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•Ohio Supreme Court ruled email distribution lists are public records under state law

Ohio Supreme Court

Ohio Supreme Court Orders School District to Release Email Lists

The Ohio Supreme Court ruled that email distribution lists maintained by the Xenia Community City School District constitute public records that must be disclosed under state law. The court rejected the district's arguments for exemption and awarded the requestor $1,000 in statutory damages plus attorney fees.

•Xenia school district failed to prove lists qualified for exemption from disclosure

•California Supreme Court corrected timeline errors in November 2025 opinion involving LA police complaint procedures

California Supreme Court

California Supreme Court Modifies Police Union Victory Opinion

The California Supreme Court has modified its November 2025 opinion in Los Angeles Police Protective League v. City of Los Angeles, clarifying that the city entered into a federal consent decree before certain court decisions were issued. The court also denied a petition for rehearing in the case involving police complaint procedures.

•Federal consent decree prevented Los Angeles from enforcing state advisory requirements before court decisions were issued

Supreme Court of Rhode Island

Rhode Island Supreme Court Affirms Election of Remedies in City Case

The Rhode Island Supreme Court affirmed a lower court's dismissal of Clifton Peasley's declaratory relief action against the City of Providence, applying the election of remedies doctrine after Peasley had already pursued grievance procedures for his back pay claim.

•Rhode Island Supreme Court affirmed dismissal of declaratory relief action under election of remedies doctrine

•Plaintiff Clifton Peasley had already pursued city grievance process for back pay dispute before filing court action

•Oregon Supreme Court reversed Court of Appeals decision in complex multi-party lawsuit involving Crandall family and State of Oregon

Oregon Supreme Court

Oregon Supreme Court Reverses Appeals Court in Crandall v. State

The Oregon Supreme Court reversed the Court of Appeals decision in *Crandall v. State of Oregon*, a complex multi-party lawsuit involving the Crandall family, state defendants, and third-party claims. The high court remanded the case to Jackson County Circuit Court for further proceedings.

•Case remanded to Jackson County Circuit Court for further proceedings after Supreme Court found errors in lower court decisions

•Florida Supreme Court amended Rule 9.200(f) to streamline transcript process for indigent criminal appeals

Florida Supreme Court

Florida Supreme Court Streamlines Transcript Process for Indigent Appeals

The Florida Supreme Court amended Rule 9.200(f) of the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure to eliminate bureaucratic hurdles for indigent criminal defendants seeking transcripts for appeals. The new rule becomes effective April 1, 2026.

•New rule eliminates requirement for separate trial court orders to compel court reporter transcription

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

Maine Supreme Court Upholds Sex Offender Registration Correction

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court ruled in a 5-2 decision that the state can retroactively correct an administrative error requiring Daniel Gantnier to register as a sex offender for life instead of the erroneously imposed 10-year term. The court rejected Gantnier's Ex Post Facto Clause challenge.

•Maine Supreme Court ruled 5-2 that state can correct administrative errors in sex offender registration requirements

•Daniel Gantnier was erroneously given 10-year registration term instead of required lifetime registration in 2006

•New Mexico Supreme Court issued opinion in Burns v. Presbyterian Healthcare Services addressing expert witness disclosure deadlines

New Mexico Supreme Court

New Mexico High Court Rules on Expert Witness Deadline in Medical Case

The New Mexico Supreme Court issued an opinion January 22 in Burns v. Presbyterian Healthcare Services, addressing whether a district court properly struck an untimely expert witness affidavit in a medical malpractice case. The case involves plaintiff Suzanne Burns' lawsuit against Presbyterian Healthcare Services and Dr. Navjeet Kaur.

•District court struck untimely expert affidavit that contradicted prior deposition testimony on causation

Supreme Court of New Jersey

NJ Supreme Court Rules Bergen County Immune from Park Injury Lawsuit

The New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Bergen County is immune from tort liability under the state's Landowner Liability Act for a rollerblading accident at Van Saun County Park. The January 2026 decision reinforces protections for public landowners providing free recreational facilities.

•New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously ruled Bergen County immune from liability for rollerblading accident at Van Saun County Park

•Court held that rollerblading qualifies as recreational activity protected under the state's Landowner Liability Act

•Ohio Supreme Court denied mandamus petition seeking Legislative Service Commission records related to Senate Bill 104

Jan 21, 2026•4 min read

Ohio Supreme Court

Ohio Supreme Court Denies Access to Legislative Records Request

The Ohio Supreme Court denied a mandamus petition seeking access to records from the Ohio Legislative Service Commission related to Senate Bill 104. The court ruled that R.C. 101.30, which protects certain legislative communications, does not violate Ohio's constitutional transparency requirements.

•Court ruled R.C. 101.30 exempting legislative documents from Public Records Act does not violate Ohio Constitution