Courts + Policing
Ketanji Brown Jackson wins bipartisan support for U.S. Supreme Court with Collins backing
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins will vote to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson to a seat on the Supreme Court, she said Wednesday, becoming the first Republican to pledge her support for President Joe Biden’s pick to replace retiring Associate Justice Stephen Breyer. Collins, of Maine, said in a statement Jackson had “sterling” academic and professional credentials. […]
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas pressed to recuse himself from Jan. 6 cases
Two dozen congressional Democrats are calling for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to recuse himself from cases involving the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, following revelations his wife communicated with the Trump White House about overturning the election. In addition, it appears likely that the U.S. House committee probing the attack will […]
U.S. Senate panel bickers over Supreme Court nomination but sets vote next week
The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee reopened partisan disagreements Monday as members scheduled a vote for April 4 on Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination to the Supreme Court. Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said Republicans’ criticisms of Jackson’s record and responses were either untrue or disingenuous. Meanwhile, ranking Republican Chuck Grassley of Iowa again raised process concerns. Jackson […]
Biden lays out a ‘fund the police’ budget plan
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is requesting billions in its fiscal 2023 budget from Congress to fund police departments, despite progressive Democrats’ calls for some of that spending to be reallocated to social services. President Joe Biden’s budget request to Congress unveiled Monday asks for $30 billion for state and local governments to add more […]
Idaho governor signs bill to shield lethal injection drug companies
Gov. Brad Little signed a bill late Wednesday afternoon granting confidentiality to suppliers and manufacturers of lethal injection drugs in Idaho. Opposition groups say it will likely be challenged in court. House Bill 658 extends legal protection to any person or business responsible for compounding, synthesizing, testing, selling, transporting, manufacturing, storing or prescribing the chemicals […]
Who can judge the judges? Idaho governor to consider a bill remaking the judicial council
The Idaho Senate on Thursday approved a bill that, if signed into law by Idaho Gov. Brad Little, will require major changes to the composition of Idaho’s judicial council and give the governor more authority over the judicial appointment process. The House quickly passed House Bill 782 after it was introduced last Wednesday, sending it […]
Bill to change the Idaho Judicial Council advances to Senate floor
Despite opposition from judges and attorneys from various corners of Idaho, and some hesitation from committee members, the Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee advanced a bill Wednesday that makes major changes to the Idaho Judicial Council. The council handles complaints against judicial members and guides the selection process for appointments when there is a judicial […]
Idaho Health and Welfare Director: The child welfare process explained
Given an increased interest in the child welfare system, I would like to share a bit of the process and the role of the Department of Health and Welfare. First, I need to be clear that specific child welfare cases are confidential, and we cannot release any details about specific cases. We often would like […]
Lethal injection confidentiality bill clears Idaho Senate, heads to governor’s desk
A bill granting confidentiality to suppliers and manufacturers of lethal injection drugs in Idaho passed the Idaho Senate on Friday in a 21-14 vote, with bipartisan opposition. It now heads to Gov. Brad Little’s desk for his signature or veto, having already passed the House of Representatives. House Bill 658 extends legal protection to any […]
Idaho House passes bill changing judicial appointment process
The Idaho House of Representatives passed a bill that makes systematic changes to the judicial appointment process on Friday, less than 48 hours after it was introduced and without input from the judiciary branch. House Bill 782 passed on a 44-24 vote, with bipartisan opposition and support. It makes several changes to the Idaho Judicial […]
Idaho House will hear bill making major changes to Idaho Judicial Council
The Idaho House Judiciary and Rules Committee sent a bill to the House floor on Thursday that makes major changes to the judicial appointment process less than a day after it was printed and without input from the judiciary branch. The committee voted 10-7 to send the bill to the floor without a recommendation as […]
BYU-I sexual abuse Title IX lawsuit moves forward after 6 years
A federal judge determined this month that the six-year-old lawsuit against Brigham Young University-Idaho, revolving around allegations of sexual impropriety, must move forward. A female student filed the lawsuit in 2016, alleging a professor was sexually harassing and abusing her at the university. The professor, Stephen Stokes, died in July 2016 due to complications during […]