Adoption-Act Terminations Must Include the “Strictly Necessary” Best-Interest Finding Ross v. Kracht, 2026 UT 22 (Utah Supreme Court, July 30, 2026) I. Introduction Parties. Julie Ross and Gerald...
New Jersey Clarifies Brady Materiality: “Reasonable Probability” Is Less Stringent Than Carter’s “Probably Change the Verdict” Case: State v. Yusef B. Allen Court: Supreme Court of New Jersey Date:...
Improvement Periods May Be Denied When Untreated Psychosis Makes Participation Unlikely; DHS Not Required to Pursue Involuntary Commitment 1. Introduction In In re D.C. (No. 25-714), Petitioner...
No-Contact Order Violations and Unacknowledged Domestic Violence Justify Denial of Improvement Period and Termination of Parental Rights 1. Introduction In In re B.M.-1 and O.M., the Supreme Court of...
In re J.M.: No Improvement Period—and Termination Upheld—When Ongoing Drug Use, No Visitation, and Incarceration Make Timely Correction Unlikely 1. Introduction Case: In re J.M., No. 25-595 (W. Va....
Post-Termination Visitation Requires a Best-Interests Finding Under Amended Rule 15(b)(2)(A) and May Consider Younger Children’s Matured Wishes 1. Introduction In re W.L., K.L., and G.L. (W. Va. Sup....
Case-Plan “Compliance” Is Not Enough: Termination Affirmed Where Parent Cannot Safely Supervise and Meet Medically Fragile Children’s Extraordinary Needs 1. Introduction In re B.H. and R.H. is a...
In re J.T.: ADA “Reasonable Accommodations” Findings Under § 49-4-604(c)(5)(C) Are Not Required for Termination Under § 49-4-604(c)(6) Absent a Developed ADA Showing Court: Supreme Court of Appeals...
Freeland v. Kelly: Appellate Record Burden and the “Some Evidence” Rule in Prison Disciplinary Habeas Review 1. Introduction In Aron Freeland v. David Kelly, Commissioner, West Virginia Division of...
Rule 60(b) in Habeas After Final Appellate Review: Nine-Year Delay Is Unreasonable; “Fraud on the Court” Requires Proof and Need Not Trigger a Hearing Case: Antonio Prophet v. Jonathan Frame,...
Competency to Stand Trial Turns on Present Functional Understanding—not Etiology (TBI vs. Mental Illness)—and Retroactive Reevaluation Requires Preservation and Changed Circumstances 1. Introduction...
Montana’s 2027 Lawyer Disciplinary Enforcement Framework: Comprehensive Regulation, Separated Functions, and Mandatory Interim Administrator Planning Court: Supreme Court of Montana Case Title: RULES...
State v. Morrissey Jr.: “Evidence as a Whole” Supports Denial of Directed Verdict Where Victim’s “Same Spot” Testimony Permits Inferences of Sexual Contact and Knowing Mental State 1. Introduction In...
Orders of Protection Must Defer to Existing Parenting Plans While Permitting Only Logistics-Limited Contact 1. Introduction Gemar v. Gemar (Mont. 2026 MT 173N) concerns whether a district court...
Platted Express Easements Cannot Be “Supplanted” by a Non‑Signatory Easement Agreement; Obstruction Remedies Must Be Precisely Tied to Proven Encroachments Introduction Vicevich v. Kultgen (2026 MT...
State v. Veltkamp (2026 MT 169): SANE Reports Are Not “Medical Diagnosis” Hearsay; Jury-Room Access Is Error but May Be Harmless When Cumulative 1. Introduction In State v. Veltkamp, the Montana...
State Tortfeasor Cannot Use Interpleader to Impose the Tort Claims Act Cap; Constitutional Challenges to § 2-9-108, MCA, Are Unripe Absent a Filed Tort Action and Excess Damages Determination 1....
Montana Lawyer Discipline: Felony Drug Convictions Trigger Rule 8.4 Charges, While Interim Suspension Requires a Separate Rule 23(B) Showing 1. Introduction Matter of Kenneth B. Cotter arises from...
Service of Notice of Appeal Is Nonjurisdictional; Late Expert Declarations Cannot Be Wholly Excluded When Substantially Justified/Harmless and Supporting Properly Disclosed Malpractice Opinions...
Utah Adoption Act: Termination to Facilitate Adoption Requires a “Strictly Necessary” Best-Interest Analysis Grounded in Case-Specific Stability Needs Introduction In re Adoption of B.C., 2026 UT 23,...