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State Court

State court decisions and legal developments across all 50 states and territories. Coverage spans state supreme courts, appellate courts, and significant trial court rulings on family law, property, criminal justice, and more.

State Court
•4 min read
Illinois Supreme Court

Illinois Supreme Court Rules on Evidence Standards in Domestic Violence Case

The Illinois Supreme Court issued a ruling in People v. Heintz addressing whether evidence of an alleged victim's violent conduct after charged offenses can be admitted under state evidence rules. The court also considered whether trial courts can exclude evidence of a defendant's acquittal on related domestic violence charges.

•Illinois Supreme Court reversed appellate court decision that had vacated defendant's domestic violence convictions
•Court addressed admissibility of alleged victim's violent conduct that occurred after the charged offenses under Evidence Rule 405(b)(2)
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State Court
•4 min read
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Issues Split Decision in Commonwealth v. Brown Appeal

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court delivered a divided opinion in Commonwealth v. Jamie Brown, partially affirming and partially vacating a Superior Court decision in a case involving a 2002 third-degree murder conviction. Justice Wecht authored the majority opinion with partial dissent on one section.

•Justice Wecht authored majority opinion with Chief Justice Todd and Justice Donohue joining in full, Justice Brobson joining except Section V
•Brown convicted of third-degree murder in 2002 for killing Aliquippa Police Officer James Naim, filed untimely PCRA petition in 2021
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State Court
•4 min read
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Hears Walker Criminal Appeal Arguments

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court heard oral arguments March 5 in three consolidated criminal appeals involving defendant Derrick Walker, challenging convictions from Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas that were previously affirmed by the Superior Court.

•Pennsylvania Supreme Court heard oral arguments March 5 in three consolidated criminal appeals involving Derrick Walker
•All three cases originated from Philadelphia County Court convictions entered March 1, 2022
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State Court
•4 min read
Supreme Court of New Jersey

NJ High Court Extends Federal Civil Rights Timing Rule to State Claims

The New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously ruled that civil rights claims against the state must follow federal timing requirements under Heck v. Humphrey. The decision arose from a case involving a woman on lifetime parole who challenged social media and pornography bans as unconstitutional.

•New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously applied Heck v. Humphrey timing rule to state civil rights claims
•Case involved constitutional challenge to parole conditions banning social media and pornography access
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State Court
•4 min read
Supreme Court of South Carolina

SC Supreme Court Affirms Pipeline Permit for Dominion Energy

The South Carolina Supreme Court affirmed an administrative law court decision allowing Dominion Energy to obtain federal permits for a natural gas pipeline project near the Great Pee Dee River in Florence County. The Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League had challenged the water quality certification required for the pipeline construction.

•South Carolina Supreme Court affirmed lower court ruling granting Dominion Energy water quality certification for natural gas pipeline near Great Pee Dee River
•Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League's appeal was rejected, allowing the energy company to proceed with federal permitting process
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State Court
•4 min read
Supreme Court of South Carolina

SC Supreme Court Bars Second Immunity Hearings After Mistrials

The South Carolina Supreme Court unanimously reversed a Court of Appeals decision that would have allowed defendants to seek a second immunity hearing under the state's Protection of Persons and Property Act following a mistrial. The ruling clarifies that defendants receive only one opportunity for pre-trial immunity under South Carolina's stand-your-ground law.

•Supreme Court unanimously ruled defendants cannot seek second immunity hearings after mistrials under Protection of Persons and Property Act
•Court held immunity hearings are independent proceedings separate from trial proceedings
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State Court
•4 min read
Supreme Court of Minnesota

Minnesota Supreme Court Orders New Trial in Nightclub Murder Case

The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled Jan. 28 that confusing jury instructions warrant a new trial in a wrongful death lawsuit stemming from Unity McGill's murder at The Red Carpet Nightclub in St. Cloud. The court rejected the defendant's 'invited error' argument and clarified standards for innkeeper negligence cases.

•Minnesota Supreme Court ordered new trial due to confusing jury instructions in nightclub murder case
•Court rejected 'invited error' defense, allowing plaintiff to challenge problematic instructions on appeal
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State Court
•5 min read
Delaware Supreme Court

Delaware Supreme Court Affirms Sexual Assault Conviction in DeAngelis Case

The Delaware Supreme Court unanimously affirmed Douglas DeAngelis's sexual assault conviction, rejecting his claim that the trial judge's response to jury notes constituted an improper Allen charge that coerced the verdict. DeAngelis was convicted on charges including second-degree rape and assault following a six-day trial.

•Delaware Supreme Court unanimously affirmed Douglas DeAngelis's sexual assault conviction, rejecting his Allen charge coercion claim
•DeAngelis was convicted on multiple charges including second-degree rape, fourth-degree rape, and second-degree assault
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State Court
•4 min read
Delaware Supreme Court

Delaware Supreme Court Upholds Gun Conviction After Vehicle Search

The Delaware Supreme Court affirmed Artezz Finney's conviction for possession of a firearm by a person prohibited, rejecting his Fourth Amendment challenge to evidence obtained during a vehicle search. The court denied Finney's motion to suppress evidence after Wilmington police officers observed him holding a firearm in his car.

•Delaware Supreme Court affirmed Artezz Finney's conviction for possession of a firearm by a person prohibited
•Court rejected Finney's Fourth Amendment challenge to vehicle search evidence obtained by Wilmington police
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State Court
•4 min read
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Hears Triple Appeal in Walker Criminal Cases

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court heard oral arguments March 5, 2025, in three consolidated appeals from Derrick Walker challenging Philadelphia County criminal convictions. The appeals stem from 2019 cases that resulted in sentences in March 2022.

•Three consolidated appeals heard by Pennsylvania's highest court on March 5, 2025
•Original convictions occurred in Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas in March 2022
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