Recent Updates
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NY top court won't open nursing homes to lawyers
Lawyer Blogs 04/05/2010New York's top court is refusing to order nursing homes to give state lawyers access to hundreds of psychiatric patients so they can advocate for alternative treatments, living conditions or even release.The Court of Appeals, divided 4-3, says the Ne...
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Court won't hear appeal from Lupe Fiasco mentor
Lawyer Blogs 04/05/2010The Supreme Court won't hear an appeal from rap artist Lupe Fiasco's mentor, who was convicted on drug charges despite complaints that his jurors weren't asked whether they had any biases against firearms.The high court on Monday refused to hear an a...
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Court Requires Warning About Deportation Risk
Lawyer Blogs 04/01/2010The Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that lawyers for people thinking of pleading guilty to a crime must advise their clients who are not citizens about the possibility that they will be deported. Likening deportation to the punishments of banishment...
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High court restricts whistleblower lawsuits
Lawyer Blogs 03/31/2010The Supreme Court on Tuesday placed limits on existing whistleblower lawsuits alleging local governments misused federal money, in a decision that produced newcomer Sonia Sotomayor's first dissenting opinion.But the just-enacted health care overhaul ...
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Court rebuffs Pa. man who didn't accept vote tally
Lawyer Blogs 03/30/2010A failed Pennsylvania judicial candidate who couldn't believe he received so few votes says he's finished fighting now that the U.S. Supreme Court has refused to hear his case.Robert Pritchard Sr., of Fairchance, got 63 votes for a district judge pos...
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High court weighs fraud lawsuit vs. Aussie bank
Lawyer Blogs 03/30/2010The Supreme Court indicated Monday it could prohibit foreign investors from using U.S. securities law and American courts to sue a foreign bank for fraud.The court heard argument in a challenge from Australian investors who want to sue the Melbourne-...
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Lawyers await hearing on combining Toyota lawsuits
Lawyer Blogs 03/26/2010As lawsuits over Toyota acceleration problems multiply nationwide, more than 150 attorneys gathered Wednesday to sharpen their legal skills on the eve of a major federal court hearing on whether dozens of cases will be consolidated before a single ju...
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Calif. voters could legalize pot in Nov. election
Lawyer Blogs 03/25/2010When California voters head to the polls in November, they will decide whether the state will make history again — this time by legalizing the recreational use of marijuana for adults.The state was the first to legalize medicinal marijuana use, with ...
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Galleon founder wins stay of wiretaps in civil case
Lawyer Blogs 03/24/2010Galleon hedge fund founder Raj Rajaratnam, accused of insider trading along with several associates, won a suspension of a court order to hand over wiretap evidence to U.S. market regulators, pending appeal.The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circu...
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Philly Newspaper Creditors Can't Bid With Credit
Lawyer Blogs 03/22/2010A federal appeals court says Philadelphia's two major daily newspapers can deny creditors the right to use about $300 million owed them to bid at an upcoming bankruptcy auction.Monday's split 2-1 decision upholds a lower court ruling in a bitter disp...
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Idaho high court: No new trials for 6 on death row
Lawyer Blogs 03/18/2010The Idaho Supreme Court has denied requests from six death row inmates who said they were entitled to new trials because a U.S. Supreme Court ruling made after their convictions called on juries, not judges, to impose the death penalty.All the men ar...
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Fed. appeals court upholds 'under God' in pledge
Lawyer Blogs 03/12/2010An appellate court has upheld references to God on U.S. currency and in the Pledge of Allegiance, rejecting arguments they violate the constitutional separation of church and state. "The Pledge of Allegiance serves to unite our vast nation through th...