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Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

Maine Supreme Court Affirms Student Dismissal from Respiratory Program

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court affirmed a lower court's decision upholding Kennebec Valley Community College's dismissal of student XinXiu 'Tina' Hogan from its Respiratory Therapy Program. The court also dismissed Hogan's federal civil rights and state educational discrimination claims as duplicative in the January 29, 2026 ruling.

•Maine Supreme Judicial Court upheld student dismissal from respiratory therapy program at Kennebec Valley Community College

•Court dismissed federal Section 1983 civil rights claims and state educational discrimination claims as duplicative

•Delaware Supreme Court unanimously affirmed Court of Chancery's July 2024 ruling in Goldman family estate dispute

Delaware Supreme Court

Delaware Supreme Court Affirms Chancery Ruling in Goldman Estate Dispute

The Delaware Supreme Court unanimously affirmed a Court of Chancery decision in a family business dispute involving the estate of Allan H. Goldman. The high court upheld the lower court's July 2024 ruling after oral arguments in the case between estate executor Steven Gurney-Goldman and family member Jane H. Goldman.

•Case involved executor Steven Gurney-Goldman defending against challenge by Jane H. Goldman over estate administration

West Virginia Supreme Court

WV Supreme Court Affirms Dismissal in Firearm Safety Child Neglect Case

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals affirmed a circuit court's dismissal of an abuse and neglect petition against a father accused of leaving firearms within a child's reach and maintaining unsanitary living conditions. The court upheld the dismissal based on procedural rules preventing duplicate petitions in multiple counties.

•Supreme Court affirmed dismissal of abuse and neglect petition citing proper procedural grounds

•Father allegedly left firearms within child's reach and maintained unsanitary living conditions

•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

•North Dakota Supreme Court affirmed child neglect conviction in 4-1 decision

North Dakota Supreme Court Affirms Child Neglect Conviction

The North Dakota Supreme Court affirmed Christopher John Golberg's child neglect conviction, rejecting his arguments that evidence should have been suppressed and that trial evidence was insufficient. The 4-1 decision upheld a jury verdict following an investigation into alleged child abuse at his then-girlfriend's home.

•Defendant's motion to suppress evidence from home search was rejected

•North Dakota Supreme Court affirmed conviction for child neglect and drug paraphernalia possession

ND Supreme Court Affirms Child Neglect Conviction in Fourth Amendment Case

The North Dakota Supreme Court affirmed the criminal conviction of Shantel Rose Lais for child neglect and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, rejecting her Fourth Amendment challenge to evidence obtained during a law enforcement search. The court relied on a companion case decided the same day to deny her suppression motion.

•Court rejected Fourth Amendment challenge claiming illegal search of area with reasonable expectation of privacy

3w ago•5 min read

•North Dakota Supreme Court unanimously affirmed conviction for unlawful firearm possession by felon

ND Supreme Court Upholds Felon Firearm Conviction After Jury Challenge

The North Dakota Supreme Court affirmed the conviction of Deyan Robert Luetzen for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. The high court rejected his arguments that the trial court erred in jury instructions about possession and that insufficient evidence proved the weapon met statutory firearm definitions.

•Defendant challenged jury instructions on possession definition under amended state firearms statutes

•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

West Virginia Supreme Court

WV Supreme Court Affirms Parental Rights Termination in Drug Case

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals upheld a circuit court's decision to terminate a mother's parental rights after law enforcement discovered suspected heroin or fentanyl and drug paraphernalia in deplorable living conditions with a child present.

•Supreme Court affirmed termination of parental rights after drugs and paraphernalia found in home with child

•Mother was provided services including parenting education and drug testing but failed to meet requirements