Verdict . News

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

Aug 29, 2025•4 min read

Maine Supreme Court Upholds Domestic Violence Convictions, Orders Resentencing

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court affirmed Heather M. Hodgson's convictions for domestic violence with dangerous weapons and child endangerment but vacated her sentence for failing to meet mandatory minimum requirements.

•Maine Supreme Judicial Court affirmed domestic violence convictions involving dangerous weapons and child endangerment

•Court vacated sentence for failing to impose mandatory one-year minimum for dangerous weapon domestic violence offense

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

Aug 29, 2025•4 min read

Maine Supreme Court Vacates Drug Conviction Over Fifth Amendment Violation

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court vacated Derric McLain's aggravated drug trafficking conviction, ruling that he never waived his privilege against self-incrimination during custodial interrogation. While the court affirmed the validity of the traffic stop and search that led to his arrest, it ordered a new trial on Fifth Amendment grounds.

•Maine Supreme Judicial Court vacated McLain's drug trafficking conviction due to Fifth Amendment violation during custodial interrogation

•Court affirmed the validity of the traffic stop and search, rejecting Fourth Amendment challenges to the investigation

•California Supreme Court affirmed Jason Aguirre's murder conviction in Dragon Family gang case

California Supreme Court

California Supreme Court Upholds Gang Murder Conviction for Aguirre

The California Supreme Court affirmed the murder conviction of Jason Alejandro Aguirre in a gang-related shooting case. The court upheld jury findings on firearm enhancements and gang benefit allegations tied to the Dragon Family criminal street gang.

•Jury found firearm enhancement allegations true, including personal discharge causing death

•California Supreme Court ruled on proper methods for assessing hotels for property tax using income capitalization approach

California Supreme Court

California Supreme Court Rules on Hotel Property Tax Assessment Methods

The California Supreme Court issued a decision in Olympic and Georgia Partners, LLC v. County of Los Angeles addressing how hotels should be assessed for property tax purposes using the income capitalization method. The case centers on whether certain revenue streams from intangible assets must be excluded from property valuations.

•Olympic and Georgia Partners challenged exclusion of occupancy tax assignment and other intangible revenue from assessments

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

Maine Supreme Court Vacates Mount Desert Subdivision Approval

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court vacated a lower court ruling that upheld a Town of Mount Desert Planning Board decision approving a six-dwelling subdivision in Northeast Harbor. The state's highest court found the Planning Board erroneously failed to calculate open-space requirements mandated by the town's Subdivision Ordinance.

•Seven property owners successfully appealed Planning Board's subdivision approval for six-unit development in Northeast Harbor

•Maine Supreme Judicial Court found Planning Board violated town ordinance by failing to calculate required open space

•Washington Supreme Court confirms appellate courts can allow nonparty intervention in criminal appeals when the party previously intervened at trial on the same issue

Washington Supreme Court

Washington Supreme Court Expands Nonparty Intervention Rights in Appeals

The Washington State Supreme Court ruled that appellate courts have authority to allow nonparty intervention in criminal appeals when the nonparty previously intervened at trial on the same issue. The en banc decision in State v. Thompson establishes important precedent for third-party participation in criminal appellate proceedings.

•The en banc decision in State v. Thompson provides statewide precedent for criminal appellate procedure involving third-party participants

•Washington Supreme Court issued en banc ruling clarifying 'active efforts' requirements under ICWA and WICWA

Washington Supreme Court

Washington Supreme Court Strengthens ICWA Standards for Foster Care

The Washington Supreme Court issued an en banc ruling clarifying that child welfare agencies must prove 'active efforts' were made to prevent family separation before placing Indian children in involuntary foster care. The August 28, 2025 decision strengthens protections under both federal and state Indian Child Welfare Acts.

•Courts must determine that active efforts were made to prevent family separation before dependency orders

Supreme Court of New Hampshire

NH Supreme Court Affirms Drug Conviction Despite Wiretap Challenge

The New Hampshire Supreme Court has affirmed the drug trafficking convictions of John Santiago, rejecting his appeal that challenged wiretap evidence used against him. Santiago was convicted of possession of a controlled drug with intent to sell and conspiracy after a retrial, following an initial mistrial due to jury deadlock.

•Santiago convicted on drug trafficking charges after retrial following 2023 mistrial due to jury deadlock

•Defendant challenged wiretap evidence claiming interpreters may not have been in required geographic location during interception

Supreme Court of New Hampshire

Aug 27, 2025•4 min read

NH Supreme Court Affirms City's Authority Over Disputed Cul-de-Sac

The New Hampshire Supreme Court affirmed a lower court ruling that granted summary judgment to intervenors in a land use dispute between Taylor Community and the City of Laconia. The case centered on whether the city had authority to lay out a disputed cul-de-sac as a public highway.

•New Hampshire Supreme Court affirmed city's authority to designate disputed cul-de-sac as public highway

•Case originated from 1987 development where Taylor Community promised to deed road to city