Verdict . News

•New Mexico Supreme Court remanded sex offender parole case to district court for reconsideration

New Mexico Supreme Court

NM Supreme Court Remands Sex Offender Parole Case After Aragon Ruling

The New Mexico Supreme Court has remanded a case involving a sex offender seeking release from parole after the state failed to conduct a timely duration review hearing. The court's action follows its recent decision in Aragon v. Martinez, which affects remedies for delayed parole review hearings.

•Remand follows court's July 2025 decision in Aragon v. Martinez affecting remedies for delayed parole hearings

•Washington Supreme Court unanimously rejected Commission on Judicial Conduct's recommendation to remove Judge Tracy S. Flood

Washington Supreme Court

Washington Supreme Court Reduces Judge Flood Sanction to 30-Day Suspension

The Washington Supreme Court unanimously rejected a judicial commission's recommendation to remove Bremerton Municipal Court Judge Tracy S. Flood, instead imposing a 30-day suspension without pay. The court ruled that suspension was more proportionate to the misconduct than removal following a disciplinary proceeding.

•Court imposed 30-day suspension without pay instead of removal, calling it more proportionate to the misconduct

•Washington Supreme Court reversed lower court ruling allowing recall petition against Pacific County Commissioner Lisa Olsen to proceed

Washington Supreme Court

Washington Supreme Court Blocks Pacific County Commissioner Recall

The Washington State Supreme Court reversed a lower court decision and blocked the recall of Pacific County Commissioner Lisa Olsen, ruling that charges alleging violations of the Open Public Meetings Act were both factually and legally insufficient.

•Recall charges alleged violations of Open Public Meetings Act executive session requirements were found factually and legally insufficient

Supreme Court of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Supreme Court Indefinitely Suspends Attorney Mario Rodríguez Pijuán

The Supreme Court of Puerto Rico has imposed an immediate and indefinite suspension on attorney Mario Rodríguez Pijuán from practicing law due to repeated violations of court orders. The disciplinary action, issued December 4, 2025, represents the court's exercise of its authority to regulate professional conduct within the legal profession.

•Attorney Mario Rodríguez Pijuán suspended immediately and indefinitely from practicing law in Puerto Rico

•Supreme Court cited repeated non-compliance with court orders as basis for disciplinary action

•Arkansas Supreme Court affirmed disqualification of RMP LLP attorneys representing Pinnacle In Home Care in dispute with competitor

Arkansas Supreme Court

Arkansas Supreme Court Affirms Attorney Disqualification in Home Care Dispute

The Arkansas Supreme Court affirmed a lower court's decision to disqualify attorneys Timothy Hutchinson and Scott Tidwell from RMP LLP from representing Pinnacle In Home Care, LLC in a legal dispute with competitor 1 Source Senior Care, LLC. The December 2025 ruling rejected Pinnacle's arguments about conflicts of interest and tactical motivation.

•Court rejected arguments that Pinnacle's position wasn't 'materially adverse' to individual codefendants

•New Mexico Supreme Court affirmed Adelio David Gallegos Jr.'s first-degree murder conviction in unpublished decision

New Mexico Supreme Court

New Mexico Supreme Court Affirms Murder Conviction in Gallegos Case

The New Mexico Supreme Court affirmed the first-degree murder conviction of Adelio David Gallegos, Jr., rejecting his claims of insufficient evidence and prosecutorial misconduct in an unpublished decision filed December 4, 2025.

•Court rejected claims of insufficient evidence for willful and deliberate intent murder

•Supreme Court of Guam reversed criminal sexual conduct convictions and granted new trial

Supreme Court of Guam

Guam Supreme Court Grants New Trial in Sexual Conduct Case

The Supreme Court of Guam reversed criminal sexual conduct convictions against William Robert Reyes, finding the trial court abused its discretion by allowing cross-examination about a decades-old arrest. The court granted Reyes a new trial on his appeal from Superior Court.

•Trial court abused discretion by allowing cross-examination about 20-year-old arrest

•Arizona Supreme Court unanimously affirmed lower court ruling rejecting constitutional challenge to judicial retention election districts

Arizona Supreme Court

Arizona Supreme Court Upholds Judicial Retention Election Districts

The Arizona Supreme Court affirmed a lower court ruling in Knight v. Fontes, rejecting a constitutional challenge to the geographic voting districts used for court of appeals judge retention elections. The December 4, 2025 decision upholds Arizona's current system against claims it violates state constitutional equal protection provisions.

•Four Arizona voters challenged geographic voting districts for court of appeals judge retention elections under state constitutional equal protection provisions

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Dec 3, 2025•4 min read

Massachusetts High Court Rules on Ineffective Counsel in Plea Bargain Case

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court established new standards for ineffective assistance of counsel claims, ruling that attorneys who ignore client requests for plea negotiations may violate constitutional rights. The decision stems from a decades-old homicide case involving Gary E. Mosso.

•Supreme Judicial Court established new standard for ineffective counsel claims when attorneys ignore client requests for plea negotiations

•Two-part test requires showing attorney conduct was unreasonable and that prejudice resulted from failure to pursue requested plea bargains