Regional
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South Dakota sees increase in juvenile diversion program success
Mitchell Daily Republic: "More at-risk South Dakota youth successfully completed diversion programs in 2019 than in any other year since juvenile justice reforms went into effect, according to a report issued last week." -
Longest-serving South Dakota Chief Justice bids farewell
U.S. News: "South Dakota Supreme Court Chief Justice David Gilbertson delivered his final State of the Judiciary address in Pierre on Wednesday, using the speech to push for a justice system that helps people address drug addiction and stay out of prison." -
Attorney general tries once more to reduce use of presumptive probation in South Dakota courts
KELO News: "Last year, South Dakota’s freshly elected attorney general wasn’t able to convince enough members of the Legislature to overturn the state law that limits who gets sent to state prisons." -
Sentencing guidelines commission votes to impose five-year limit on probation in Minnesota
MinnPost: "The Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission has done what the state Legislature was unable to do. On an 8-3 vote Thursday, it placed a limit of five years on the length of probation for people convicted of crimes." -
Federal judge blocks South Dakota petition law
Courthouse News Service: "A federal judge struck down as unconstitutional a South Dakota law imposing burdensome regulations that would have made it much harder for the average citizen to get an initiative on the ballot." -
Montana court reverses $35 million child abuse verdict against Jehovah's Witnesses
NPR News: "The Montana Supreme Court has reversed a $35 million judgment against Jehovah's Witnesses for failing to report child sexual abuse." -
S.D.: Chief Justice to deliver his final State of the Judiciary message
Pierre Capital Journal: "Chief Justice David Gilbertson, of the South Dakota Supreme Court, will deliver his State of the Judiciary message to a joint session of the South Dakota Legislature on January 15." -
Minn.: 'An incredibly powerful tool,' DNA database, turns 30
MPR News: "Minnesota has played a major role in developing the national system that uses DNA to link crime scenes to other crime scenes or to known convicted offenders." -
Some lawmakers support removing slavery reference from Minnesota Constitution
MPR News: "Some Minnesota lawmakers want to amend the state’s constitution to eliminate a little-known clause allowing slavery if someone has been convicted of a crime." -
Montana to implement revised legal ethics rules in 2020
Bloomberg News: "The start of 2020 will usher in a number of changes to Montana’s professional conduct rules as a result of the first comprehensive rules review in almost two decades."