Jessica M. Karmasek News
Hecht named Texas SC's next chief justice
AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) -- Gov. Rick Perry has appointed Justice Nathan Hecht as the Texas Supreme Court's next chief justice.
Report: Frosh first to file in Md. AG race
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Legal Newsline) -- Maryland Sen. Brian Frosh is the first to file papers to run for state attorney general.
Survey: Doctors believe Texas' professional liability climate has improved
AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) -- Doctors believe Texas' professional liability climate has improved in the last 10 years, according to a survey by the Texas Medical Association.
Survey: Majority of new law school graduates agree with Obama, favor two-year idea
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) -- A majority of newly minted law graduates agree with President Barack Obama's recent comments that law schools should consider cutting out the third year, according to a survey.
Chevron wants fraud trial to be held in two parts; says it's prepared to drop damages claims
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) -- In motions filed earlier this week, Chevron Corp. said it is prepared to drop its claim for money damages against two Ecuadorians and their U.S. lawyer.
W.Va. AG applauds FDA's decision to require new labels on opioid-based prescriptions
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) -- West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is right in its decision to change safety labels on extended-release and long-acting opioid analgesics.
Senate panel holds hearing on bill to create new federal judgeships
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- A hearing on legislation that would create 91 new federal judgeships in two federal circuits and 32 federal districts across 21 states was held Tuesday before a U.S. Senate subcommittee.
Okla. lawmakers send two dozen tort reform bills to governor following five-day session
OKLAHOMA CITY (Legal Newsline) -- Gov. Mary Fallin on Tuesday applauded state lawmakers for quickly passing a series of measures to rewrite Oklahoma's tort reform system.
Sen. Warren slams U.S. SC for being too far right, business-friendly
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) -- U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren this weekend slammed the U.S. Supreme Court for being too far right and too often siding with corporate America.
Report: Texas AG candidate says state could be 'independent'
AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) -- Barry Smitherman, a GOP candidate for Texas attorney general, raised some eyebrows for comments made last week regarding the state's potential to become independent.
Defense bar backs federal chief judges' request to restore budget cuts
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- DRI: The Voice of the Defense Bar, along with its Center for Law and Public Policy, has endorsed a letter sent by the chief judges of more than 80 federal district courts last month.
Report: Ariz. gaming director resigns, considering AG run
PHOENIX (Legal Newsline) -- Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne may have some competition for the GOP nomination.
Report: Del. SC chief justice to retire
WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) -- Delaware Supreme Court Chief Justice Myron Steele is leaving the bench.
Okla. AG files appeal for rehearing on regional haze decision
OKLAHOMA CITY (Legal Newsline) -- Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt has filed a request for a rehearing before the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit in its case against the Environmental Protection Agency's Regional Haze Rule.
Former Texas SC justices endorse Branch for AG
AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) -- Four former Texas Supreme Court justices last week endorsed state Rep. Dan Branch for attorney general.
Sixth Circuit upholds Michigan's open competition law
LANSING, Mich. (Legal Newsline) -- A federal appeals court, in a ruling Friday, upheld a Michigan law that allows contractors, regardless of union or non-union affiliation, to have equal access to bid for public project contracts.
Wyo. governor names new AG to replace Phillips
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Legal Newsline) -- Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead has named Peter Michael his new attorney general.
Ninth Circuit refuses to block foie gras ban
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) -- The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit last week refused to block a California law that bans the "force-feeding" of ducks or geese to make foie gras.
Insurer sues Whirlpool, parts supplier over water valves
MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) -- A Wisconsin insurer sued Whirlpool Corporation, along with a Texas-based parts supplier, in federal court last week, for money it paid out to several policyholders for water damages to their homes.
Defense bar files brief to U.S. SC in case over national security statute
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- DRI: The Voice of the Defense Bar has filed an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court, saying a state high court's ruling that a commercial airline is not entitled to immunity in a defamation lawsuit brought against it by one of its pilots should be reversed.