Court

Deputy Attorney General Clara Levers’ Vision for a Fair and Just Yolo Superior Court

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Woodland, California – With the upcoming March 5 primary election in California, local races in Yolo County have taken center stage. Among these races is the competition for an open seat on the Yolo Superior Court bench. Clara Levers, a Deputy Attorney General, is one of the candidates vying for this position. As the election approaches, the Daily Democrat reached out to Levers and other candidates in contested races to learn more about their platforms, priorities, and qualifications. Levers, a graduate of UC Davis School of Law, brings two decades of legal experience to her … Read more

Minnesota Media Companies Rally Against Draconian Court Restrictions in Trooper Murder Case, Citing Violation of First Amendment Rights

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MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota – A coalition of media companies in Minnesota is urging a judge to reject strict limitations on public access to court documents in the murder case against state trooper Ryan Londregan. The media coalition argues that these restrictions would violate the press freedoms protected under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. The media attorney representing the coalition, Leita Walker, filed the court motion on Friday, following Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty’s request to seal filings in the case temporarily. Moriarty’s office claimed that this step was necessary to prevent the disclosure … Read more

Oregon Supreme Court Reduces $20.3 Million Jury Award to $5.3 Million in Landlord Negligence Case

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Portland, Oregon – The Oregon Supreme Court has overturned a jury’s decision to award a Portland man $20.3 million in a lawsuit against his apartment complex. Robert Trebelhorn sued the complex after he injured his knee when it punched through a rotten wooden walkway. The high court deemed the jury’s award to be “grossly excessive” and instead reduced it to about $5.3 million in punitive damages and $300,000 in compensatory damages. State law mandates that 70% of punitive damages go towards crime victims compensation and courthouse funds. The ruling by the Supreme Court reflects a … Read more

Supreme Court to Determine Legality of Punishing Homeless for Sleeping Outside Without Shelter

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Grants Pass, Oregon – The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case that will determine whether local governments can penalize homeless individuals for sleeping or camping in public when shelter beds are not available. This raises the question of whether such laws violate the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. The case stems from a complaint filed by three homeless individuals in Grants Pass, an Oregon city with a higher number of homeless people than available shelter beds. The city has ordinances that prohibit individuals from sleeping on the streets or … Read more