Court

Senator Reflects on Impactful Housing Law as Massachusetts High Court Deliberates Enforcement Powers

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Boston, MA — Nearly four years after the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Massachusetts is grappling with an ongoing housing issue through legislation aimed at fostering easier development around public transit hubs. This push, embodied in the MBTA Communities Act, mandates that 177 largely eastern cities and towns create zones that permit multi-family housing by right, a move to ease the state’s intense housing shortage. This legislative effort, spearheaded by Sen. Brendan Crighton of Lynn, is now at the center of a critical debate before the Supreme Judicial Court following a legal challenge led by … Read more

Supreme Court Declines to Hear Case on Right to Consistent Legal Representation for Low-Income Defendants

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Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court dismissed an appeal that could have established whether defendants in criminal trials have a constitutional right to be represented by their initial court-appointed attorney throughout their case. This decision maintains the status quo where continuity of counsel is not guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution for indigent defendants. The case involved Williams Davis, a Colorado man who was convicted in 2017 of reckless driving and eluding police. Davis argued his rights were violated when he had to go to trial with a substitute attorney after his original court-appointed lawyer … Read more

Osage County Court to Decide on Dismissal Request in Oklahoma Gas Price Manipulation Case

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Pawhuska, Oklahoma — A legal battle in Osage County is intensifying as an upcoming court hearing could determine the future of a high-profile lawsuit concerning alleged manipulation of natural gas prices. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond spearheaded the lawsuit against several energy producers, focusing on accusations during the crippling winter storm Uri in 2021. The hearing, scheduled for Tuesday afternoon in the Osage County District Court, was announced by Judge Stuart Tate. It will consider a motion filed by Enable Gathering and Processing, an Oklahoma-based company now part of Energy Transfer, which seeks either a … Read more

Montana Towns Reassess Urban Camping Laws in Light of New Supreme Court Ruling

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Belgrade, Mont. — In the wake of a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision, cities across southwest Montana, including Belgrade, Manhattan, and Livingston, are poised to reassess their urban camping regulations. Recent judicial rulings have empowered municipalities to enforce laws against public camping, a move that could significantly impact the homeless population in the region. The Supreme Court’s 2024 judgement in Grants Pass v. Johnson has removed restrictions that previously made it illegal for cities to penalize homeless individuals for sleeping in public spaces when no shelters are available. This decision reverses an earlier ruling from … Read more