Verdict . News

•Pro se petitioner David Caruth sought release from indeterminate sex-offender parole due to alleged failure to hold timely duration review hearings

New Mexico Supreme Court Remands Sex Offender Parole Case After Aragon Ruling

The New Mexico Supreme Court has remanded the case of David Caruth v. State of New Mexico, where a pro se petitioner challenged his continued detention on indeterminate sex-offender parole after the state allegedly failed to conduct required duration review hearings. The court's decision follows its ruling in Aragon v. Martinez, which significantly affected the legal framework governing such cases.

•Supreme Court held case in abeyance pending decision in related Aragon v. Martinez case, then remanded for reconsideration

•New Mexico Supreme Court remanded Shawn Diggie's challenge to sex offender parole supervision for reconsideration by district court

NM Supreme Court Remands Sex Offender Parole Case After Aragon Ruling

The New Mexico Supreme Court has remanded a case involving a pro se petitioner's challenge to indeterminate sex offender parole supervision back to district court for reconsideration. The remand follows the high court's recent decision in *Aragon v. Martinez*, which significantly impacts the legal framework governing sex offender parole duration review hearings.

•The case was held in abeyance pending the court's decision in Aragon v. Martinez, which addressed similar legal issues

•New Mexico Supreme Court remanded case challenging sex offender parole duration calculations

New Mexico Supreme Court Remands Sex Offender Parole Duration Case

The New Mexico Supreme Court remanded *Emord v. Martinez* back to the district court for reconsideration of how parole time is calculated for sex offender supervision eligibility. The court's order follows recent precedential decisions that may affect similar cases.

•Edward Emord sought to include in-house parole time in eligibility determinations for review hearings

•Supreme Court initially denied Hammonds' petition challenging indefinite sex offender parole supervision

New Mexico Supreme Court Remands Sex Offender Parole Case After Precedent

The New Mexico Supreme Court has remanded a pro se petitioner's challenge to indefinite sex offender parole supervision after initially denying the case. The court's reversal followed its decision in *Aragon v. Martinez*, which significantly affected parole duration review legal standards.

•Court withdrew denial and held case pending resolution of related Aragon v. Martinez case

•Supreme Court held Roth case in abeyance pending resolution of related Aragon v. Martinez case

New Mexico Supreme Court Remands Sex Offender Parole Case After Aragon Decision

The New Mexico Supreme Court has remanded the case of James Roth v. State back to the district court following its landmark decision in Aragon v. Martinez, which significantly affects sex offender parole review procedures. Roth had sought release from indeterminate sex-offender parole after claiming the state failed to hold required duration review hearings.

•Aragon decision issued in July 2025 significantly affects sex offender parole review law

•Supreme Court remanded case after holding it pending related *Aragon v. Martinez* decision that affects sex offender parole law

NM Supreme Court Remands Sex Offender Parole Case After Aragon Ruling

The New Mexico Supreme Court has remanded *LaCasse v. Rios* to the district court following its July 2025 decision in *Aragon v. Martinez*. Rey Napoleon LaCasse, representing himself, had sought release from indeterminate sex-offender parole after authorities failed to conduct required duration review hearings.

•Pro se petitioner LaCasse sought release from indeterminate parole due to missed statutory duration review hearing deadlines

•Solomon Hayhurst III's first-degree murder conviction for killing his father was upheld by the New Mexico Supreme Court

New Mexico Supreme Court Upholds Son's Murder Conviction for Father's Death

The New Mexico Supreme Court affirmed the first-degree murder conviction of Solomon Hayhurst III for shooting his father to death in 2019. The court rejected Hayhurst's appeal claims regarding prosecutorial misconduct and witness testimony, finding no reversible error in his trial.

•Jury rejected self-defense claim after security footage contradicted Hayhurst's statements to police

•ACT must divest 35 fuel stations to Majors Management, LLC to complete the $1.57 billion Giant Eagle acquisition

Regulatory

Nov 19, 2025•4 min read

FTC Approves $1.57B ACT-Giant Eagle Deal with Required Divestitures

The Federal Trade Commission approved a final consent order allowing Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. to complete its $1.57 billion acquisition of 270 Giant Eagle fuel outlets. The settlement requires ACT to divest 35 stations to preserve competition and prevent higher fuel prices.

•The FTC voted 2-0 to approve the final consent order after determining the merger could harm competition

Supreme Court of South Dakota

Nov 19, 2025•4 min read

S.D. Supreme Court: Pending Lawsuit Is Marital Asset in Divorce

The South Dakota Supreme Court affirmed a circuit court's decision to treat a husband's pending lawsuit against former business partners as a marital asset subject to division in divorce proceedings. The unanimous ruling in King v. King establishes precedent for how courts handle contingent legal claims during property division.

•South Dakota Supreme Court affirmed that pending business lawsuit constitutes marital asset in divorce

•Gary King unsuccessfully challenged circuit court's classification of his litigation as divisible property