Sentencing Courts Must Conduct an Independent § 46-14-311/312 MCA Mental-Condition Determination When the Issue Is Raised at Sentencing Introduction In State v. Myers Starks, 2026 MT 93, the Montana...
Repetitive Habeas Challenges to a Settled Montana Sentence May Trigger a Supreme Court Leave-to-File Requirement 1. Introduction Case: J. Eves v. Borchert (Order), Supreme Court of Montana, filed May...
Due Process and Specific Findings Required Before Montana Courts Impose Vexatious-Litigant Prefiling Orders Introduction Heaven v. Weber (2026 MT 95) arose after Matthew Heaven sued Steven Paul Weber...
“Sexual Contact” Under Montana Law: “Knowingly” Is an Alternative to “Purposely,” and Omitting “Purposely” from the Instruction Was Not Plain Error (State v. Steffens) Court: Supreme Court of Montana...
Louisiana v. Callais (2026): §2 Compliance as a Compelling Interest, Recast Through an “Updated Gingles” Framework 1. Introduction Louisiana v. Callais arose from Louisiana’s post-2020-census...
Workplace PPE-Overheating Complaints Are Not “Matters of Public Concern” Absent a Concrete Public-Safety Focus Introduction In Mark Stanalajczo v. Brandonn Perry (Sixth Cir. May 4, 2026), an adjunct...
Section 18.001’s “Unless” Clause as an All-or-Nothing Bar: Any Compliant Counteraffidavit Defeats Affidavit Admissibility Case: Tatia Ortiz v. Ramu Nelapatla Court: Supreme Court of Texas Date: May...
People v. Morris (Cal. 2026): § 189(e)(2) Requires the Nonkiller to Aid the Lethal Act, Not Merely the Underlying Felony Supreme Court of California (May 4, 2026) — Justice Groban (maj.); Chief...
State v. Lawrence M.: Joinder Burden on the State and Permissible “Grooming” Hypotheticals Without Complainant-Specific Vouching 1. Introduction In State of Connecticut v. Lawrence M. (SC 21032)...
State v. Baez: When Eyewitness “Flight” Evidence and Retreat Defeat Self-Defense, and When Intent-Charge Errors Are Not Plain Error Introduction In State v. Baez (Conn. Sup. Ct., officially released...
State v. Bard: Unpreserved Severance Claims Are Unreviewable; Articulation Cannot Create Preservation; No Duty to Sever Sua Sponte Under Practice Book § 41-18 1. Introduction In State v. Bard (Conn....
Estate of Kalinski v. Murphy Law Office, PLLC: Unjust Enrichment and ICPA Claims Cannot Repackage Legal Malpractice Absent Independent Consumer Deception Court: Supreme Court of Idaho Date: May 5,...
Uncodified and Ambiguous Civil Service Exam Phone Rules Cannot Rationally Support Score Nullification; “Final” Agency Language May Excuse Further Exhaustion I. Introduction Matter of Bifulco v City...
R.C. 3513.311(C) Allows Late Lieutenant-Governor Replacement Only Upon Death; Ohio Supreme Court Original Jurisdiction Bars Declaratory and Prohibitory-Injunction Claims I. Introduction State ex rel....
Expedited Supreme Court Judgment Issuance Under Rule 45.3 in Ongoing Election Disputes (Callais v. Louisiana) Introduction Callais v. Louisiana arises from emergency, post-merits litigation effects...
“Malice Is Malice”: Pennsylvania Rejects a DUI-Specific Malice Test and Reaffirms One Unified Standard Case: Commonwealth v. Peters, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania (May 4, 2026) I. Introduction...
Stash-House Enhancement Applies Without Leasehold When De Facto Control or Co-Conspirator Foreseeability Is Shown Case: United States v. Khari Qunarll Smith (6th Cir. May 4, 2026) (not recommended...
Pleading Limits on “Continuing Violation” Theories: An Allegedly Biased Internal Investigation Does Not Extend a Title VII Hostile-Environment Claim Without Plausible Sex-Based Causation or Harasser...
Termination Ends Commission Entitlement When Compensation Clause Limits Commissions to Contracts Accepted Before the Effective Termination Date Case: Touch-N-Buy LLC v. United Consumer Fin. Servs....
Deadly Force “Until Neutralized”: Sixth Circuit Clarifies that the Trigger-Count Is Not the Question I. Introduction Kimberly Vaughn, through the Administration of the Estate of Mohammad J. Isaifan,...