Verdict . News

•Michael James Jackson was convicted of murdering James and Carol Sumner by burying them alive in 2005

Florida Supreme Court

Florida Supreme Court Upholds Death Sentence After Jury Law Changes

The Florida Supreme Court ruled on the case of Michael James Jackson, who was convicted of murdering an elderly couple in 2005. Jackson's death sentences were vacated in 2017 due to jury unanimity requirements but were later reimposed under revised state laws allowing non-unanimous jury recommendations.

•His death sentences were vacated in 2017 due to Hurst v. State requiring unanimous jury recommendations

•Florida Supreme Court amended Rule 2.140 governing judicial rule modification procedures

Florida Supreme Court

Florida Supreme Court Amends Judicial Rules Process, Sets 2026 Date

The Supreme Court of Florida amended Rule 2.140 governing how judicial administrative rules are modified, acting on its own motion without prior public comment. The amendment takes effect January 1, 2026, with a 75-day comment period now available for interested parties.

•Court acted on its own motion without prior public comment period

•Florida Supreme Court amended Rules 2.120, 2.140, and 2.215 to clarify confusion between local rules and administrative orders

Florida Supreme Court

Florida Supreme Court Clarifies Local Rules vs Administrative Orders

The Florida Supreme Court has amended three key rules governing general practice and judicial administration to clarify the long-standing confusion between local rules and administrative orders in trial courts. The amendments to Rules 2.120, 2.140, and 2.215 stem from a comprehensive review initiated in 2021.

•Four-year review process began in 2021 with Chief Justice Canady's administrative order establishing a workgroup

•Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed denial of Baptist Health's petition for writ of prohibition against discovery orders

Kentucky Supreme Court Affirms Discovery Orders Against Baptist Health

The Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed the Court of Appeals' decision denying Baptist Healthcare System's petition for a writ of prohibition against discovery orders in a negligence lawsuit filed by patient Marietta Gelanie Jones.

•Case involves patient fall incident at Baptist Health Paducah resulting in hip fracture and subsequent negligence lawsuit

•Kentucky Supreme Court denied London City Council's motion for emergency interlocutory relief against Mayor Randall Weddle

Kentucky Supreme Court Denies London City Council's Emergency Relief Motion

The Kentucky Supreme Court denied a motion for interlocutory relief filed by the London City Council and several officials against Randall Weddle. The court affirmed that injunctive relief to remove Mayor Weddle from office was not warranted under law.

•Court ruled that injunctive relief to remove Weddle and reinstate appointed Mayor Tracie Handley is not warranted under law

•Kentucky Supreme Court issues first interpretation of federal Religious Land Use Act

Kentucky Supreme Court Affirms Zoning Denial for Catholic Shrine

The Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed a lower court ruling denying a Catholic organization's request to build a religious shrine, finding no violation of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. The Dec. 18, 2025 decision marks the first time Kentucky's highest court has interpreted RLUIPA in the context of zoning restrictions.

•Catholic organization denied permit to build outdoor shrine to Virgin Mary

•Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed Paducah's right to maintain residency requirements for firefighters hired after 1998

Kentucky Supreme Court Affirms Paducah Residency Rule for Firefighters

The Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed a lower court's summary judgment favoring the City of Paducah in a challenge to firefighter residency requirements. Firefighter Nathan Torian and Local 168 argued that state law prohibiting residency requirements for emergency medical service providers should override the city's ordinance requiring firefighters to live within McCracken County.

•Firefighters argued they qualified as emergency medical service providers exempt from residency rules under state law

Court of Appeals of Maryland

Maryland Attorney Suspended for Child Support Arrears After Court No-Show

The Supreme Court of Maryland has immediately suspended attorney Gregory Wayne Jones from practicing law after he failed to respond to a court order regarding his delinquent child support obligations. The suspension, effective December 18, 2025, follows the Attorney Grievance Commission's petition alleging Jones was in arrears on his support payments.

•Attorney Gregory Wayne Jones suspended immediately from Maryland law practice for child support arrears

•Jones failed to respond to court's show cause order despite being properly served with petition and order

•Randall Waltrip's first-degree rape conviction was affirmed by the Kentucky Supreme Court on December 18, 2025

Kentucky Supreme Court Affirms Rape Conviction in Waltrip Case

The Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed the first-degree rape conviction of Randall Waltrip on December 18, 2025, following his Alford plea in Hancock Circuit Court. Waltrip was sentenced to 20 years in prison after reaching a plea agreement that dismissed multiple other charges.

•Waltrip entered an Alford plea, allowing him to plead guilty while maintaining innocence, and received a 20-year prison sentence