Kansas: High court appeal raises issues over First Amendment
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Legal experts say a patient advocate’s challenge of a grand jury subpoena has First Amendment ramifications for journalists and public access to the courts.
The U.S. Supreme Court last week rejected a move by The Reporters’ Committee for Freedom of the Press to intercede in the sealed case.
However, the justices granted a separate motion to put redacted copies of the petition for judicial review in the public record until the court decides whether take the case and unseal the petition.
The appeal involves a challenge to a grand jury subpoena by Siobhan Reynolds, president of the Pain Relief Network.
Lucy Dalglish, executive director for The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, says her group sought to intercede to object to something making it to U.S. Supreme Court in secret.
Oklahoma: Pensions likely even if officers stand convicted
TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Five current and former Tulsa police officers indicted by a federal grand jury likely will receive their pensions of about $30,000 a year — even if convicted.
The five face charges that include civil rights violations, witness tampering and perjury. One has pleaded guilty while the others deny the allegations and face a Jan. 31 trial.
The Oklahoma Police Pension and Retirement System says a municipal officer’s pension can be withheld only if the officer is found to have stolen from the system. System director Steve Snyder told the
Tulsa World the pension could be withheld if a judge orders restitution — but he says that is rare.
Tulsa officers typically put 8 percent of their pay into the pension system and the city matches the amount. The officers become vested after 10 years.
Minnesota: More than 200 investors sue scammer for $17B
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The number of lawsuits against those who invested in Tom Petters alleged Ponzi scheme now totals more than 200.
The plaintiffs are seeking $17 billion from people who invested with the former Wayzata businessman, who’s serving a 50-year prison sentence.
A claim against J.P. Morgan alone totals more than $241 million. Another claim against GE tops $293 million.
It’s the first wave of lawsuits in the consolidated bankruptcy proceedings for Petters’ corporate estate.
The Star Tribune says the next wave of lawsuits will include professional groups that did business with Petters.
Pennsylvania: AWOL soldier’s lawyer claims rape by victim
GREENSBURG, Pa. (AP) — The attorney for an AWOL soldier charged with fatally stabbing a western Pennsylvania businessman says the victim raped his client when he was just a teen.
Westmoreland County Public Defender Dante Bertani has called family and friends to testify that his client, who grew up in Ligonier, began experimenting with alcohol and drugs and saw his grades plunge when he was 13 or 14 — about the time Bertani claims the defendant was raped William Jones.
Prosecutors claim the 20-year-old defendant murdered Jones while AWOL from Fort Hood, Texas in September 2008. Police say the defendant confessed to luring Jones into a sexual encounter so he could beat him up. Bertani says his client went on to kill Jones because of feelings stemming from the alleged rape.
Jones was never charged with raping the defendant. The Associated Press does not identify people who claim to be victims of sexual assault.
Indiana: Text messaging for protective order alerts
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Indiana residents who file requests for personal protection orders will get text message alerts when the orders are served and when they expire under a federally funded state program.
The text alerts are part of an overhaul to the Indiana Protective Order Registry. It’s funded with a $264,000 grant from the U.S. Justice Department, according to Indiana Chief Justice Randall Shepard and U.S. Rep. Andre Carson, D-Indianapolis.
The Evansville Courier & Press reported that other changes will include an online database available to the public and the printing of protective and no-contact orders in English and Spanish.
