Courts
Releasing suspects pretrial doesn’t lead to higher crime rates, experts say
Some states and jurisdictions are taking different approaches to cash bail.
States push ahead with social media laws amid legal challenges
Utah delayed its efforts for litigation purposes, while a judge blocked an Ohio law. But that hasn’t stopped other states, most recently Idaho and New York, from introducing their own restrictions to protect minors.
Shortage of prosecutors, judges leads to widespread court backlogs
The pandemic worsened problems that already had caused state and local court delays.
Why the 14th Amendment bars Trump from office: A constitutional law scholar explains principle behind Colorado Supreme Court ruling
COMMENTARY | Colorado’s Supreme Court has removed Donald Trump from the state’s 2024 presidential ballot. A scholar of constitutional law explains why.
High fees, long waits cast shadow over new criminal expungement laws
A clear record helps people seeking employment, housing and education.
Cash bail policies are under fresh scrutiny
Some places have done away with the system, while others are considering stricter guidelines.
No longer above the fray, state supreme courts pulled into overtly political conflicts
The courts have become top-tier targets for party leaders, often considered the key to unlocking control of state legislatures, gubernatorial mansions and even Congress.
Police resistance and politics undercut the authority of prosecutors trying to reform the justice system
After major American cities began electing prosecutors who campaigned on the promise of systemic reform, law enforcement unions labeled these DAs as soft on crime while lawmakers made legal and legislative efforts to remove them from office.
California officials seek ‘care’ without coercion as new mental health courts launch this fall
Under the new system, family members and first responders can ask county judges to order people with psychotic illness into treatment, even if they are not unhoused or haven’t committed a crime.
What the police raid of a Kansas newspaper says about government and the press
The raid sparked coast-to-coast outrage, but it also raised concerns about the eroding relationship between government officials and the reporters who cover them. Plus, more news to use from around the country in this week's State and Local Roundup.
States Grapple with the Death Penalty
As it becomes harder and harder to obtain the drugs involved in lethal injections, most states are pausing executions and others are turning to older methods, such as firing squads.
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