Verdict . News

Apr 11, 2025•4 min read

•Prosecutors have wide latitude but cannot argue facts beyond evidence presented at trial

Kansas Supreme Court Sets Prosecutorial Limits in State v. Ervin

The Kansas Supreme Court ruled in State v. Javan Jermaine Ervin, establishing clear boundaries for prosecutorial conduct during criminal trials. The court affirmed that prosecutors have wide latitude but cannot argue facts beyond evidence presented.

•District judges may properly instruct juries about prior crime evidence under K.S.A. 60-455

•Michigan Supreme Court consolidated two cases involving 19-year-old defendants sentenced to mandatory life without parole

Apr 10, 2025•4 min read

Michigan Supreme Court

Michigan Supreme Court Rules on Mandatory Life Sentences for Young Adults

The Michigan Supreme Court consolidated two cases involving defendants sentenced to mandatory life without parole for first-degree murder committed when they were 19 years old. The court's decision follows its ruling in *People v. Parks* that mandatory life sentences for 18-year-olds violate constitutional protections.

•The court's decision follows the precedent in *People v. Parks* declaring mandatory life sentences for 18-year-olds unconstitutional

•Michigan Supreme Court addressed Fourth Amendment vehicle search protections in firearm possession case

Apr 2, 2025•4 min read

Michigan Supreme Court

Michigan Supreme Court Rules on Firearm Search in People v Armstrong

The Michigan Supreme Court issued a ruling in People v. Armstrong addressing Fourth Amendment protections in vehicle searches involving firearm discoveries. The case centers on whether police had probable cause to search a vehicle after smelling marijuana, leading to charges for concealed weapon possession and felon-in-possession violations.

•Case involved charges for concealed weapon, felon in possession, and firearm during felony commission

•Michigan Supreme Court decided case involving healthcare provider's lawsuit against insurance company over unpaid auto accident medical bills

Apr 1, 2025•4 min read

Michigan Supreme Court

Michigan Supreme Court Rules on Healthcare Provider Insurance Claims

The Michigan Supreme Court decided a case involving Spine Specialists of Michigan PC's lawsuit against MemberSelect Insurance Company over unpaid medical bills for auto accident treatment. The case centers on the application of Michigan's one-year-back rule for no-fault insurance claims and recent legislative amendments.

•Case centers on application of Michigan's one-year-back rule for filing no-fault insurance benefit claims

•CFPB released comprehensive 2024 HMDA mortgage lending data containing loan-level information from financial institutions

Regulatory

Mar 31, 2025•4 min read

CFPB Releases 2024 HMDA Mortgage Lending Data with Privacy Protections

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has released comprehensive 2024 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data containing loan-level information from financial institutions. The dataset includes privacy modifications to protect consumer information while maintaining analytical value for mortgage market oversight.

•Data includes privacy modifications to protect consumer information while maintaining analytical value

Mar 21, 2025•4 min read

•Kansas Supreme Court affirmed Court of Appeals decision upholding 15-year violent offender registration requirement for Aaron Douglas Unruh

Kansas Supreme Court Affirms Offender Registration in Appellate Procedure Case

The Kansas Supreme Court affirmed a lower court's decision requiring Aaron Douglas Unruh to register as a violent offender for 15 years, while establishing an important precedent about appellate procedure. The court held that appellate courts abuse their discretion when they invoke exceptions to procedural rules without sufficient record evidence.

•Court established precedent that appellate courts abuse discretion when invoking exceptions to preservation rules without sufficient record evidence

Mar 14, 2025•4 min read

•Scott William Anderson was convicted on 14 counts of financial fraud in November 2024

Kansas Supreme Court Disbars Attorney After 14-Count Fraud Conviction

The Kansas Supreme Court has disbarred Scott William Anderson following his conviction on 14 counts of financial fraud. The court accepted Anderson's voluntary surrender of his law license after a jury found he provided false information on loan applications, forged signatures, and directed employees to impersonate others.

•The fraud involved false loan applications, forged signatures, and directing employee impersonation

Mar 7, 2025•4 min read

•Kansas Supreme Court affirmed Ricky L. Hollins' first-degree murder conviction for the October 2020 death of S.D.

Kansas Supreme Court Affirms Murder Conviction in Hollins Case

The Kansas Supreme Court affirmed the first-degree murder conviction of Ricky L. Hollins in a case stemming from a fatal altercation during a planned sexual encounter in October 2020. The court ruled that instructing jurors to engage in discussion during deliberations is not legally erroneous.

•Court ruled that instructing jurors to engage in discussion during deliberations is not legally erroneous

Mar 7, 2025•4 min read

•Kansas Supreme Court affirmed Ronald Johnson's hard 50 sentence for 2001 first-degree murder conviction

Kansas Supreme Court Upholds Hard 50 Sentence in 2001 Murder Case

The Kansas Supreme Court has affirmed a "hard 50" life sentence for Ronald Johnson, who was convicted of first-degree murder in connection with a 2001 stabbing death. The court rejected Johnson's appeal seeking modification of his sentence under the doctrine of stare decisis.

•Court rejected Johnson's appeal seeking sentence modification, citing stare decisis doctrine