Verdict . News

•North Dakota Supreme Court affirmed district court's denial of parental rights termination petition

North Dakota Supreme Court Upholds Father's Parental Rights

The North Dakota Supreme Court affirmed a district court decision denying a petition to terminate a biological father's parental rights in an adoption case. The court found insufficient statutory grounds to override the father's fundamental constitutional right to his child.

•Court reinforced that parental rights are fundamental but not absolute constitutional protections

•North Dakota Supreme Court reversed lower court decision favoring family trusts over state industrial commission

ND Supreme Court Reverses Oil Production Allocation Ruling

The North Dakota Supreme Court reversed a lower court decision in a case involving family trusts challenging the state's allocation of oil production from a well in McKenzie County. The case attracted significant industry attention with multiple energy companies filing amicus briefs.

•Case involved complex oil production allocation dispute in McKenzie County spacing unit

•17-year-old Cazmere Haskins fatally stabbed Anfernee Economy in Grand Forks parking lot altercation in March 2024

North Dakota Supreme Court Upholds 40-Year Murder Sentence for Teen

The North Dakota Supreme Court affirmed a 40-year prison sentence for Cazmere Haskins, who was 17 when he fatally stabbed Anfernee Economy in a Grand Forks parking lot in March 2024. The court rejected Haskins' appeals challenging both his guilty plea and sentence.

•Haskins received 40-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to murder under plea agreement

•Torres-Sosa was convicted of kidnapping, attempted gross sexual imposition, and aggravated assault

ND Supreme Court Affirms Conviction After Miranda Rights Challenge Forfeited

The North Dakota Supreme Court affirmed the conviction of Angel Alberto Torres-Sosa for kidnapping, attempted gross sexual imposition, and aggravated assault after he forfeited his Miranda rights challenge by failing to renew his objection during trial.

•He lost his Miranda rights challenge by failing to renew his objection during trial

•North Dakota Supreme Court dismissed a class action lawsuit by flight instructors claiming unpaid wages from UND

North Dakota Supreme Court Dismisses UND Flight Instructor Class Action

The North Dakota Supreme Court granted a supervisory writ petition from the University of North Dakota, directing a lower court to dismiss a class action lawsuit filed by flight instructor Andrew Sangster. The court ruled that Sangster's claims regarding unpaid wages for flight instructors were not authorized under state law because they did not arise from a contract.

•The court ruled claims were not authorized under state law because they did not arise from a contract

•North Dakota Supreme Court affirmed juvenile court's findings that children were in need of protection and had suffered harm

ND Supreme Court Affirms Termination of Parental Rights in Indian Family Case

The North Dakota Supreme Court affirmed a juvenile court's decision to terminate a mother's parental rights to two minor children. The court retained jurisdiction and remanded for additional findings on active efforts under state law governing Indian families.

•Court retained jurisdiction and remanded for additional findings on active efforts under Indian family protection statute

2w ago•4 min read

•North Dakota Supreme Court remanded criminal case due to improper documentation of conditional plea

ND Supreme Court Remands Case Over Conditional Plea Documentation Error

The North Dakota Supreme Court remanded State v. Vasquez back to the district court after finding that while both parties agreed the defendant entered a conditional plea, the criminal judgment failed to specify this crucial detail as required by state court rules.

•All parties agreed defendant entered conditional plea, but judgment failed to specify this as required by court rules

2w ago•4 min read

•Mandy Olson was convicted of practicing law without a license after filing legal motions for incarcerated defendant Eric Grewe

North Dakota Supreme Court Affirms Unlicensed Practice Conviction

The North Dakota Supreme Court affirmed the criminal conviction of Mandy Deann Olson for practicing law without a license after she filed legal motions on behalf of an incarcerated defendant. The unanimous decision upholds strict enforcement of legal licensing requirements.

•The North Dakota Supreme Court unanimously affirmed her conviction in case No. 20250264

2w ago•4 min read

•North Dakota Supreme Court affirmed denial of postconviction relief for Kurt Noel Johnson

ND Supreme Court Denies Appeal Over Undisclosed Dash-Camera Evidence

The North Dakota Supreme Court affirmed a district court's denial of postconviction relief for Kurt Noel Johnson, who claimed newly discovered evidence warranted overturning his conviction. Johnson argued that undisclosed police dash-camera video constituted grounds for relief under state law.

•Johnson claimed undisclosed police dash-camera video evidence warranted overturning his conviction