The United States Supreme Court has issued opinions in a case on payments to insurers under the Affordable Care Act and a case on copyright protection for state statute annotations. The Court also issued a per curiam opinion dismissing a firearms case as moot.

SD Supreme Court oral arguments via Zoom

Pierre Capital Journal: "Traditionally, the South Dakota Supreme Court holds oral arguments - open to the public - either at its courtroom in the State Capitol, at the University of South Dakota School of Law or another public institution like a college."

Supreme Court amends emergency order on evictions

The Supreme Court has amended Administrative Order 27 to remove the provision suspending eviction hearings except for good cause. The amendment continues the extension of the deadline to hold a hearing from 15 days to 45 days, and the authorization for the use of reliable electronic means to hold hearings and exchange evidence.

Utah becomes first state to let law grads skip bar exam amid COVID-19

Law.com: "Utah has officially become the first jurisdiction to allow aspiring lawyers to bypass the bar exam and become licensed amid the COVID-19 pandemic."

Order of Adoption

Adoption of N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. O. 27

Application deadline extended to August for 2020 Justices Teaching Institute

The deadline for secondary history, government and social studies teachers to apply to the 2020 North Dakota Justices Institute is extended until Aug. 15.

N.D. court system releases 2019 annual reports

The 2019 annual reports for the North Dakota Court System have been posted. The reports provide statistics and information on all court system activity.