TodayLegal News

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
Florida Supreme Court

Florida Supreme Court Denies Final Appeals for Death Row Inmate

The Florida Supreme Court denied all final appeals from death row inmate Frank A. Walls on December 11, 2025, clearing the way for his execution scheduled for December 18. The court rejected Walls' successive motion for postconviction relief, petition for habeas corpus, and request for a stay of execution.

Florida Supreme Court denied Frank A. Walls' successive postconviction relief motion, habeas corpus petition, and stay request on December 11, 2025
Walls is scheduled for execution on December 18, 2025, for the 1987 murders of Edward Alger and Ann Peterson in Okaloosa County
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State Court
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Florida Supreme Court

Florida Supreme Court Protects Joint Bank Accounts from Individual Creditors

The Florida Supreme Court ruled that joint bank accounts between spouses can be protected from individual creditors under tenancy by entireties ownership, even when one spouse originally opened the account alone. The court held that a 2008 statutory amendment eliminated traditional common law requirements for simultaneous creation.

Joint bank accounts between spouses can qualify for entireties protection even when originally opened by one spouse alone
2008 statutory amendment created presumption favoring entireties ownership that overrides traditional time and title unity requirements
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State Court
4 min read
Arkansas Supreme Court

Arkansas Supreme Court Dismisses State Appeal in LEARNS Act Challenge

The Arkansas Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by the state Department of Education and twelve other officials challenging a circuit court's refusal to dismiss a lawsuit that claims the LEARNS Act's Educational Freedom Account program violates the state constitution.

Arkansas Supreme Court dismissed state appeal challenging circuit court's refusal to dismiss LEARNS Act lawsuit
Court ruled sovereign immunity doesn't apply to illegal-exaction claims against unconstitutional spending
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State Court
4 min read
Arkansas Supreme Court

Arkansas Supreme Court Adopts AI Rules for Confidential Court Data

The Arkansas Supreme Court officially adopted Administrative Order No. 25 on December 11, 2025, establishing comprehensive regulations for using generative artificial intelligence with confidential court data. The order requires all court system participants to exercise heightened awareness when using AI tools that may retain sensitive legal information.

Arkansas Supreme Court adopts Administrative Order No. 25 regulating AI use with confidential court data, effective immediately
Order requires awareness of data retention by AI tools and distinguishes between public and private language models
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State Court
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Wyoming Supreme Court

Wyoming Supreme Court Reinstates Attorney After 3-Year Suspension

The Wyoming Supreme Court reinstated attorney Cody M. Jerabek to practice law effective immediately on Dec. 11, 2025, following completion of a three-year suspension that began in December 2022. The reinstatement came after a review panel recommendation from the Wyoming State Bar's Board of Professional Responsibility.

Wyoming Supreme Court reinstated attorney Cody M. Jerabek effective immediately on Dec. 11, 2025
Jerabek completed a three-year suspension that began Dec. 15, 2022, for unspecified professional misconduct
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State Court
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Wyoming Supreme Court

Wyoming Supreme Court Affirms Interest Award in Construction Dispute

The Wyoming Supreme Court affirmed a district court's decision to award prejudgment interest to YJ Construction, Inc. after a jury found homeowners Russ and Debi Ropken failed to pay for partial construction of their custom home.

Wyoming Supreme Court affirmed prejudgment interest award to YJ Construction after jury found homeowners failed to pay for custom home construction
Court rejected homeowners' due process challenge to interest award granted without evidentiary hearing
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State Court
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Oregon Supreme Court

Oregon Supreme Court Denies Review in State v. Farnham Criminal Case

The Oregon Supreme Court denied a petition for review in State v. Farnham on December 11, 2025, effectively upholding a lower court criminal conviction from Coos County. The case involved Michael Daniel Farnham, who was represented by the Oregon Public Defense Commission, with no opposition appearing before the state's highest court.

Oregon Supreme Court denied petition for review in criminal case State v. Farnham on December 11, 2025
Case originated from Coos County Circuit Court and was appealed through Court of Appeals
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State Court
4 min read
Oregon Supreme Court

Oregon Supreme Court Denies Review in State v. Farnham Criminal Case

The Oregon Supreme Court denied a petition for review in State v. Farnham on December 11, 2025, effectively upholding a Court of Appeals decision in a criminal case involving driver's license penalties for fleeing or attempting to elude police.

Oregon Supreme Court denied petition for review filed by defendant Michael Daniel Farnham through the Oregon Public Defense Commission
Justice DeHoog wrote a concurring opinion criticizing the Court of Appeals' interpretation of driver's license penalty statutes
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State Court
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Arkansas Supreme Court

Arkansas Supreme Court Allows Parents to Defend School Choice Program

The Arkansas Supreme Court reversed a lower court decision and granted three parents the right to intervene in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the LEARNS Act's Education Freedom Account program. The court ruled that parents who benefit from the school choice program have sufficient interest to defend it in court.

Arkansas Supreme Court reversed circuit court denial of parents' intervention motion
Three mothers successfully argued they have sufficient interest as program beneficiaries
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State Court
4 min read
Arkansas Supreme Court

Arkansas Supreme Court Dismisses Chief Justice's Harassment Appeal

The Arkansas Supreme Court dismissed an unusual case where Chief Justice Karen Baker attempted to appeal a harassment finding against her by the Administrative Office of the Courts. The court ruled it lacked jurisdiction over the internal administrative matter.

Chief Justice Karen Baker unsuccessfully appealed harassment findings through the judicial system
The Arkansas Supreme Court dismissed the case, ruling it lacked jurisdiction over internal administrative matters
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