8th Circuit decides N.D. case

The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit has vacated a district court judgment and remanded for further proceedings in a North Dakota illegal ammunition possession case.

U.S. Supreme Court March 25 arguments

Monday, the United States Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case on whether district courts must defer to agency interpretations of statutes and a case and a case on whether punitive damages are available in injury suits involving a breach of a general maritime duty.

South Dakota Supreme Court says man convicted of murder doesn't need new jury trial

Sioux Falls Argus Leader: "A Sioux Falls man appealing multiple aspects of his 2016 jury trial that landed him a second-degree murder conviction and life in prison won't be getting a new trial, the South Dakota Supreme Court said this week."

Jerome W. Shermoen 1927-2019

Longtime attorney Jerome W. Shermoen has died. A UND School of Law graduate, he was admitted to the North Dakota bar in 1952 and practiced law in Fargo and International Falls, Minn. A celebration of his life will be held at 5 p.m. on April 26 at the Elks Lodge in International Falls.

North Dakota advocates for local BIA training facility to combat tribal officer shortage

Bismarck Tribune: "North Dakota tribal leaders called Wednesday for the Bureau of Indian Affairs to “step it up” and provide more law enforcement resources while state officials advocated for a local BIA training facility to better recruit tribal officers."

U.S.: High court case on jury-selection bias draws out Thomas

Courthouse News Service: "The Supreme Court appeared ready Wednesday to vacate a death-penalty conviction in a case where the prosecutor had a history of racially motivated juror strikes."

Justice pokes MN Supreme Court for 'Sesame Street' approach

MPR News: "There’s a good reason why Minnesota lawmakers spend hours during floor debate arguing about the wording of laws they intend to pass. Words matter. Take the state’s law on first-degree burglary, for example."

U.S. Supreme Court opinions: March 20

The United States Supreme Court has issued opinions in a case on whether a law firm conducting a foreclosure is a "debt collector" under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and a case stemming from a lawsuit against Google for alleged violations of the Stored Communications Act.

U.S.: Sandra Day O'Connor reflects on life before, during and after the Supreme Court

CNN: "A new biography of the first woman on the Supreme Court details Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's agonizing struggle with her husband's dementia in the years before she retired and her later angst as she watched the court lunge rightward and faced her own declining health."

Job Announcement

A job announcement for a Federal Public Defender for the Districts of North and South Dakota has been posted.