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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
Arkansas Supreme Court

Arkansas Supreme Court Proposes Rule Limiting Medical Cost Evidence

The Arkansas Supreme Court has proposed a new evidentiary rule that would restrict what medical cost evidence can be presented in personal injury lawsuits. The proposed Rule 412 would only allow evidence of costs actually paid or legally owed, potentially reducing damage awards by excluding inflated medical bills.

•Proposed Rule 412 would only allow evidence of medical costs actually paid or legally owed in Arkansas courts
•The rule responds to 2025 legislative changes and aims to prevent recovery based on inflated medical bills
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State Court
•4 min read
New Mexico Supreme Court

New Mexico High Court Affirms Murder Conviction in Valdez Case

The New Mexico Supreme Court affirmed Steven Valdez's convictions for first-degree murder and related charges, rejecting his claims that the trial court improperly admitted evidence of prior bad acts against victim Brittney Skaggs. The court also upheld the denial of Valdez's motions to substitute appointed counsel.

•Steven Valdez was convicted of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and aggravated fleeing from law enforcement
•The New Mexico Supreme Court rejected Valdez's claim that prior bad acts evidence was improperly admitted at trial
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State Court
•2 min read
Arkansas Supreme Court

Arkansas Supreme Court Affirms Life Sentence for 12-Year-Old Murderer

The Arkansas Supreme Court has affirmed a life sentence for Ayden Merrell, who was convicted of capital murder and aggravated robbery for killing a convenience store clerk when he was 12 years old. The court rejected Merrell's appeal arguing he should not have been sentenced as an adult.

•Arkansas Supreme Court affirmed life sentence for Ayden Merrell, who killed convenience store clerk Christa Shockley when he was 12 years old
•Court rejected Merrell's appeal arguing he should not have been sentenced as an adult for capital murder and aggravated robbery
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State Court
•4 min read
Idaho Supreme Court

Idaho Supreme Court Denies Writ of Prohibition Against Tax Commission

The Idaho Supreme Court denied a petition for writ of prohibition filed by education groups and advocacy organizations challenging the Idaho State Tax Commission's authority. The coalition of petitioners, including the Idaho Education Association and school districts, sought to limit the commission's powers through constitutional protections.

•Idaho Supreme Court denied writ of prohibition against State Tax Commission
•Coalition included education groups, school districts, parents, and constitutional advocacy organizations
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State Court
•4 min read
Supreme Court of Hawaii

Hawaii Supreme Court Accepts Retirement Benefits Case Against State ERS

The Hawaii Supreme Court has accepted a writ of certiorari in *Martell v. Employee Retirement System*, bringing a dispute over state employee retirement benefits to the state's highest court. The case involves Linda S. Martell challenging decisions made by Hawaii's Employee Retirement System and its Board of Trustees.

•Hawaii Supreme Court accepted certiorari petition filed December 8, 2025
•Case involves dispute between state employee Linda Martell and Hawaii Employee Retirement System
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State Court
•4 min read
Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

Maine High Court Affirms Solar Project Deadline Denial

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court unanimously affirmed the Public Utilities Commission's denial of Ellsworth ME Solar's petition for a good cause exemption from the 2024 Commercial Operation Date deadline under Maine's Net Energy Billing statute. The court also upheld the Commission's refusal to reopen the record in the case.

•Maine Supreme Judicial Court unanimously affirmed PUC's denial of deadline extension for Ellsworth ME Solar
•Case involves Commercial Operation Date requirements under Maine's Net Energy Billing statute
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State Court
•4 min read
Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

Maine Supreme Court Upholds Double Murder Conviction of Aaron Aldrich

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court affirmed Aaron Aldrich's conviction on two counts of intentional murder and illegal firearm possession, rejecting his claims that evidentiary rulings and jury instructions deprived him of a fair trial. The court issued its decision on February 5, 2026.

•Maine Supreme Judicial Court affirmed Aaron Aldrich's conviction on two murder counts and illegal firearm possession
•Court rejected claims that evidentiary rulings and suppressed statements deprived defendant of fair trial
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State Court
•4 min read
Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

Maine Supreme Court Dismisses DNA Cold Case Appeal as Premature

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court dismissed Jason J. Follette's appeal challenging the prosecution of 1996 sexual assault and burglary charges. The court ruled the appeal was interlocutory and did not meet exceptions to the final judgment rule.

•Court dismissed appeal as interlocutory, ruling Follette must wait until after final judgment to challenge prosecution
•State filed DNA 'John Doe' charges in 2002, just days before statute of limitations expired on 1996 crimes
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State Court
•4 min read
Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

Maine Supreme Court Overturns Murder Conviction Over Footprint Evidence

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court vacated Kailie Brackett's murder conviction and ordered a new trial, ruling that the trial court improperly admitted expert testimony about a partial footprint found at the crime scene where victim Kimberly Neptune was stabbed 484 times.

•Maine Supreme Judicial Court vacated Kailie Brackett's murder conviction due to improper admission of footprint expert testimony
•Victim Kimberly Neptune was found stabbed 484 times in her apartment in April 2022
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State Court
•4 min read
Delaware Supreme Court

Delaware Supreme Court Reverses DUI Case, Allows Partial Expungement

The Delaware Supreme Court unanimously reversed a lower court decision and ruled that Joseph Cornette can seek expungement of his pardoned assault conviction despite having a related DUI conviction that cannot be expunged. The case clarifies Delaware law on partial expungement following gubernatorial pardons.

•Delaware Supreme Court unanimously reversed Superior Court ruling denying expungement petition
•Court held that pardoned convictions can be expunged even when other charges from same case are ineligible
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