Verdict . News

North Dakota Supreme Court

ND Supreme Court Affirms Termination in Step-Parent Adoption Case

The North Dakota Supreme Court affirmed a district court's decision to terminate a father's parental rights in a contested step-parent adoption case. The father, who was incarcerated for child pornography possession, had argued the termination was based on erroneous findings.

•North Dakota Supreme Court affirmed termination of father's parental rights in step-parent adoption case

•Father was convicted of child pornography possession and incarcerated for 34 months with no child contact

•Idaho Supreme Court affirmed district court ruling favoring State of Idaho against Carelon Behavioral Health

Idaho Supreme Court

Idaho Supreme Court Affirms State Win in Behavioral Health Contract Dispute

The Idaho Supreme Court affirmed a district court decision favoring the State of Idaho in a complex legal dispute involving Carelon Behavioral Health, Inc. and multiple major healthcare companies over behavioral health services contracts.

•Case involved multiple major healthcare companies including Magellan Health and United Behavioral Health/Optum Idaho

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

Maine Supreme Court Affirms Sexual Contact Conviction

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court affirmed Daniel Cardona's conviction for unlawful sexual contact with his 12-year-old great-niece, rejecting his appeals on evidentiary issues. The December 2025 ruling addressed disputes over testimony about subsequent sexual behavior and excluded evidence about alleged fabrication motives.

•Maine Supreme Judicial Court unanimously affirmed Daniel Cardona's Class B unlawful sexual contact conviction

•Court rejected defendant's challenge to admission of testimony about subsequent sexual behavior directed at victim

•Kentucky Supreme Court ruled a statute treating Jefferson County schools differently violated state constitutional equal protection requirements

Kentucky Supreme Court

Kentucky Supreme Court Strikes Down Law Targeting Jefferson County Schools

The Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed lower court rulings that declared unconstitutional a state statute treating Jefferson County's public school district differently from all other districts in Kentucky, finding the law violated Section 59 of the state constitution.

•The law arbitrarily gave Jefferson County's superintendent powers denied to other district superintendents while restricting the school board's authority

Supreme Court of Virginia

Virginia Supreme Court Reverses Appeals Court in Probation Case

The Virginia Supreme Court reversed a Court of Appeals decision that had overturned a probation violation finding against Derek Brawner for failing to pay court costs. The high court ruled there was sufficient evidence to support the original violation finding.

•Virginia Supreme Court reversed Court of Appeals decision that had overturned Derek Brawner's probation violation finding

•Original violation was based on Brawner's failure to pay $3,373 in court costs as required by his probation terms

Supreme Court of Virginia

Virginia Supreme Court Denies Innocence Petition After 34 Years

The Virginia Supreme Court rejected Corey Hargrove's petition for a writ of actual innocence, denying his claim that DNA evidence proves his innocence in a 1991 rape conviction. Hargrove has served over three decades of a 50-year sentence for the rape, sexual abuse, and abduction of Saphonia Woolridge.

•Corey Hargrove was convicted in 1991 of rape, sexual abuse, and abduction and sentenced to 50 years in prison

•His actual innocence petition claimed DNA evidence and credibility issues proved his innocence

•Washington Supreme Court issued en banc decision in Horvath v. DBIA Services on December 18, 2025

Washington Supreme Court

Washington Supreme Court Rules on Public Disclosure Act in Horvath Case

The Washington State Supreme Court issued an en banc decision in Horvath v. DBIA Services on December 18, 2025, addressing the application of the state's Public Disclosure Act to metropolitan improvement districts. The ruling references the 50-year legacy of Initiative 276, which established fundamental principles of government transparency.

•Case addresses application of Washington's Public Disclosure Act to metropolitan improvement districts

Supreme Court of South Carolina

SC Supreme Court Halts Pulte Homes Coastal Development Project

The South Carolina Supreme Court granted relief to Friends of Coastal South Carolina, reinstating an automatic stay on a 27-home development project by Pulte Home Company that would fill nearly two acres of wetlands. The court vacated a lower court order that had lifted the stay pending resolution of the environmental challenge.

•South Carolina Supreme Court reinstated automatic stay on 27-home coastal development project by Pulte Home Company

•Project would fill 1.94 acres of wetlands on 63.23 acres of coastal property with required environmental permits

•Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed Court of Appeals decision denying writ of prohibition sought by state medical licensing board

Kentucky Supreme Court

Kentucky Supreme Court Affirms in Medical Board Licensing Appeal

The Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed a Court of Appeals decision on December 18, 2025, in a case where the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure sought a writ of prohibition against Franklin Circuit Judge Thomas D. Wingate. The unpublished opinion involved multiple medical board officials challenging the circuit court's actions in a licensing dispute involving Dr. Pragya B. Gupta.

•Case involved challenge to Franklin Circuit Judge Thomas D. Wingate's authority in medical licensing dispute involving Dr. Pragya B. Gupta