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."