Steele County clerk’s office to close early Monday

The Steele County Clerk of Court’s office will close Monday, June 3, at 1:30 p.m.

8th Circuit decides N.D. case

The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit has affirmed the conviction in a North Dakota murder and drug trafficking case.

U.S.: Supreme Court scholars’ new paper sparks debate over influence of blogs, podcasts

Reuters: "Law professors Jeffrey Fisher of Stanford and Allison Orr Larsen of William & Mary have spent the last couple of years studying the rise of blogs, podcasts and social media dedicated to litigation at the U.S. Supreme Court. They know as well as anyone how quickly new ideas about the court are picked up and chewed over."

U.S.: Blacks and Hispanics face military trials at disproportionate rates, GAO report to Congress says

Stars and Stripes: "Black and Hispanic servicemembers are more likely to face criminal investigations and be brought to trial than their white counterparts, though they are no more likely to be convicted, according to a government watchdog investigation report."

Minn.: A day for people to clear their warrants and 'move on with their own lives'

MPR News: "Defense attorneys, judges and even court reporters will be on hand at Washington Technology Magnet School in St. Paul on Saturday. Anyone who has an outstanding misdemeanor warrant from any county in the state will be able walk into the school and deal with it there."

Mont.: New family treatment court a resource for reunification

Daily Inter Lake: "Last week, a long-awaited family treatment court officially opened its doors to Flathead County families impacted by dependency and neglect cases, offering support for program-eligible parents pursuing reunification with their children who have been placed into Child Family Services."

SD justices say injured driver doesn't owe insurance company

KELO News: "State Farm can't recover $5,000 from motorist LeRoy James Jr. it paid to him for medical expenses, the South Dakota Supreme Court said in a decision released Thursday. Jones was rear-ended on July 16, 2016, on SD 16 near Rapid City by another driver, Melissa Rivers."

U.S. Attorney's Office to focus on white collar crimes, narcotics trafficking, violence in Indian Country

G.F. Herald: "After 42 days as North Dakota’s U.S. attorney, Drew Wrigley said he has focused on strengthening the office and plans to add new team members to help prosecute white-collar crimes and narcotics trafficking while also focusing on violence in Indian Country."

Minn.: Under watch, ex-offenders reenter prison's revolving door

MPR News: "More than a third of people who have been incarcerated in Minnesota prisons will be locked up again within three years of their release — but not for committing new crimes. They're sent back for what's called a 'technical violation' of their probation or supervised release, such as missing an appointment with their probation officer or flouting curfew."

Court: Montana ethics complaints are public information

Helena Independent Record: "A federal appeals court on Wednesday struck down a Montana law requiring that any ethics complaint made against a state official be kept confidential, ruling that the law violated free-speech rights."