National Roundup

Montana
Groups fight to keep gray wolf protections for most of US
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Wildlife advocates and environmental groups are challenging the removal of federal protections for gray wolves across most of the U.S.

Two coalitions of groups have filed formal notices over the past several days that they intend to sue the Trump administration in federal court unless protections are restored.

The Interior Department last week finalized a decision that  ends longstanding federal safeguards  for gray wolves in the Lower 48 states except for a small population of Mexican gray wolves in the Southwest.

The move puts states and tribes in charge of overseeing the predators and could allow hunting to resume in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Gray wolves have  recovered from near extinction in parts of the country with thousands now roaming the northern Rocky Mountains and western Great Lakes region and growing numbers of the animals in the Pacific Northwest. But they remain absent from much of their historical range and wildlife advocates say protections still are needed.

Colorado wildlife officials say they are planning to reintroduce wolves in the state  in coming years under a voter-approved ballot initiative.

West Virginia
Ex-judge known for eye-raising statements dies
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A former West Virginia Supreme Court Justice who once jokingly referred to himself as “America’s laziest and dumbest judge” and who attracted as much attention for his behavior outside the court as in it, has died. He was 79.

Richard Neely died Sunday of liver cancer, which had been diagnosed recently, said Supreme Court spokeswoman Jennifer Bundy.

Neely was first elected to the court at age 31 in 1972. He served until stepping down in 1995 to start a law practice in Charleston. He tried to win back a seat on the court in June but lost to incumbent judge Tim Armstead. Armstead, a former House of Delegates speaker, won a 12-year term.

Neely said he ran because the court system was a mess, especially since a 2018 scandal in which state lawmakers initiated impeachment proceedings that a separate panel of judges later derailed. He also said it was taking far too long for the Supreme Court to process an appeal, which was “very, very bad for litigants.”

During his time as a justice, Neely often got attention both for what he said and did outside of court.

In an ad for a clerk that he placed in the Virginia Law Weekly in 1991, Neely referred to himself as “America’s laziest and dumbest judge.”

The ad sought “a bright person to keep (the judge) from looking stupid,” and gave preference to University of Virginia law students “who studied interesting but useless subjects at snobby schools.”

“If you are dead drunk and miss the interviews, send letters,” the ad said.

When he announced his candidacy last year, Neely defended the ad, calling it a humorous rebuttal to two “highly pompous” federal appeals judges who he said implied in law review articles that clerks “had to be almost superhuman.”

“I couldn’t resist doing that,” Neely said.

In 1985, Neely fired his secretary for refusing to continue babysitting his son after three consecutive weeks of watching the child. The public outrage that followed prompted him to restore her job and give up the title of chief justice. At the time, Neely claimed he had a right to order his staff to perform such duties as babysitting, collecting his laundry and typing books he wrote.

In 1986, he sued Trans World Airlines for $38,000 after his baggage arrived 70 minutes late at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. He sought $3,000 from the airline as a speaker’s fee because he informed fellow passengers about the delay. He said he settled out of court for $12,500.

At a youth leadership conference in 1989, Neely suggested attacking drug dealers with baseball bats. He told the same conference a year later that society would be better off if women stayed home with their children.

Current Justice Margaret Workman once said of Neely that “someone should drag him kicking and screaming into the 20th century.”

Neely said last year that he stood by the baseball bat statement. He also reiterated his opinion that women should stay home with young children. He said that “would be really nice” because “the more parental time kids have, the better off they are.”

Ohio
Cities sue to force fix of gun background checks
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Incomplete reporting by counties of people with criminal backgrounds who are prohibited from owning guns is putting public safety at risk, according to a lawsuit filed Monday by the cities of Columbus and Dayton.

The complaint filed in state court in Columbus seeks to have a judge order the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation to fix the problem created by this underreporting.

Many counties don’t provide the full number of criminal dispositions to the state, creating a situation that means thousands of people could have access to gun purchases who shouldn’t, the lawsuit said.
“The records missing from our background check system create unacceptable risks to public safety,” said Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, a leader in addressing gun violence following last year’s mass shooting in a city entertainment district that killed nine and wounded more than two dozen.

A message seeking comment was left with Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, who oversees BCI. Earlier this year a new cross-check system championed by Yost turned up 42 ineligible holders of Ohio concealed-carry permits deemed ineligible for a permit.

Ohioans for Gun Safety has said it plans a 2021 ballot issue that would require background checks on virtually all guns sales.