Courts

California officials seek ‘care’ without coercion as new mental health courts launch this fall

Under the new system, family members and first responders can ask county judges to order people with psychotic illness into treatment, even if they are not unhoused or haven’t committed a crime.

  • By April Dembosky, KFF Health News

What the police raid of a Kansas newspaper says about government and the press

The raid sparked coast-to-coast outrage, but it also raised concerns about the eroding relationship between government officials and the reporters who cover them. Plus, more news to use from around the country in this week's State and Local Roundup.

  • By Daniel C. Vock

States Grapple with the Death Penalty

As it becomes harder and harder to obtain the drugs involved in lethal injections, most states are pausing executions and others are turning to older methods, such as firing squads.

  • By Daniel C. Vock

Court Fights Begin Over Gun Bans in Places Like Subways and Bars

The legal wrangling comes after the Supreme Court placed new limits earlier this year on the restrictions states and localities can impose on where people can carry firearms. For now, it’s left to lower courts to hash out how that looks in practice.

  • By Kery Murakami

Supreme Court Could Shift More Control Over Wetlands to States

The court will begin its new term with a long-running dispute over when wetlands fall under the nation's main water quality law. Depending on how the justices rule, it could leave federal regulators with less authority and states taking up the slack.

  • By Daniel C. Vock

‘Robo-lawyers’ are Coming. Are States Ready?

Automated legal services are becoming more widely available for routine proceedings, offering possible cost savings and other benefits. But for the emerging tech to thrive, experts say regulations need to be updated.

  • By Molly Bolan

Former State Lawmakers Fail in Fight to Clawback Pay They Voted to Cut

The Illinois legislators boasted that they slashed their salaries during the Great Recession. But they later went to court to get back raises they missed out on.

  • By Daniel C. Vock

A New Mexico Official Who Joined the Capitol Attacks is Barred From Politics

COMMENTARY | The little-known law behind the removal has some potential pitfalls for democracy.

  • By Aziz Huq, David Landau and Tom Ginsburg

Key Parts of US Laws are Hard for the Public to Find and Read

Oblique or missing references to standards and codes specified by law make it difficult for judges, lawyers and the general public to comply with regulations.

  • By D. R. Jones, The Conversation

Two Cities Took Different Approaches to Pandemic Court Closures. They Got Different Results

Did closing courts contribute to the resurgence in violent crime that began in 2020? What happened in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Wichita, Kansas, may provide clues.

  • By Alec MacGillis, ProPublica

Without Obergefell, Most States Would Have Same-Sex Marriage Bans

The Roe v. Wade ruling has lawmakers returning to an issue many thought was settled law.

  • By Elaine S. Povich, Stateline

Supreme Court Deals a Major Blow to the EPA, and All Federal Agencies

A decision from the court's conservative majority limits agencies' ability to write new rules on major issues. The case centered on a challenge brought by West Virginia and other states.

  • By Eric Katz
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Guard, Reserve Troops Can Sue States for Firing Them, Supreme Court Rules

Court declares that state powers yield to federal ones when it comes to raising armies.

  • By Tara Copp

Why the Supreme Court’s Football Coach Decision is a Game-changer on School Prayer

COMMENTARY | The case is noteworthy because the court has now decided that public school employees can pray when supervising students.

  • By Charles J. Russo, The Conversation

State Courts From Oregon to Georgia Will Now Decide Who—If Anyone—Can Get an Abortion

COMMENTARY | There's likely to be a flood of litigation as people try to invalidate state laws on abortion.

  • By Stefanie Lindquist, The Conversation

The Next Chapter for Battles Over Abortion in the States

The Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade promises to bring a new wave of debate to statehouses on the issue, as conservatives move to restrict the procedure and liberals look to protect access. Meanwhile, anti-abortion activists say their work isn't finished.

  • By Daniela Altimari

Lawsuits Over Miranda Violations Blocked by Supreme Court Ruling

The 6-3 decision does not eliminate the the rights. But legal experts say it will make it harder to hold law enforcement accountable if they don't provide the warning, which is meant to protect people taken into custody against self-incrimination.

  • By Daniela Altimari

The Legal Clash Over a City’s Landmark Natural Gas Ban

Since Berkeley, California prohibited gas connections to most new buildings, dozens of cities have followed suit with similar policies. Now, a federal appeals court will decide whether the local statute is allowed under federal law.

  • By Ben Ikenson

The Looming Battle Between States if Roe Falls

Lawmakers in some GOP-controlled legislatures are pushing laws that would go after women who seek abortions in other states. Democratic lawmakers are promising to provide a safe harbor.

  • By Daniela Altimari and Daniel C. Vock

'This Was Not a Surprise': How the Pro-Choice Movement Lost the Battle for Roe

In the wake of a leaked draft opinion indicating the Supreme Court plans to overturn Roe v. Wade, Joshua Prager, author of “The Family Roe,” discusses the 50-year battle over abortion rights and the strategic decisions that led us here.

  • By Alexandra Zayas, ProPublica

Supreme Court Sides Against Boston in Christian Flag Dispute

The case centered on the First Amendment and a flagpole outside of City Hall.

  • By Daniel C. Vock