Courts
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.
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.
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