Legal News

‘Tough-On-Crime’ Policies Are Back In Some Places That Had Reimagined Criminal Justice

Published by Nikki Palmer on Fri, 03/22/2024 - 5:00am

Fueled by public outrage over the 2020 murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer and other high-profile incidents of police violence, a seismic shift swept across the United States shortly afterward, with a wave of initiatives aimed at reining in police powers and reimagining criminal-legal systems.

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Omaha Businessman Pleads Guilty To Selling Unregistered ‘Anti-Microbial’ Falsely Marketed As Effective Against Covid-19

Published by Nikki Palmer on Fri, 03/22/2024 - 4:00am

LINCOLN — An Omaha businessman pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges of mail fraud and selling an unregistered pesticide for marketing a product it falsely claimed was “EPA-approved” and effective against the COVID virus.

Matthew Petersen, 39, of Omaha, the president of Quin Global, is scheduled to be sentenced along with his company on July 19 before U.S. District Judge Robert Rossiter.

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Biden Cannot Easily Make Roe V. Wade Federal Law, But He Could Still Make It Easier To Get An Abortion

Published by Nikki Palmer on Fri, 03/22/2024 - 3:00am

President Joe Biden promised during his State of the Union address on March 7, 2024, that he would make the right to get an abortion a federal law.

“If you, the American people, send me a Congress that supports the right to choose, I promise you I will restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land again,” Biden said.

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Growing Secrecy Limits Government Accountability

Published by Nikki Palmer on Fri, 03/15/2024 - 8:32am

When I started covering crime as a reporter for small newspapers in the 1980s, I was assigned to walk to the police department lobby each morning and look through all of the previous day’s police reports, clipped to a board on the counter, containing all the details laid out for anyone to see. We were able to report to the community each day on the major events in town – to explain why people heard sirens, or saw a smoke plume.

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Veto Of Syringe Services Programs Sustained

Published by Nikki Palmer on Fri, 03/15/2024 - 8:27am

An attempt to override the governor’s veto of a bill allowing local jurisdictions to implement Syringe Services Programs fell short March 12.

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Gov. Pillen Approves Nebraska Gender Care Regulations

Published by Nikki Palmer on Fri, 03/15/2024 - 8:26am

LINCOLN — Gov. Jim Pillen approved the final rules and regulations for Nebraska’s gender care law Tuesday, ending the administrative process as a legal challenge continues to play out.

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The Honorable Judge Vaughn Draws His Passion From Community

Published by Nikki Palmer on Fri, 03/15/2024 - 8:24am

A robing ceremony was held for the Hon. Judge Derek Vaughn, Douglas County District, 4th Judicial District of Nebraska, at the Omaha Douglas Civic Center, Legislative Chambers on Friday, February 23, 2024. Judiciary introductions and opening remarks were given by Donald W. Kleine, Douglas County Attorney. Judge Vernon Daniels, Douglas County Separate Juvenile Court, performed the robing ceremony.

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What Happens When Prosecutors Offer Opposing Versions Of The Truth?

Published by jason@omahadail... on Fri, 03/01/2024 - 5:00am

An unusual recent court decision offered harsh criticism of a behavior that has left dozens of men condemned to death since the 1970s, spotlighting cases where prosecutors offered claims that contradicted what they said elsewhere.
(Shutterstock)

When Baltimore police arrested Keyon Paylor in 2014, one of two things was true.

Either Paylor hid a gun that the police found, or the police planted the gun and framed Paylor.

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Bail Clampdowns Don’t Match What Research Says About Suspects, Experts Say

Published by jason@omahadail... on Fri, 03/01/2024 - 3:00am

An inmate stands inside an isolation cell at the Dane County Jail in Madison, Wis. Some states have moved away from the use of pretrial money bonds, but others are implementing stricter rules.
(Morry Gash / AP Photo)

Crime is shaping up as a potent election issue, and one of the key points of debate is over bail: Which suspects should be jailed before trial, and which ones should be released on bond — and for how much money?

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Labor Court Sides With The State On Latest Legal Volley In Remote Work Case

Published by jason@omahadail... on Fri, 02/23/2024 - 2:00am

LINCOLN — A state labor court on Friday sided with the State of Nebraska, which had balked at an employee union’s request to provide records the state said could potentially cost over $1 million to produce.