Verdict . News

•Texas Supreme Court ruled judges may refuse same-sex weddings for religious reasons without violating judicial conduct rules

Texas Supreme Court

Texas Supreme Court: Judges Can Refuse Same-Sex Weddings for Religious Reasons

The Texas Supreme Court answered a certified question from the Fifth Circuit, ruling that judges may publicly refuse to perform same-sex weddings based on religious beliefs while continuing to officiate opposite-sex ceremonies. The court clarified Canon 4A(1) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct in *Umphress v. Steel*.

•Court adopted clarifying comment to Canon 4 stating religious exemptions are permissible for wedding ceremonies

•Wisconsin Supreme Court publicly reprimanded attorney Bryant H. Klos for violating diligence rules in estate representation

Wisconsin Supreme Court

Wisconsin Attorney Receives Public Reprimand for Estate Negligence

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has publicly reprimanded attorney Bryant H. Klos for failing to diligently represent an estate in a probate case, accepting a referee's recommendation that also ordered him to pay full disciplinary proceeding costs.

•Klos failed to complete necessary work to conclude administration of the Inez C. Erickson estate probate proceeding

•Nebraska Supreme Court clarified jurisdictional review standards for complex multi-party corporate disputes

Nebraska Supreme Court

Nebraska Supreme Court Rules on Corporate Trust Dispute in Streck v. Ryan

The Nebraska Supreme Court issued a ruling on January 9, 2026, in the complex litigation case of Streck, Inc. v. Ryan, addressing jurisdictional questions and procedural issues in a multi-party corporate dispute involving The Ryan Foundation and various trust entities.

•Court established abuse of discretion standard for reviewing trial court final judgment certifications under Nebraska statute

•Iowa Supreme Court issued mixed ruling allowing some gross negligence claims to proceed against corrections officers

Supreme Court of Iowa

Iowa Supreme Court Rules on Negligence Claims in Prison Officer Death

The Iowa Supreme Court issued a mixed ruling in a case where the widow of a corrections officer killed during a 2021 prison escape sued fellow officers for gross negligence. The court affirmed some aspects while reversing others, allowing portions of the lawsuit to proceed.

•Sara Montague sued 25 fellow officers over husband's 2021 death during prison escape attempt

Supreme Court of Virginia

Virginia Supreme Court Affirms Reversal of Appian Victory Over Pegasystems

The Virginia Supreme Court has affirmed a Court of Appeals decision reversing a jury verdict that had favored Appian Corporation in its lawsuit against competitor Pegasystems Inc. The case involves two major business process management software companies in a dispute over jury instructions and discovery issues.

•Virginia Supreme Court affirmed Court of Appeals reversal of jury verdict favoring Appian

•Dispute involved jury instructions and discovery issues in corporate espionage case

New York Court of Appeals

NY Court of Appeals Affirms SORA Designation Despite 6-Year Delay

The New York Court of Appeals ruled that a six-year delay in notifying a defendant of his Sex Offender Registration Act requirements did not violate his substantive due process rights. The court held that Roderick Collier failed to show the delay prejudiced his ability to present his case.

•Court ruled six-year delay in SORA notification did not violate due process rights

•Defendant must prove delay caused actual prejudice to his defense, not just passage of time

•Nevada Supreme Court granted jurisdictional prescreening for appeal in child protection case involving three minors

Nevada Supreme Court

Nevada Supreme Court Allows Appeal in Dismissed Child Protection Case

The Nevada Supreme Court has granted jurisdictional prescreening to allow an appeal to proceed in a child protection case involving three minors and Clark County Department of Family Services against their father. The case stems from a juvenile court's dismissal of a petition for child protection under Nevada's child welfare statutes.

•Both the children and Clark County Family Services are challenging juvenile court's dismissal of protection petition

•Nevada Supreme Court reversed lower court's quiet title judgment favoring HOA foreclosure buyer

Nevada Supreme Court

Nevada High Court Reverses HOA Foreclosure Title in Deutsche Bank Case

The Nevada Supreme Court reversed a lower court's decision that had quieted title in favor of Collegium Fund LLC Series 16, ruling that Deutsche Bank's first deed of trust remained valid after an HOA foreclosure sale where the homeowner had paid off the superpriority lien.

•Homeowner payments before sale converted superpriority lien foreclosure to subpriority lien sale

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania

PA Supreme Court Rules on FirstEnergy Utility Pole Regulation Dispute

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued a decision in a complex regulatory dispute between FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Company and the state's Public Utility Commission concerning utility pole regulation and operations in the state's highly regulated utility environment.

•Pennsylvania Supreme Court decided regulatory dispute between FirstEnergy and state utility commission on Jan. 8, 2026

•Case involved dual appeals and cross-appeal by Verizon companies, indicating broad industry implications