MN Court of Appeals: Campaign disclosure requirement not a violation of free speech

MPR News: "The Minnesota Court of Appeals has rejected Hennepin County Sheriff Dave Hutchinson’s assertion that requiring candidates to place a disclaimer on their political ads violates their free speech rights."

Minnesota’s new corrections commissioner fuels hope on both sides of the bars

Duluth News Tribune: "Paul Schnell let out a warm smile as he greeted a class full of some of Minnesota’s most dangerous men. The new state corrections commissioner struck up candid conversations with several inmates during a visit to the maximum security prison in Oak Park Heights earlier this month."

Drug Court - treating the addiction for 30 years

Huron Plainsman: "In 1989, in an effort to fight a rising tide of drug arrests, the 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida took a bold step toward both curbing drug abuse and addressing the overcrowding of prisons by incorporating treatment within the structure of its court system."

Judge curbs South Dakota political contribution law

Courthouse News Service: "A federal judge found unconstitutional Thursday a ballot measure passed by South Dakota voters last year that bans out-of-state contributions to ballot question committees."

Mont.: Court delay leads to dismissal of aggravated assault charge

U.S. News: "The Montana Supreme Court has ordered a District Court in northwestern Montana to dismiss an aggravated assault charge against a state prison inmate who pleaded no contest to hitting a bicyclist with his car in May 2016."

New Montana law ends statute of limitations on child sex abuse

Great Falls Tribune: "A bill to change Montana's child sexual abuse laws, including lifting the statute of limitations for prosecuting such crimes, was signed Tuesday by Gov. Steve Bullock."

S.D.: Federal judge garners piece of state history

Moody County Enterprise: "Flandreau native Karen Schreier has the distinction of being the first female judge appointed by a president to serve in South Dakota. After nearly 20 years working in that spot as a U.S. District Judge for the District of South Dakota, she retains the distinction of being the only one."

Mont.: 'Riot' of miner's wives led to protection for officials, which Butte lawsuit may overturn

KPVI News: "If a former Butte woman wins her case against the Montana Board of Medical Examiners, she may reverse a judicial rule that was established when miners’ wives rioted against the Anaconda Company 73 years ago."

SD Supreme Court takes up case lawyer says could be 'absolute destruction' of tribal sovereign immunity

Rapid City Journal: "A former school principal is alleging he was wrongfully terminated from his job in a South Dakota Supreme Court case that one lawyer said could be an 'absolute destruction' of tribal nations' sovereign immunity."

Minn.: Kandiyohi County Courthouse opens its doors to the public for in-depth view of judicial process

West Central Tribune: "Jennifer Mendoza listened intently and took notes Friday during a tour of the Kandiyohi County Courthouse in Willmar. It was interesting and gave her information that could be helpful in her work, she said."

Offenders train stray dogs in northeast Minnesota prison program

Fargo Forum: "A tan bundle of energy bursts into the gym with tail wagging, bounding over and greeting everyone excitedly. Smokey ran from person to person looking for a good scratch."

Mont.: New law clears up who owns fossils in state

Choteau Acantha: "Two Medicine Dinosaur Center researchers in Bynum are applauding Gov. Steve Bullock and the Legislature for clarifying Montana law that dinosaur fossils found on private property belong to the surface rights owners, not the mineral rights owners when there is a split estate."

Company must pay housing taxes on property leased from US government, South Dakota justices rule

KELO News: "The private corporation that manages a housing development for personnel at Ellsworth Air Force Base owed property taxes to Meade County starting in 2011, even though the U.S. government wasn't taxed on the 838 units during the previous 20 years before the company took control of the lease, the South Dakota Supreme Court said in a decision released Thursday."

SD Supreme Court to decide country musician, others' liability for unpaid debts to investors

Dickinson Press: "In the latest development of a Chinese investing group's court battle for repayment, the South Dakota Supreme Court is set to decide whether individual loan guarantors -- including country musician Kenneth 'Big Kenny' Alphin -- are personally liable for over $32.5 million in unpaid loans."

Mont. court: No public defender unless jail time is at stake

Great Falls Tribune: "The Montana Supreme Court says a judge can't order a public defender to represent a criminal defendant if no jail time is at stake."

