Burke County courthouse closed until April 9

The Burke County courthouse closed today, April 8, at noon due to sewage back up problems. The courthouse will be closed at least through 10 a.m. April 9 depending on repairs.

Justice Crothers teaches at National Judicial College

Justice Dan Crothers lectured last week at the National Judicial College in Reno, Nev. He taught topics including ethics of independent investigations, discovery and admission of electronically stored information, and ethics of social media as part of the college's course for new judges.

Mountain West tribes and states join Indian Child Welfare Act lawsuit

Wyoming Public Media: "So far, 325 tribes and states, including Montana, Idaho, Utah and Colorado, have joined forces to preserve a law that gives Native families preference in adoption of Native children. Texas, Indiana and Louisiana argue the Indian Child Welfare Act creates a special and unequal status for Native children that's unconstitutional."

South Dakota justices rule against woman suing over traffic crash

KELO News: "A woman failed to meet the time limit set in state law for changing the target of her personal-injury lawsuit that resulted from a 2013 traffic crash, the South Dakota Supreme Court said in a decision publicly released Thursday."

MN Supreme Court rules in DL case

DL-Online: "An employee experiences back problems and is no longer able to do the job they were hired to do in a safe manner. Does an employer always have to find ways to accommodate them? Turns out, not necessarily."

Mont.: Supreme Court hearing on stage at UM as man's court appearance in dispute

KPVI News: "The question of whether a man's failure to appear for a routine court appearance was enough to override his constitutional right to a jury trial took center stage Friday at the University of Montana."

N.D. Attorney General opinion: April 4

Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem has issued an opinion that the ND Forensic Examiner’s Office and UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences did not violate the open records law by refusing to disclose the Reports of Death while the investigations were still active.

'Servant leader' makes his case

UND Today: "Mike McGinniss describes himself as a servant leader. 'I plan to lead by example,' said the newly appointed dean of the UND School of Law. 'I’m excited and humbled, and see this as an opportunity for great challenges and great possibilities.'"

Minn.: High school students learn about law in court

New Ulm Journal: "New Ulm High School students sat in and observed two Minnesota Court of Appeals oral argument cases at Brown County Courthouse Thursday to gain knowledge of judicial proceedings and how the courts operate."

New justice appointed to South Dakota Supreme Court

KELO News: "South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has appointed a new Supreme Court Justice. The appointment of Patricia Jean DeVaney fills the open vacancy in the 3rd Supreme Court District from the death of Justice Steven Zinter."