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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
Supreme Court of South Dakota

South Dakota Supreme Court Issues Mixed Ruling in Construction Dispute

The South Dakota Supreme Court partially affirmed and partially reversed a lower court decision in a complex construction dispute between RTI Holdings and multiple engineering and equipment companies. The case involved claims against Pro Engineering, DesignArc Group, and three other defendants in what appears to be a commercial construction project gone wrong.

•South Dakota Supreme Court partially affirmed and partially reversed lower court decision in construction dispute
•Case involved RTI Holdings against five defendant companies including Pro Engineering, DesignArc Group, and Trane U.S.
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State Court
•4 min read
Supreme Court of Minnesota

Minnesota Supreme Court Rules Election Challenge Moot in Rice County Case

The Minnesota Supreme Court affirmed a lower court's dismissal of a nonprofit's challenge seeking to prevent Rice County from using electronic voting equipment with embedded modems during the 2022 general election. The court ruled the case was moot since the election had already occurred.

•Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that a nonprofit's challenge to Rice County's use of electronic voting equipment was moot since the 2022 election had already occurred
•Benda for Common-sense sought to prevent the use of embedded modems in voting equipment under Minnesota Statutes section 204B.44
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State Court
•4 min read
Supreme Court of Minnesota

Minnesota Supreme Court Clarifies DWI Test Refusal Standards

The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that DWI test refusal convictions require defendants to refuse the specific type of chemical test authorized by warrant. The court also affirmed that test refusal convictions based on warranted chemical tests do not violate Fourth Amendment protections.

•Court requires defendants refuse the specific chemical test type authorized by warrant, not just any test
•Test refusal convictions based on warranted chemical tests do not violate Fourth Amendment protections
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State Court
•4 min read
Wisconsin Supreme Court

Wisconsin Supreme Court Revokes Attorney License After Minnesota Disbarment

The Wisconsin Supreme Court revoked attorney Michael B. Padden's law license in November 2025 as reciprocal discipline following his disbarment by the Minnesota Supreme Court in August 2024. The decision demonstrates how attorney discipline crosses state lines through reciprocal enforcement mechanisms.

•Wisconsin Supreme Court revoked Michael B. Padden's law license as reciprocal discipline following Minnesota disbarment
•Padden was admitted to Wisconsin bar in 2002 and Minnesota bar in 1986 with no prior Wisconsin discipline
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State Court
•4 min read
Supreme Court of South Carolina

SC Supreme Court Affirms Attorney General's Private Law Firm Deals

The South Carolina Supreme Court affirmed a lower court's dismissal of a challenge to Attorney General Alan Wilson's authority to hire private law firms on contingency fee arrangements. The court sided with Wilson after he paid $75 million in fees following a $600 million settlement with the federal government.

•South Carolina Supreme Court affirmed dismissal of challenge to Attorney General's contingency fee agreements with private firms
•Attorney General Alan Wilson paid $75 million in fees to private firms after $600 million federal settlement over plutonium materials
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State Court
•4 min read
Supreme Court of South Dakota

South Dakota Supreme Court Suspends Attorney Tucker Volesky for 30 Days

The South Dakota Supreme Court suspended attorney Tucker Volesky's law license for 30 days and placed him on probation after finding he violated professional conduct rules in lawsuit handling and trust account management. The discipline follows formal proceedings initiated by the State Bar's Disciplinary Board.

•South Dakota Supreme Court suspended Tucker Volesky's law license for 30 days with at least six months probation
•Violations involved improper handling of lawsuits and law firm trust account management
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State Court
•2 min read
Texas Supreme Court

Texas Supreme Court Overturns Estate Ruling Over Improper Expert Testimony

The Texas Supreme Court reversed a lower court decision in an estate case, ruling that a former family court judge improperly testified as an expert witness on whether the parties had an informal marriage. The court found the testimony inappropriate and harmful, warranting a new trial.

•Former family court judge improperly testified as expert witness on informal marriage issue in estate case
•Texas Supreme Court found expert's testimony inappropriate because evidence was within ordinary understanding
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State Court
•4 min read
Supreme Court of New Hampshire

NH Supreme Court Vacates Guardianship Order for Lack of Jurisdiction

The New Hampshire Supreme Court vacated a guardianship order for K.S., ruling that the trial court lacked jurisdiction over the proceeding. The court remanded the case with instructions to dismiss the petition filed by One Sky Community Services.

•New Hampshire Supreme Court vacated guardianship order for lack of jurisdiction
•K.S. had been living in Maine since 2019, creating jurisdictional complications
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State Court
•4 min read
Utah Supreme Court

Utah Supreme Court Issues Amended Opinion in Menzies Capital Case

The Utah Supreme Court has issued an amended opinion in the capital case of *State of Utah v. Ralph Leroy Menzies*, granting the state's petition for rehearing in part and removing a section from the original ruling. The amended decision, filed Nov. 6, 2025, represents a development in the long-running death penalty case.

•Utah Supreme Court grants state's petition for rehearing in limited scope
•Court removes entire section V from original opinion and revises key paragraphs
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State Court
•4 min read
Utah Supreme Court

Utah Supreme Court Upholds Rape Conviction, Limits Post-Conviction Motions

The Utah Supreme Court affirmed Brian Newton's conviction for aggravated sexual assault and aggravated assault while establishing new precedent on post-conviction procedures. The court ruled that post-conviction petitioners cannot file summary judgment motions under current rules.

•Utah Supreme Court unanimously upheld Brian Newton's conviction for aggravated sexual assault and aggravated assault involving rape at gunpoint
•Court established that post-conviction petitioners generally cannot file summary judgment motions under current Utah law
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