Minnesotans could have more help in civil cases with pilot program

St. Cloud Times: "A new pilot program authorized by the Minnesota Supreme Court in early March will increase Minnesotans' access to help with the justice system by early 2020."

S.D.: Supreme Court nixes transfer of child abuse case to tribe

U.S. News: "The South Dakota Supreme Court has ruled a judge erred when he transferred a child abuse and neglect case from state court to tribal court. The high court says the judge should have considered testimony from the child's doctor in making the transfer."

Minn.: Minneapolis lake reverts back to Calhoun after court ruling

Duluth News Tribune: "Supporters of Lake Calhoun's longstanding name won a victory Monday, April 29, when the Minnesota Court of Appeals found the state overstepped its authority when it reverted the lake to its Dakota name, Bde Maka Ska."

Montana Supreme Court sides with nurses in abortion provider case

Daily Inter Lake: "The Montana Supreme Court has upheld a ruling that allows two advanced practice nurses to provide abortions in the early stages of pregnancy while they challenge a law saying only doctors and physician assistants can perform the procedures."

Minn. appeals court issues opinion on discovery sanctions against BNSF

The Minnesota Court of Appeals has issued an opinion in an employee injury case involving discovery sanctions issued against the BNSF Railway Company.

SD Supreme Court upholds hog barn insurance case decision

Mitchell Daily Republic: "The South Dakota Supreme Court issued an opinion last week upholding a Douglas County court's decision not to require an insurance company to pay to represent a man in a separate case involving a hog barn."

Southeastern Minnesota to add Veterans Court

WXOW News: "Many people admire the sacrifices made by those who serve in the military, but the scars left from the battles can be difficult for veterans to overcome. This leads some to a life of crime."

SD Supreme Court says insurance provider must pay in death of Rapid City moped driver

KELO News: "The South Dakota Supreme Court has issued a decision in the death of a moped driver that could affect state laws on underinsured motorists coverage."

Minn.: Nonprofit focusing on wrongful convictions moves to law school

Minnesota Daily: "The Innocence Project, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that provides legal support to wrongly convicted felons, moved to the University of Minnesota Law School earlier this month."

University of Montana kicks off Indian Law Week

Missoulian: "Benji Headswift and Ray Kingfisher raised their voices high and beat a drum in tandem in a song to remember missing and murdered Native Americans around the world as a crowd of onlookers gathered for a dedication to Indian Law Week at the University of Montana."

MN court: Voter fraud group must be allowed voter data

MPR News: "The Minnesota Court of Appeals has affirmed a lower court order for Secretary of State Steve Simon to turn over information on voters he has refused to give to a group that insists it may show evidence of voter fraud."

Mont.: Appeals court to rehear case over dinosaur fossil ownership

Bozeman Daily Chronicle: "A full panel of a federal appeals court will hear arguments in a case to determine whether dinosaur fossils are part of a property’s surface estate or mineral estate in the case of split ownership."

A court room like no other hears MN Supreme Court Case

FOX 47 News: "Lawyers were arguing before the Minnesota Supreme Court at Humboldt High School Tuesday. The school’s auditorium turned court room is a part of the high court’s travelling oral arguments."

Minn. Court of Appeals: Increase sentence for driver in fatal crash

Faribault.com: "The Minnesota Court of Appeals on Monday reversed a Rice County District Court judge’s decision not to send a St. Paul man to prison for a fatal August 2016 crash on I-35 and ordered he be resentenced."

Mont: At MSU, Sessions discusses time as U.S. attorney general

Bozeman Daily Chronicle: "Former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions emphasized the Department of Justice’s accomplishments under his and President Donald Trump’s leadership in a speech at Montana State University on Monday."

South Dakota justices rule against woman suing over traffic crash

KELO News: "A woman failed to meet the time limit set in state law for changing the target of her personal-injury lawsuit that resulted from a 2013 traffic crash, the South Dakota Supreme Court said in a decision publicly released Thursday."

MN Supreme Court rules in DL case

DL-Online: "An employee experiences back problems and is no longer able to do the job they were hired to do in a safe manner. Does an employer always have to find ways to accommodate them? Turns out, not necessarily."

Mont.: Supreme Court hearing on stage at UM as man's court appearance in dispute

KPVI News: "The question of whether a man's failure to appear for a routine court appearance was enough to override his constitutional right to a jury trial took center stage Friday at the University of Montana."

