U.S.: Covid-19 cases concerning prisoners' rights hit the Supreme Court

CNN: "The Supreme Court and courts across the country will see an increasing number of pandemic-related disputes in the coming weeks concerning prison conditions and whether prisons are violating the constitutional rights of inmates by failing to adequately protect them against the coronavirus."

Order of Adoption

Adoption of N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. O. 25

N.D. Attorney General opinion: May 20

Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem has issued an opinion that the Williams County School Board #8 did not violate the law when a board member made a suggestion about an alternate option during the discussion of a properly noticed agenda item.

First Amendment advocates probe court access in a post-pandemic world

Courthouse News Service: "The Covid-19 pandemic has darkened courtrooms and snarled court operations throughout the country. But it’s also been a driving force for tech innovation in the courts."

U.S.: COVID-19 and Supreme Court emergencies

SCOTUSblog: "Live teleconference oral arguments have been the most visible sign of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Supreme Court . . . however, the justices have also been busy with a steady flow of cases arising from the pandemic."

Montana Supreme Court upholds jury decision in stolen valor case

Flathead Beacon: "The Montana Supreme Court has upheld the decision of a Flathead County jury to force a Kalispell man to pay $1.7 million after he said he was a decorated U.S. Marine Corps officer in order to convince a well-known Whitefish businessman to invest in his business."

Face coverings required at Fargo's federal courthouse

The Facility Security Committee for the Quentin N. Burdick Federal Building and United States Courthouse in Fargo has issued a policy requiring all visitors, employees, and contractors to wear face masks or face coverings.

U.S.: What we learned from Supreme Court's first telehearings

Law 360: "A few bloopers notwithstanding, the U.S. Supreme Court has emerged unscathed from the uncharted waters of teleconference hearings and livestreaming prompted by the coronavirus pandemic."

USD Law School among first to be back with face-to-face education this fall

KELO News: "The South Dakota Board of Regents has decided that universities will resume in-person classes at the start of the fall term."

N.D. Attorney General opinions: May 18

Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem has issued two opinions: that the city of Napoleon violated the law when it discussed personnel matters during an executive session and that students who are athletes may receive Higher Education Challenge Grant scholarships so long as the basis for the scholarship is academic rather than athletic.