Regional
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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." -
S.D.: State Supreme Court vacates 40-year drug term, orders new sentence
Aberdeen American News: "In a ruling filed Thursday, justices upheld the 2017 Brown County drug conviction of Richard K. Roedder, 51, but sent it back for resentencing, claiming Judge Jon Flemmer did not properly consider state law that allows for presumptive probation on drug convictions."