Minn.: High school students learn about law in court

New Ulm Journal: "New Ulm High School students sat in and observed two Minnesota Court of Appeals oral argument cases at Brown County Courthouse Thursday to gain knowledge of judicial proceedings and how the courts operate."

New justice appointed to South Dakota Supreme Court

KELO News: "South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has appointed a new Supreme Court Justice. The appointment of Patricia Jean DeVaney fills the open vacancy in the 3rd Supreme Court District from the death of Justice Steven Zinter."

S.D.: Incoming law school dean excited for position, engaging with students

USD Volante: "Neil Fulton, a Miller, S.D. native, was named as the USD School of Law Dean last month. Fulton will start his position in June. Fulton is a federal public defender, South Dakota Bar Examiner and former Chief of Staff to then Gov. Michael Rounds."

South Dakota's 2018 crime statistics released

KSFY News: "The State of South Dakota has released its annual crime report. The report shows a 28 percent decrease in sex offenses and a 32 percent decrease in thefts compared to 2017. The state has still seen an overall increase of 49 percent in drug offenses over the past six years."

Could parole board make a comeback in Minnesota?

Minneapolis Star Tribune: "After decades behind bars, Minnesota inmates serving life sentences must pin their hopes for freedom on just one man. Paul Schnell, the newly appointed Department of Corrections commissioner who determines which offenders are granted supervised release, isn’t sure that’s fair — or wise."

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."

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."

USD law school's new dean talks traditions, future

KELO News: "It's the only law school in South Dakota, and now it has a new leader. The University of South Dakota Law School has named Neil Fulton as the new dean. Fulton is a Yale graduate and studied law at the University of Minnesota. He says his long history in South Dakota positions him to help build future leaders in the state. "

MN Supreme Court: Mom shouldn’t have lost car when daughter used it to drive drunk

MPR News: "Megan Olson already had three DWI convictions to her name when she was arrested by Shakopee police in August 2015. Under Minnesota law, her 'first-degree DWI' meant the authorities could seize the car she was driving -- a 1999 Lexus."

Convicted murderer to get new trial in South Dakota

Mitchell Daily Republic: "In an opinion released Friday, March 15, the South Dakota Supreme Court unanimously agreed with Watertown defense attorney Scott Bratland’s contention that the trial court abused its discretion in failing to properly instruct a Grant County jury on what charge Bratland’s client, Michael Swan, should have faced."

Montana Supreme Court orders new trial for Helena man found guilty after using truck, boat to stop high-speed chase

KTVH News: "The Montana Supreme Court has ordered a new trial in the case of a Helena man who was found guilty of misdemeanor charges after he used his truck and boat to stop a high-speed chase."

A friendlier path to divorce? Minnesota lawmakers are considering it

Duluth News Tribune: "Minnesota couples considering divorce would be able to bypass the courts under a proposal advancing through the state Legislature. The proposal would give married couples the option to set the terms of their divorce and file for marital dissolution through a cooperative divorce program."

U.S.: Court lifts ban on Minnesota boys joining school dance teams

Reuters: "A federal appeals court on Wednesday blocked the Minnesota State High School League from enforcing a rule barring boys from joining their high schools’ competitive dance teams. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the rule probably violated the equal protection clause of the Constitution’s 14th Amendment."

South Dakota Supreme Court rules against rapist imprisoned In Iowa

KELO News: "he South Dakota Supreme Court has upheld the 40-year sentence in the state penitentiary for a rapist who was already doing 30 years in Iowa. Shaylan Yeager had challenged the longer South Dakota sentence, claiming it was excessive and the judge abused his discretion."

S.D.: Presumptive probation remains controversial six years after passage

Mitchell Daily Republic: "Presumptive probation was one of many changes made to the state's criminal justice system as part of Senate Bill 70, also known as the Public Safety Improvement Act, which was passed in 2013."

Minn.: Divided Court of Appeals upholds Minneapolis minimum wage law

MPR News: "A divided Minnesota Court of Appeals has affirmed Minneapolis’ minimum wage ordinance. In 2017, the city passed the ordinance calling for a phased-in $15 an hour minimum wage."

