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Criminal Law
Criminal justice is administered primarily at the state and county level. The vast majority of incarcerated people in the United States are in county and state custody. Constitutional challenges in state courts usually focus on the rights of defendants and incarcerated people.
These cases can address criminal procedure and due process, search and seizure, the right to counsel and a jury trial, criminal jury rights, the right against self-incrimination, bail and excessive fees and fines, admissibility of evidence, sentencing, the death penalty, police misconduct, prison conditions, and habeas.
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A Conversation with Michigan Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Welch
Justice Elizabeth Welch was elected to the Michigan Supreme Court in 2020 and took the bench in January 2021. In her interview, Welch discusses the challenges of artificial intelligence, Michigan’s protection of natural resources, and the potential value in career disappointments.
State Court Oral Arguments to Watch for in March
Issues on the dockets include mid-decade redistricting, ghost guns, a challenge to a DOJ request for voter data, gender-affirming care for minors, and SpaceX rocket launches.
Arrest of Black Pastor for Refusing to Show ID Reaches Alabama Supreme Court
A federal trial court asked the state high court to weigh in on whether police violated the law when they arrested a man who was watering his neighbors’ garden.
Ohio Supreme Court Reaffirms Text-First Approach in Decision Confirming Marsy’s Law Includes Police Officers
The court held that police officers can be considered “victims” under laws that give crime victims special protections.
State Supreme Court Races to Watch in 2026
More than thirty states will hold elections for supreme court seats this year, including Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Montana where court decisions have been political flashpoints.
The Next Wave of Legislative Assaults on State Courts
Utah’s rush to add seats to its supreme court signals a major escalation in legislative tactics to curb judicial independence.
Florida High Court to Hear Arguments in Politicized “Voter Fraud” Case
The case challenges Gov. Ron DeSantis’s prosecutions of people with felony convictions who thought they were eligible to vote.
State Court Oral Arguments to Watch for in February
Issues on the dockets include affirmative action, partisan gerrymandering, unaffordable bail, and juryless agency trials.