Regional
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Minn.: 'Restorative circles' launch in St. Paul for some first-time offenders
MPR News: "At a St. Paul church, Russel Balenger held up a shiny quartz stone and set the ground rules for the conversation to come. Rule No. 1: Only speak when you’re holding the talking piece, he told about 30 people. No. 2: What’s said in the circle stays in the circle." -
Ninth Circuit strikes down Montana ban on political robocalls
Courthouse News Service: "Montana can’t outlaw political robocalls, the Ninth Circuit ruled Tuesday, finding the state’s law violates the First Amendment, hamstrings underdog candidates and fails to protect recipients from financial scams." -
Chief Justice Gilbertson provides an inside look at South Dakota’s Supreme Court
KELO News: "Chief Justice David Gilbertson answered questions from KELOLAND Capitol News Bureau reporter Bob Mercer in Pierre about how the South Dakota Supreme Court decides to hear cases and the related topic of the roles that law clerks play in the court’s processes." -
Parents can be sued for false claims against high school coaches, Minnesota high court rules
Minneapolis Star Tribune: "Parents who criticize or trash talk their kids’ public high school coaches don’t have legal protection to make false claims, according to a groundbreaking ruling issued Wednesday by the Minnesota Supreme Court." -
Nearly 40 years after South Dakota changed sentencing law, dozens are serving 100 years or more for first-degree manslaughter
Brainerd Dispatch: "Nearly 25 years ago, Joaquin Ramos entered the South Dakota State Penitentiary to begin a life sentence for first-degree manslaughter, angry about the circumstances that led him there." -
S.D. legislators urge state Supreme Court to allow concealed handguns in chambers
Sioux Falls Argus Leader: "South Dakota Supreme Court justices are weighing a ban on concealed handguns in the Court's Capitol space for their own protection, but some legislators are arguing that's the reason they passed a law allowing it." -
U.S. Attorney says South Dakota prosecutions are up
KOTA News: "The number of cases being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office in South Dakota is up for the second straight year. The office's annual report for 2018 is out and prosecutors say they've filed cases against 914 defendants in the South Dakota district last year, a 3.6 percent increase from 2017." -
8th Circuit: Christian couple can sue over Minnesota same-sex marriage video law
Reuters: "A federal appeals court on Friday revived a lawsuit by a Minnesota couple challenging a state law requiring that their video production company film same-sex weddings, which they say violates their Christian beliefs." -
Minnesota Supreme Court sets limits on body cavity searches
MPR News: "The Minnesota Supreme Court has limited how police can perform body cavity searches after ruling in a case of a suspect in an illegal drug investigation who refused to cooperate with officers." -
South Dakotans soon able to access court records from any computer
Brookings Register: "The South Dakota Unified Judicial System is piloting a program that will eventually allow the public access to court records from any computer. The public can now only view court records on computers at state courthouses during work hours from Monday to Friday."