The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled that district courts lack the statutory authority to order defendants to pay costs associated with criminal charges that are ultimately dismissed as part of a plea agreement, even if the defendant explicitly agrees to this condition. In a significant ruling that impacts criminal plea…
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Idaho Supreme Court Upholds State Law Governing Medical Debt Collection Against Constitutional Attack
The Idaho Supreme Court has delivered a major ruling affirming the constitutionality of the Idaho Patient Act (IPA), a state law designed to regulate how healthcare providers collect debts from patients. The decision sides against Ridgeline Medical, LLC, which had challenged the law on multiple grounds, including violations of the…
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Sixth Circuit Upholds Denial of Death Row Inmate’s Habeas Petition
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has affirmed the denial of a federal habeas corpus petition filed by Donald Herb Johnson, a Kentucky inmate sentenced to death for a brutal murder committed over three decades ago. The court found that Johnson failed to meet the stringent standards…
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Ferry Workers Lose Bid to Block Vaccine Mandate in First Circuit Ruling
* Eleven current and former employees of the Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority (the “Authority”) have lost their latest attempt to block the company’s COVID-19 vaccination policy. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed the district court’s decision to deny a preliminary injunction, concluding…
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$10 Billion Childcare Funding Freeze Sparks Lawsuit Against Trump Administration
A coalition of five U.S. states has filed a federal lawsuit challenging former President Donald Trump’s administration for freezing nearly $10 billion in childcare and family assistance funding, arguing that the move violates federal law and threatens critical support for working families and low-income households. The lawsuit, filed in federal…
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NJ Court Upholds Sweeping Environmental Justice Rules Despite Industry Pushback
The New Jersey Appellate Division has affirmed the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) adoption of its comprehensive Environmental Justice Rules (EJRules), rejecting challenges brought by industry groups claiming the regulations exceeded the agency’s statutory authority or were arbitrary and capricious. The court granted substantial deference to the DEP’s interpretation of…
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Court Upholds Murder Conviction But Orders Resentencing After Finding Merger Error
The Supreme Court of Georgia largely affirmed the conviction of Tony Adams, Jr., for the malice murder of his mother, Belinda Woodson, but overturned key parts of his sentence due to a legal error concerning included offenses. While Adams’s claims of ineffective assistance of counsel were rejected, the high court…
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Ninth Circuit Upholds Firearm Ban for Illegal Immigrants, Citing Historical Tradition
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has affirmed the conviction of Oscar Vazquez-Ramirez for possessing a firearm while being unlawfully present in the United States. The ruling relies on a historical analysis suggesting that regulations restricting firearm access for non-citizens are consistent with the nation’s traditions, even…
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Key Evidence in Drug-Impaired Burglary Upheld by Ohio Appeals Court
A Warren County man’s conviction for aggravated burglary has been upheld by the Twelfth Appellate District of Ohio, despite his argument that he was too impaired by drugs to knowingly enter the victims’ home. The appellate court found that the evidence presented was sufficient to support the conviction, and that…
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DUI Conviction Upheld: Court Finds Evidence Sufficient Despite Defense Arguments on Video and Sentencing
The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals has affirmed the conviction of Stanley William Havens for driving under the influence (DUI), finding the evidence presented at trial was sufficient to support the jury’s verdict. The appellate court also upheld the enhanced sentence handed down for what was determined to be the…