Verdict . News

Supreme Court of Missouri

Aug 12, 2025•4 min read

Missouri Supreme Court Dismisses Prison Worker Discrimination Appeal

The Missouri Supreme Court dismissed an appeal in *Carter v. Missouri Department of Corrections*, ruling the circuit court's judgment was not final because it failed to address all requested relief. The case involved age and disability discrimination claims by a deceased prison employee's estate.

•Missouri Supreme Court dismissed appeal due to incomplete circuit court judgment

•Case involved age and disability discrimination by deceased prison employee against Missouri Department of Corrections

Supreme Court of Missouri

Aug 12, 2025•4 min read

Missouri Supreme Court Dismisses Appeal in Employment Discrimination Case

The Missouri Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by former Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission employee Kevin Rhodes, who challenged the constitutionality of damages caps under the Missouri Human Rights Act after winning a jury verdict for hostile work environment and retaliation claims.

•Missouri Supreme Court dismissed appeal due to incomplete judgment that failed to address equitable relief and prejudgment interest

•Kevin Rhodes won jury verdict against Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission for hostile work environment and retaliation

Supreme Court of Missouri

Aug 12, 2025•4 min read

Missouri Supreme Court Affirms Murder Conviction in Greene County Case

The Missouri Supreme Court rejected Dustin Curtis Winter's appeal of his first-degree murder and kidnapping convictions, finding sufficient evidence supported the jury's verdict. The court remanded the case only to correct a discrepancy between written and oral sentencing.

•Winter was convicted of first-degree murder and kidnapping in Greene County Circuit Court

•Missouri Supreme Court rejected his insufficient evidence argument and affirmed convictions

Aug 11, 2025•4 min read

•Court examined whether 1997 Parole Act amendment violated ex post facto protections when applied to pre-1997 crimes

NJ Supreme Court Rules on Ex Post Facto Challenge to Parole Review

The New Jersey Supreme Court decided a constitutional challenge regarding the State Parole Board's authority to consider all available information about inmates during parole hearings. Fred Krug, incarcerated since 1973, argued that applying a 1997 amendment expanding review powers violated ex post facto protections.

•Fred Krug, incarcerated since 1973, challenged Board's consideration of all records rather than just new information

Aug 7, 2025•4 min read

•New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously ruled false light invasion of privacy claims must be filed within one year

NJ Supreme Court: False Light Privacy Claims Face One-Year Filing Limit

The New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously ruled that false light invasion of privacy claims must be filed within one year, aligning them with defamation claims rather than personal injury lawsuits. The decision emerged from a case involving false drug dealing accusations at a school basketball game.

•The decision aligns false light claims with defamation lawsuits rather than personal injury cases

•Arizona Supreme Court unanimously affirmed lower court ruling in consolidated election law case

Aug 6, 2025•4 min read

Arizona Supreme Court

Arizona Supreme Court Affirms Election Law Ruling in Smith v. Fontes

The Arizona Supreme Court unanimously affirmed a lower court decision in Smith v. Fontes, a consolidated election law case involving multiple plaintiffs who challenged state election procedures. The August 6, 2025 ruling upheld the Maricopa County Superior Court's decision in favor of election officials.

•Multiple plaintiffs including political organizations challenged state election procedures

Aug 6, 2025•4 min read

•New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously established the standard of review for Graves Act waiver denial challenges

NJ Supreme Court Sets Standard for Graves Act Waiver Review

The New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously established the appropriate standard of review for challenging a prosecutor's denial of a Graves Act waiver in *State v. Delshon J. Taylor Jr.* The decision clarifies how courts should evaluate prosecutorial discretion in mandatory minimum gun sentencing cases.

•Case involved defendant who fled police while carrying loaded semi-automatic handgun with hollow point bullets

Aug 5, 2025•4 min read

•New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously ruled enhanced weapons charges under N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5(j) don't trigger Graves Act parole restrictions

NJ Supreme Court: Enhanced Gun Possession Charges Not Subject to Graves Act

The New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously ruled in State v. Cromedy that defendants convicted under an enhanced weapons possession statute are not subject to mandatory parole disqualification under the Graves Act. The decision clarifies sentencing requirements for repeat weapons offenders.

•Court distinguished between underlying weapons offenses and enhanced provisions for repeat offenders

•Arizona Supreme Court affirmed Jasper Phillip Rushing's death sentence for murdering cellmate at Lewis Prison Complex

Aug 5, 2025•4 min read

Arizona Supreme Court

Arizona Supreme Court Affirms Death Sentence for Jasper Rushing

The Arizona Supreme Court affirmed the death sentence for Jasper Phillip Rushing, who was convicted of first-degree murder for killing his cellmate at Lewis Prison Complex in 2010. This marks the second time Rushing received the death penalty after the court vacated his original sentence in 2017.

•This is the second death sentence - the first was vacated in 2017 requiring a penalty phase retrial