Litigation Newsletters

Drug Courts
 
Drug-related crimes are widespread, and specialized courts have been set up to deal with drug cases. Drugs courts recognize the connection between addiction and criminal behavior. Many addicts commit crimes to get money to support their drug habits. Drug courts use a therapeutic justice model, which includes treatment services to address defendants' substance abuse problems. Almost all states currently have drug courts, and some states have set up juvenile drug courts to handle delinquency cases involving juveniles with substance abuse issues.More...
 
Discretionary Review of a State Court Decision
 
Generally, a litigant can file an appeal of a state trial court's final decision as a matter of right. The appeal is filed with the intermediate appellate court of the state. There is a distinction between mandatory review by the court of appeals and discretionary review by the state's highest court. A litigant is not entitled to a second appeal as of right to the supreme court.More...
 
The Courts and Community Relations
 
A 1999 national survey conducted by the National Center for States Courts in Williamsburg, Virginia, revealed that almost half of all American citizens thought the courts were out of touch with the surrounding community. This number increased to two-thirds among African-Americans who were surveyed. As a result, collaborative programs between the community and state courts are becoming more common. The goal is to foster the average citizen's understanding of the judiciary and to build public trust in the court system. More...
 
Relief from a Judgment in a Civil Lawsuit
 
In Ohio and some other states, a judgment is final 30 days after it is entered in a case. Is it possible to get any relief from the judgment after the 30-day period has expired? This article discusses reasons for setting aside, reopening, correcting, or obtaining judicial relief from a final judgment.More...
 
Federal Court of Appeals Judges
 
The federal court system has an intermediate level appellate court, which is called the court of appeals. The President of the United States appoints all federal judges, including federal court of appeals judges. However, the United States Senate has to confirm each appointment. Federal judges are appointed for life. More...
 

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