North Carolina: Family of 1790 jurist fights for documents
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The family of one of the first U.S. Supreme Court justices is demanding cash or the return of the 18th Century jurist’s letters from the state archives where they’ve been for a century.
The News & Observer of Raleigh reported Monday that a lawsuit in Superior Court demands the Department of Cultural Resources return the documents written by James Iredell.
The papers have been in the state’s hands since 1910, but eight of Iredell’s 21st Century descendants point to letters that indicate the documents were loaned and not donated.
George Washington nominated Iredell to the Supreme Court when it was in its infancy in 1790. He died nine years later, leaving behind a 10-year-old son with the same name who became a U.S. senator and North Carolina’s 23rd governor.
Vermont: Murderer’s kosher appeal denied
RUTLAND, Vt. (AP) — The Vermont Supreme Court has rejected the appeal of a convicted murderer who complained that the Florida jail where he’s housed does not serve him kosher food.
The Rutland Herald says last week’s decision by a three-judge panel affirms a lower court’s decision rejecting Charles Gundlah’s complaint that the state was bound to provide for his dietary preferences. The former Brattleboro man was convicted of killing a Newfane schoolteacher in 1992.
Gundlah is a practicing Jew and has requested kosher meals from jail officials in Florida, where he was transferred in 1998. But Florida jails prohibit kosher meals for security and economic reasons. Instead, their jails eliminated pork and pork products.
Massachusetts: Former police sergeant’s corruption trial set
STOUGHTON, Mass. (AP) — A former Massachusetts police sergeant whose corruption conviction was overturned by the state’s highest court is set to be retried in February.
Former Stoughton police Sgt. David Cohen’s trial, first scheduled for November, was postponed and is now set to start Feb. 7.
Cohen was convicted in 2007 of charges including witness intimidation and the attempted extortion of a town businessman.
The Supreme Judicial Court overturned the conviction in January. It said Cohen’s right to a public trial were violated because the media, his friends and family were not allowed in the court during jury selection.
Connecticut: Man to stand trial in store owner’s death
NEW LONDON, Conn. (AP) — Officials say a January trial date has been set for a Connecticut man charged with gunning down a popular New London store owner.
Jury selection recently concluded in the case of 24-year-old Gary Clarke. He is set to stand trial starting Jan. 5 in New London Superior Court.
Police say Clarke shot and killed 46-year-old Jared Silva during a robbery outside Silva’s package store in October 2007. Clarke has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and attempted robbery with a weapon.
Silva’s customers and friends held vigils in his memory and collected thousands of dollars in donations as a reward for information in his killing.
Washington: Legal group sues Kitsap clerk over reduced hours
BREMERTON, Wash. (AP) — A group that provides legal services to the poor is suing the Kitsap County Clerk’s Office, claiming its plan to cut its hours violates a state court rule.
Kitsap Legal Services says the rule requires clerks’ offices to be open during business hours, and that the planned Friday afternoon closure of the Kitsap County Clerk’s Office would limit access to justice for the county’s low-income residents.
The Kitsap Sun reports that the group’s lawyer, Thomas Weaver, argued that cutting the hours would especially endanger victims of domestic violence who try to obtain emergency protection orders before a weekend.
Kitsap County Clerk Dave Peterson declined to comment because the litigation is ongoing. But Peterson did previously tell the newspaper that his employees would accommodate emergency court orders.
The lawsuit was filed in Pierce County Superior Court.