Minnesota Supreme Court taking aim at mental health 'crisis' in legal profession

Minneapolis Star Tribune: "Alarmed by high levels of depression, anxiety and stress among practicing attorneys, the Minnesota Supreme Court is leading the charge against what it calls a crisis of well-being among Minnesota lawyers."

Montana Supreme Court explains 2018 ruling in Bullock's easement case against Fox

Helena Independent Record: "The Montana Supreme Court’s 2018 ruling in a conservation easement case that pitted Gov. Steve Bullock against Attorney General Tim Fox came down to the definition of the word 'acquire.'"

Minn.: Tennis shoe case could lead to wave of discrimination cases, justice warns

MPR News: "A divided Minnesota Supreme Court has ruled that a Minneapolis firefighter can sue for discrimination under the state’s Human Rights Act because the department refused to allow him to wear tennis shoes because of an injury."

Mont.: Billionaire brothers appeal 1882 central Montana water right to state Supreme Court

Billings Gazette: "A Petroleum County water right dating back to 1882 is again tied up in legal wrangling between one of Montana’s largest landowners and a Billings man."

Minn.: Justice Thissen speaks about equity, impartial courts

Hutchinson Leader: "The preamble of the United States Constitution begins with: 'We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice.' But for some with legal claims, justice is too often out of reach."

SD high court rules against Rapid City woman in same-sex benefits case

Rapid City Journal/AP: "South Dakota's Supreme Court ruled this week against a retired police official seeking state retirement system survivor benefits after her wife, a former police captain, died of cancer."

US Supreme Court won't take challenge to Montana campaign finance law

Montana Public Radio: "Montana's 2015 campaign finance law survived its biggest test Tuesday. The U.S. Supreme Court, without comment, declined to take up a case challenging the state's Disclose Act."

Minn.: Appeals Court orders name change for sex offender

Mankato Free Press: "A patient at the Minnesota Sex Offender Program who was born a man but identifies as female should have been granted a name change, state appellate judges have decided."

Pamela Alexander, first black woman judge in MN, sees gaps and opportunities

MPR News: "Retired Hennepin County Judge Pamela Alexander, 66, is a fourth-generation Minnesotan and the first black female judge in Minnesota. Her interest in law was sparked at a young age when she witnessed the rape of her best friend and testified in court."

S.D.: Lawyers giving free legal advice to veterans this week

KSFY News: "The State Bar of South Dakota and the USD School of Law are teaming up this week to host a two-day legal clinic for veterans. The event will be held at the American Legion in Watertown on Thursday and at the Sioux Falls Disabled American Veterans on Friday."

Minn.: How do they decide who serves jury duty?

CBS Minnesota News: "Last year, the state of Minnesota issued 190,000 summons for jury duty, which is about 4 percent of Minnesotans 18 or older. So, how does a person get called for jury duty? Good Question."

Minn.: Veterans Court provides support, but not a free pass

Mankato Free Press: "Veterans fist-bumped their case manager and mentors as they approached the bench [Feb. 8]. And at times, Judge Mark Betters sounded more like he was talking to a friend than a criminal defendant."

MN Supreme Court overturns firing of cop who slapped Somali teen

MPR News: "The Minnesota Supreme Court Wednesday ordered the reinstatement of a Richfield police officer, who was fired by the city after slapping a Somali teen during a 2015 incident."

U.S.: Supreme Court sets date in Argus Leader case

Sioux Falls Argus Leader: "The U.S. Supreme Court has set a date to hear a case that could determine whether taxpayer payments to businesses can be considered confidential information."

Courts strive to improve child protection cases with pilot project in west central Minnesota

West Central Tribune: "Halfway into a two-year pilot program designed to address Minnesota's higher-than-acceptable rate of children being placed into foster care, District Court Judge Jenna Fischer is finding some possible solutions."

Minn.: Justice Alan Page and Paris Yarbrough, a legal legend and the next generation

MPR News: "Retired Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page, 73, was Minnesota's first black Supreme Court justice and is the founder of the Page Education Foundation, which provides scholarships and mentoring to young people of color."

Mont.: Curious find casts doubt on 1922 execution

Billings Gazette: "Even with a noose around his neck in a stockade behind the Missoula jail, Joe Vuckovich swore he hadn't murdered Mrs. Jerry Shea."