Supreme

Chief Judge John Michael Guidry Announces His Bid for Louisiana Supreme Court Seat

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BATON ROUGE, La. — Chief Judge John Michael Guidry, a long-serving member of Louisiana’s judiciary, has announced his candidacy for the District 2 seat on the Louisiana Supreme Court, entering as a Democratic contender. With a judicial career spanning over two decades, Guidry brings extensive experience to his latest pursuit of higher office. Currently, Guidry holds the prominent position of Chief Judge on the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal, a role he assumed in January 2023, making history as the first African American to do so. His tenure on the appellate court has been … Read more

Supreme Court Ruling Reshapes Landscape of Bankruptcy Protections, Limits Third-Party Releases

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WASHINGTON — In a landmark decision that could redefine legal and financial strategies in U.S. bankruptcy courts, the Supreme Court has ruled against the use of non-consensual third-party releases for resolving mass tort claims, except in cases involving asbestos. This pivotal ruling ends a long-standing practice widely accepted by bankruptcy courts and removes a key tool that companies like Purdue Pharma have used to shield stakeholders such as directors or shareholders from related lawsuits when the company itself files for bankruptcy. For more than four decades, bankruptcy courts have employed non-debtor releases to facilitate broad … Read more

Utah Supreme Court Bolsters Citizen-Led Initiatives, Curbs Legislative Overreach on Ballot Measures

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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — In a landmark decision, the Utah Supreme Court on Thursday sided decisively with citizen-led grassroots efforts, holding that the state legislature acted unconstitutionally when altering a voter-approved ballot initiative that created an independent redistricting commission. The ruling not only impacts how congressional district maps are drawn but also signifies a broader protection for voter-driven initiatives aimed at governmental reform. The case arose after the 2018 approval of the ballot initiative aimed at curbing gerrymandering was significantly rewritten by Utah’s legislature, a move critics said undermined the will of the voters. … Read more

Iowa Supreme Court Rules Against Davenport in Lawsuit Over Building Collapse

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Des Moines, Iowa — The Iowa Supreme Buffalo dismissed an appeal by the city of Davenport concerning a lawsuit linked to a building collapse that resulted in three fatalities and injured many. This legal setback underscores the city’s responsibility for damages and safety violations which had been previously contested. In April 2020, a five-story apartment building in downtown Davenport partially collapsed, leading to tragic loss and numerous injuries. Investigations following the incident revealed structural failures and insufficient maintenance, which were argued to be known by city inspectors before the collapse. Families of the victims and … Read more