STAFF WRITER

Michigan Supreme Court to Decide Limits of Cell Phone Searches in Criminal Cases

Michigan Supreme Court to Decide Limits of Cell Phone Searches in Criminal Cases

LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Thursday in a case that could reshape how courts across the state apply constitutional protections to cell phone searches. Background: Theft Case in Emmet County The case, People v. Carson, stems from the 2020 conviction of Michael Carson in Emmet

WIAA Suspension of Wisconsin Wrestler Upheld by State Supreme Court

WIAA Suspension of Wisconsin Wrestler Upheld by State Supreme Court

State High Court Rules Against Wrestler in First Amendment Case MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) in a case involving a student athlete's suspension and claims of constitutional rights violations. In a 5-2 decision issued Tuesday,

Lawsuit Over Wind Leases Dismissed on Procedural Grounds in NM

Lawsuit Over Wind Leases Dismissed on Procedural Grounds in NM

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Supreme Court ruled on Monday that a lawsuit filed by Blanchard Corona Ranch over state land leases for wind energy was brought in the wrong county and must be dismissed. The unanimous decision said the case against Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard should have been

Louisiana Jury Hears Landmark Environmental Case Against Oil Companies

Louisiana Jury Hears Landmark Environmental Case Against Oil Companies

POINTE À LA HACHE, La. — A high-stakes environmental lawsuit that could force oil and gas companies to pay billions in damages for coastal restoration is nearing its conclusion in a small Plaquemines Parish courthouse. The case, the first of 42 similar lawsuits filed by coastal Louisiana parishes since 2013,

SC Supreme Court Reviews Attorney General’s Payout in Savannah River Site Settlement

SC Supreme Court Reviews Attorney General’s Payout in Savannah River Site Settlement

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Supreme Court is considering whether Attorney General Alan Wilson acted within the law when his office paid $75 million in legal fees to two private law firms. The fees stem from a $600 million settlement with the federal government over the storage of weapons-

Swampbuster Rule Challenged in Federal Court

Swampbuster Rule Challenged in Federal Court

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — A lawsuit in federal court is challenging the constitutionality of a decades-old conservation rule that ties wetland preservation to federal farm benefits. The Swampbuster Rule CTM Holdings, a landholding company based in Iowa, is suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and its Natural Resources

Judge Declares Texas Prison Heat Likely Unconstitutional, Case Advances

Judge Declares Texas Prison Heat Likely Unconstitutional, Case Advances

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A federal judge has ruled that extreme heat conditions in Texas prisons are likely unconstitutional, allowing a lawsuit against the state to move forward. However, the judge declined to order immediate air conditioning installations, citing high costs. Judge Recognizes Unconstitutional Conditions In an order issued late Wednesday,