National Roundup

Virginia
Lawyer cuts client free from felony charge linked to razor
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — A Virginia man avoided a felony conviction after his lawyer discovered the man’s utility knife is not a weapon under state law.

The Virginian-Pilot reports 52-year-old Cordell Davis had already pleaded guilty to being a felon possessing a weapon when public defender Armon “A.J.” Pollock was assigned to his case in Norfolk.

Prior to sentencing, Pollock reviewed the case and saw the weapon in question was a folded utility knife equipped with a razor blade.

While a razor can be considered a weapon, the Virginia Supreme Court ruled in 2007 that retractable razor blades loaded into a box cutter or utility knife are not considered weapons.

Pollock approached prosecutors and reworked Davis’ guilty plea last week to eliminate the felony charge, leaving only misdemeanors for marijuana possession and disorderly conduct.

North Dakota
Medical marijuana not precluded by state farm law
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem says North Dakota’s law banning corporate farming won’t preclude horticulture operations that grow medical marijuana.

North Dakota bars corporations from owning and operating farms, to protect the state’s family farming heritage. There are exceptions, and the Health Department recently asked Stenehjem if medical marijuana growers will be exempt.

Stenehjem says the Legislature didn’t specifically exempt medical marijuana production from the legal definition of “farming or ranching.” But he says there’s nothing in law requiring a medical marijuana operation to be on agricultural land. The law requires medical marijuana to be produced in a closed, locked facility.

The Health Department is developing a program for the drug approved by voters in 2016. Two manufacturers will be registered. Potential growers have until April 19 to apply.

Minnesota
Minneapolis police toughen body camera rules
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Police in Minneapolis are announcing new steps to make sure officers use body cameras in the wake of last summer’s fatal shooting of an unarmed Australian woman who had called 911.

The new requirements will include stricter requirements for activation and progressive discipline for officers who don’t do it. Chief Medaria Arradondo and Mayor Jacob Frey were unveiling the plan Wednesday.

The department was strongly criticized after last July’s fatal shooting of Justine Ruszczyk Damond because the officers involved hadn’t activated their cameras. Performance is still lackluster nine months after the department tried to address the issue.

The new rules require officers to activate their cameras at least two blocks away, or immediately if dispatched to a closer incident.

Maryland
Baltimore seeks U.S. Supreme Court review of abortion ruling
BALTIMORE (AP) — Attorneys in Baltimore are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a ruling that struck down as unconstitutional an ordinance requiring pregnancy centers notify patients if they don’t offer abortion or birth control services.

The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in January that the ordinance unconstitutionally compelled speech by Christian-based Greater Baltimore Center for Pregnancy Concerns Inc., which opposes abortion.

Justices ruled the ordinance wasn’t tailored to serve the city’s interest in preventing harm to women’s health through deceptive advertising by abortion opponents.

The Daily Record reports the city’s request filed last week says the ordinance doesn’t violate free speech. Instead, it lets patients know which services are available.

Kentucky
Lawsuit proceeds over denial of ‘IM God’ license plate
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — An Ohio man had a personalized license plate saying “IM GOD,” but when he moved to Kentucky, his request for the same one was denied.

In 2016, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Freedom From Religion Foundation filed a lawsuit on his behalf challenging Kentucky regulations.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports a ruling released Friday from U.S. District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove allows Bennie Hart’s lawsuit to go forward.

The state’s lawyer J. Todd Shipp says the plate was rejected because it was “not in good taste,” and could distract drivers and create confrontations. Ship says Kentucky would have taken the same position had Hart requested plates reading “IM ALLAH,” ‘’IM BUDDAH” or “IM SATAN.”

ACLU-Kentucky attorney Heather Gatnarek says Hart’s request was denied for reasons that violate the First Amendment.

Florida
Police: Man crashes into home, threatens to shoot officer
WINTER PARK, Fla. (AP) — Police say a man crashed a truck into a Florida house, claimed to be an FBI agent and threatened to shoot an officer.

The Orlando Sentinel reports police were called to a home Sunday and found the driver, 32-year-old Scott Andrew Ecklund, standing outside the vehicle “taking a fighting stance.”

Officers ordered Ecklund to get on the ground, but he refused and threatened to kill Officer Joshua Larson. The stand-off ended when Ecklund tripped and fell.

A police report says Ecklund said he’d crashed into the house because a sex offender lived there. A Florida Department of Law Enforcement database didn’t show any sex offenders living at the house.
Ecklund was charged with battery on a law enforcement officer and other offenses. It’s unclear if he has a lawyer.

Louisiana
QB Brees sues over millions spent on jewelry
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has filed a lawsuit accusing a California businessman of cheating him out of $9 million through jewelry purchases.

Brees and his wife filed suit Monday in California against Vahid Moradi, who operates CJ Charles Jewelers in San Diego.

Brees claims multiple pieces of jewelry he purchased as investments over time appraised for $9 million less than he paid for the pieces. The items include a blue-diamond ring that cost about $8.2 million.

The suit claims Brees confronted Moradi and the dealer admitted to charging a substantial markup.