|
|
|
W.Va. court orders hearing over newspaper sources
Court Feed News |
2011/05/20 11:37
|
West Virginia's Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a newspaper in a dispute over confidential sources, but the decision will soon be eclipsed by a new state law barring disclosure of such sources in most cases.
The justices unanimously concluded earlier this month that Cabell County Circuit Judge Jane Hustead erred when she ordered the Lincoln Journal to reveal sources from a series of articles on Lincoln County's 2008 primary.
The Journal had reported on allegations that the publisher of a rival newspaper had funneled money through other individuals to a slate of candidates. Two of those contributors sued, alleging the series of articles were false and had defamed them.
The Supreme Court's May 2 ruling faulted Hustead for not following a standard set by a decision it issued in 1989. That standard says a reporter can't be compelled to reveal confidential sources "except upon a clear and specific showing that the information is highly material and relevant, necessary or critical to the maintenance of the claim, and not obtainable from other available sources."
Voiding Hustead's order, the justices required her to hold a hearing based on the 1989 standard. But while the Lincoln Journal's appeal was pending, the Legislature passed a law that replaces that standard. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
IMF chief resigns, will make new bid for bail
Court Feed News |
2011/05/19 16:02
|
Hours after Dominique Strauss-Kahn resigned from his post as manager of the International Monetary Fund -- saying he felt compelled to focus his energy on the sexual assault charges he faces -- the French politician will try to get out of jail.
Behind bars on New York's Rikers Island since Monday, the beleaguered former IMF chief returned to a Manhattan courthouse Thursday to again ask for bail on charges he sexually assaulted a hotel maid -- a move seemed certain to face vigorous opposition by prosecutors.
Late Wednesday, Strauss-Kahn resigned as managing director of the International Monetary Fund, according to a letter released by its executive board.
In the letter, Strauss-Kahn denied the allegations but said he felt compelled to resign with "great sadness" because he was thinking of his family and also wanted to protect the IMF.
In court papers filed by his defense team Wednesday, Strauss-Kahn said he had surrendered his passport and wouldn't flee the country. His attorneys proposed posting $1 million cash bail and confining him to the home of his daughter, Camille, a Columbia University graduate student, 24 hours a day with electronic monitoring. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Head of Delaware business court joining law firm
Attorneys News |
2011/05/19 13:58
|
The head of Delaware's Court of Chancery, a key venue for matters of corporate law, is taking a job with a California-based law firm.
Chancellor William Chandler III will join Palo Alto-based Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati on June 18. He had announced in April that he was retiring from the bench.
In a statement released by the firm Thursday, Chandler said Wilson Sonsini has an outstanding legal practice and one of the most enviable client bases in the nation.
Chandler has served on the chancery court since 1989 and was appointed to the top post of chancellor in 1997.
He has presided over many high-profile cases, involving companies such as Walt Disney Co., Yahoo Inc., Microsoft Corp., News Corp., eBay Inc., Citigroup Inc., Hewlett-Packard Co. and Dow Chemical Co. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
SD Supreme Court disciplines circuit judge
Legal Career News |
2011/05/19 11:24
|
The South Dakota Supreme Court has ruled that Circuit Judge A.P. "Pete" Fuller of Rapid City must retire or undergo a six-month suspension followed by strict probation for misconduct that involved mistreating lawyers, court personnel and others.
The Judicial Qualifications Commission had recommended that Fuller be removed from office or forced to retire because he repeatedly displayed a lack of courtesy and respect for lawyers and court staff.
The case marked the first time in the 121-year history of the South Dakota judicial system that the Supreme Court had been asked to remove a judge from the bench.
In a hearing last month, Fuller told the high court he is ashamed of his behavior but believes he could return to the bench and be an effective judge. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
4 ex-Auburn players indicted on felony charges
Criminal Law Updates |
2011/05/19 09:57
|
Four former Auburn football players have been indicted on felony robbery and burglary charges by a Lee County grand jury.
Court documents posted online Wednesday show that Michael McNeil, Antonio Goodwin, Shaun Kitchens and Dakota Mosley were indicted on five counts of first-degree robbery, one count of first-degree burglary and one count of misdemeanor third-degree theft of property.
They are scheduled for arraignment on May 26 in Lee County Circuit Court.
Mosley also faces a misdemeanor charge of conspiracy to hinder business.
The players were pulled over and arrested shortly after five occupants of a mobile home reported being robbed at gunpoint on March 11. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Phillips Lytle plans move to Donovan
Law Firm News |
2011/05/18 16:51
|
Law firm Phillips Lytle LLP confirmed Tuesday it has selected the former Donovan State Office Building as its lead choice for relocating, with Benderson Development Co. as the developer and the firm occupying about half of the building.
David McNamara, the firm's managing partner, said Benderson will be submitting an "adaptive re-use" proposal to the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. to convert the aging, vacant building at 125 Main St. into the law firm's new headquarters.
The plan comes in response to a request for proposals for Donovan issued by the harbor panel May 2. Responses are due by 4 p.m. June 30, with the preferred developer to be designated by July 18. The project must be completed by Jan. 1, 2014.
Eric Recoon, Benderson's vice president of leasing and development for the Northeast, confirmed the developer's plans but said he couldn't put a dollar value on it at this time. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recent Lawyer News Updates |
|
|
Lawyer News RSS
