All articles tagged with #missouri supreme court
Originally Published 13 days ago — by STLPR
The Missouri Supreme Court unanimously removed Judge Michael Thornhill from the bench for making political statements in court, failing to maintain decorum, and dressing as Elvis Presley, which compromised the dignity of his judicial office.
Originally Published 7 months ago — by The 19th News
The Missouri Supreme Court ordered a judge to lift an injunction that had blocked abortion restrictions, effectively reinstating a de facto abortion ban across the state, leading to the cancellation of appointments and sparking ongoing legal and political debates over reproductive rights.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The Associated Press
The Missouri Supreme Court has unanimously struck down a law that threatened homeless individuals with jail time for sleeping on state land, ruling that it violated the state constitution. The law, which also addressed city and county governance and banned COVID-19 vaccine mandates for public workers, has been deemed "invalid in its entirety." As a result, homeless people will no longer face jail time or fines for sleeping on state land without permission, and vaccine mandates for public workers are now allowed in Missouri. The law had also redirected state funding away from permanent housing for the homeless, sparking criticism from advocates who argued that affordable housing is the real issue. The court ruling did not discuss the potential impact of the homelessness policy but focused on the law's violation of the constitution.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by KCTV 5
The Missouri Supreme Court has unanimously dismissed class-action lawsuits filed by property owners against Jackson County and Tyler Technologies. The lawsuits alleged that the county's actions resulted in unlawful increases to assessed property values and that the technology company violated its contractual obligations. The court ruled that the taxpayers failed to exhaust available administrative remedies before filing the suit and that Tyler Technologies did not owe a duty of care to taxpayers.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Yahoo News
The Missouri Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal by Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft regarding the wording of a ballot question on abortion access in the state. Ashcroft had proposed asking voters whether they are in favor of allowing "dangerous and unregulated abortions until live birth," but a state appeals court deemed the wording politically partisan. The decision comes as advocates on both sides grapple with how to word the question that could go on the ballot. In all seven states where abortion has been on the ballot since Roe v. Wade was struck down, voters have either supported protecting abortion rights or rejected attempts to erode them.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Missouri Independent
The Missouri Supreme Court has rejected Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft's appeal to defend his ballot summary for initiative petitions seeking to legalize abortion in the state constitution. Ashcroft's summaries were criticized for containing politically partisan language, and the court upheld a previous decision in favor of the ACLU and physician Anna Fitz-James, who challenged the language. Ashcroft argued that his summaries accurately reflected the petitions' scope, but the court disagreed. Proponents of the abortion initiatives have not yet announced which version they will move forward with in collecting signatures. Another attempt to get abortion on the 2024 ballot has been filed by Jamie Corey, who is also suing Ashcroft over the ballot summary for her original initiative petitions.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by KMOV4
Governor Mike Parson has appointed Judge Ginger Gooch as a Missouri Supreme Court Judge, filling the vacancy left by Judge Patricia Breckenridge's retirement. This appointment establishes a female majority on the state's highest court for the first time in history. Gooch previously served on the Southern District Court of Appeals and has a background in law and rhetoric. Her swearing-in date has yet to be determined, but Missouri law requires it to be within 30 days of her appointment.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Missouri Independent
The Missouri Supreme Court has upheld the convictions of two single mothers who were charged with violating the state's compulsory attendance law after their children missed school without a documented illness. The court ruled that the unexcused absences violated state law, stating that regular attendance is required and that the school's policy of 90% attendance is of little relevance. The ruling affirms the decisions of the lower courts, with one mother spending seven days in jail and the other receiving two years of probation.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by ABC News
The Missouri Supreme Court has ordered the Republican attorney general to step aside and allow an initiative petition to legalize abortion in the state to proceed. The court upheld a lower court's decision that the attorney general must approve the cost estimate provided by the auditor, despite his claims that the cost could be significantly higher. The attorney general's refusal to act has hindered the collection of voter signatures needed to put the amendment on the ballot. The court's ruling means the amendment can now move forward in the process.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The Associated Press
The Missouri Supreme Court has ordered the Republican attorney general, Andrew Bailey, to stand down and allow an initiative petition to legalize abortion in the state to move forward. The court unanimously affirmed a lower court's decision that Bailey must approve the cost estimate provided by the auditor, despite his insistence that the cost to taxpayers could be much higher. Bailey's refusal to approve the estimate has prevented the amendment from receiving the necessary approval to gather voter signatures. The proposed amendment would enshrine the individual right to make decisions about abortion, childbirth, and birth control in the state constitution.