Courts
California AG says ExxonMobil misled public on plastic recycling
Attorney General Rob Bonta says the oil giant promoted recycling as a way to bolster its sales of the environmentally fraught products, even though only about 5% of all plastic is actually recycled.
A national blueprint for taking money out of justice
COMMENTARY | A year ago, Illinois became the first state to abolish cash bail. Critics argued this reform would result in an increase in crime—they were wrong.
If a presidential nominee drops out, what happens to states’ ballots?
Experts say it’s likely the Supreme Court would settle the resulting mess.
Supreme Court narrows law for fighting state and local corruption
The high court’s conservatives ruled that a key anti-corruption law only applies to bribes and not to “gratuities” meant to reward officials for their service.
Big Oil faces a flood of climate lawsuits—and they’re moving closer to trial
A quarter of Americans now live in cities and states taking companies to court over lying to the public.
Releasing suspects pretrial doesn’t lead to higher crime rates, experts say
Some states and jurisdictions are taking different approaches to cash bail.
States push ahead with social media laws amid legal challenges
Utah delayed its efforts for litigation purposes, while a judge blocked an Ohio law. But that hasn’t stopped other states, most recently Idaho and New York, from introducing their own restrictions to protect minors.
Shortage of prosecutors, judges leads to widespread court backlogs
The pandemic worsened problems that already had caused state and local court delays.
Why the 14th Amendment bars Trump from office: A constitutional law scholar explains principle behind Colorado Supreme Court ruling
COMMENTARY | Colorado’s Supreme Court has removed Donald Trump from the state’s 2024 presidential ballot. A scholar of constitutional law explains why.
High fees, long waits cast shadow over new criminal expungement laws
A clear record helps people seeking employment, housing and education.
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Cash bail policies are under fresh scrutiny
Some places have done away with the system, while others are considering stricter guidelines.
No longer above the fray, state supreme courts pulled into overtly political conflicts
The courts have become top-tier targets for party leaders, often considered the key to unlocking control of state legislatures, gubernatorial mansions and even Congress.
Police resistance and politics undercut the authority of prosecutors trying to reform the justice system
After major American cities began electing prosecutors who campaigned on the promise of systemic reform, law enforcement unions labeled these DAs as soft on crime while lawmakers made legal and legislative efforts to remove them from office.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
‘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.
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.
