N.D. Attorney General opinion: March 18

Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem has issued an opinion that bonds payable from appropriations made by the Legislative Assembly must be subject to modification or repeal by future legislative assemblies in order to be upheld against a constitutional debt limit challenge.

USD law school's new dean talks traditions, future

KELO News: "It's the only law school in South Dakota, and now it has a new leader. The University of South Dakota Law School has named Neil Fulton as the new dean. Fulton is a Yale graduate and studied law at the University of Minnesota. He says his long history in South Dakota positions him to help build future leaders in the state. "

Job Announcement

A job announcement for a Deputy State's Attorney with the Ward County State’s Attorney’s office in Minot has been posted.

Grand Forks courthouse first in state to install loop technology to benefit hearing impaired

G.F. Herald: "People with hearing issues will notice a big improvement when they attend proceedings in Room 302 at the Grand Forks County Courthouse, thanks to newly installed technical equipment."

Pretrial services likely next focus of North Dakota justice reform

Bismarck Tribune: "Efforts are underway from multiple branches of state government to study pretrial detention and services for potential reform in North Dakota."

U.S. Supreme Court March 18 arguments

Monday, the United States Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case on Social Security Administration’s Appeals Council actions and a case on whether a state legislature has standing to appeal a district court’s order to enact a remedial redistricting plan.

U.S. Supreme Court March 19 arguments

Tuesday, the United States Supreme Court will hear arguments in a False Claims Act case involving statutes of limitation.

U.S. court: Cop can’t stop driver for flipping him off

MPR News: "The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit was short and to the point in ruling this week that giving the finger to a cop is free speech and you can’t be pulled over for doing so."

MN Supreme Court: Mom shouldn’t have lost car when daughter used it to drive drunk

MPR News: "Megan Olson already had three DWI convictions to her name when she was arrested by Shakopee police in August 2015. Under Minnesota law, her 'first-degree DWI' meant the authorities could seize the car she was driving -- a 1999 Lexus."

Convicted murderer to get new trial in South Dakota

Mitchell Daily Republic: "In an opinion released Friday, March 15, the South Dakota Supreme Court unanimously agreed with Watertown defense attorney Scott Bratland’s contention that the trial court abused its discretion in failing to properly instruct a Grant County jury on what charge Bratland’s client, Michael Swan, should have faced."