Court Roundup

Illinois
Castillo named chief federal judge in north district
CHICAGO (AP) — One of the country’s busiest federal court districts is getting its first Hispanic chief judge.
Longtime U.S. District Judge Ruben Castillo will take over administrative duties for the Northern District of Illinois, based in Chicago.
The 58-year-old Castillo assumes his new role this week. He replaces James Holderman, whose seven-year term as the district’s chief judge just ended.
Castillo’s case load will be reduced to make time for his administrative duties but he’ll continue to oversee cases. That includes the drug-trafficking trial of Mexican drug cartel leader Vicente Zambada, which is expected to begin next year.
Castillo graduated from the Northwestern University School of Law, and has worked as a private attorney and federal prosecutor.
He was nominated to the federal bench in 1994 by then-President Bill Clinton.

Mississippi
Youth drug court funding approved by supervisors
NATCHEZ, Miss. (AP) — After state cuts reduced the Adams County Youth Drug Court’s funding by 73 percent, the Adams County Board of Supervisors has voted to give the court a temporary infusion of cash to tide it over until fresh funds arrive.
The Natchez Democrat reports Youth Court Judge John Hudson appeared before the supervisors Monday to request the $13,896 necessary to keep three youth court positions — the compliance officer, the prosecutor and the defender — funded until October, when the judge said he expects significant grant funds to arrive.
Hudson says the funds he expects to come available in October are from a grant specifically addressed to Mississippi youth and family drug courts.

Oregon
Legislature OKs major sentencing guide changes
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — The Oregon Senate has given final legislative approval to a plan intended to cap the number of offenders housed in state prisons.
The bill passed the Senate 19-11 on Monday. It now goes to Gov. John Kitzhaber who intends to sign it.
The plan to loosen certain criminal sentencing laws is expected to hold the state’s prison population at 14,600 over the next five years, and save the state $326 million in corrections cost over the next decade.
The policy changes will avert the need to build a new state prison.
Supporters say the state should invest in programs that reduce recidivism and keep people out of prison. Opponents say lawmakers shouldn’t change sentencing laws approved by Oregon voters.

Rhode Island
Assembly OKs bill to help inmates to reintegrate
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Inmates who behave in prison could earn “good conduct” certificates to help them get jobs and housing when they’re released under legislation passed by Rhode Island’s General Assembly.
The proposal is designed to help ex-offenders reintegrate into society while assuring potential employers or landlords that they don’t pose a threat.
The bill is sponsored by Sen. Harold Metts and Rep. Scott Slater, both Providence Democrats. The measure passed a final vote Monday and now heads to Gov. Lincoln Chafee.
Individuals convicted of violent felonies would be ineligible for the certificates, as would anyone convicted of more than one felony.

North Carolina
Higher rewards from NC gov may soon be possible
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — There soon could be more financial inducements at the disposal of North Carolina’s governor to help capture fugitives and solve serious crimes.
The General Assembly has given final approval to a bill to increase the maximum reward money a governor could give to someone who catches a notorious suspect or provides information leading to someone’s arrest and conviction.
State law currently allows the governor to offer rewards of up to $10,000. The bill approved Monday night and heading to Gov. Pat McCrory’s desk raises the amount to $100,000.
Sen. Shirley Randleman told the Senate that law enforcement officials asked for the higher maximum reward, which has not changed since the 1960s.

Arizona
Court in Yarnell closed due to deadly wildfire
YARNELL, Ariz. (AP) — The Yavapai County justice court in Yarnell is closed due to the wildfire that burned dozens of homes and killed 19 members of a Hotshots firefighting crew from Prescott.
The state courts administrative office says urgent matters normally handled by the Yarnell court will be handled by the justice court in Prescott.
The office says the Yarnell court has accounted for its entire staff but says the condition of the court isn’t yet known.

North Carolina
Senate agrees to block suits over food consumption
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Legislation is nearing final approval that protects North Carolina food manufacturers, sellers and advertisers from lawsuits claiming their products led to excessive weight gain.
The Senate voted 37-9 on Monday for legislation barring civil actions on claims that long-term consumption of food or drinks led to obesity and health problems.
Bill supporters say the “Commonsense Consumption Act” would eliminate frivolous lawsuits. Others argue court rules already prevent awards to people who contributed to their injury.
The bill also makes clear local governments can’t pass ordinances like one that passed in New York City prohibiting the sale of large soft drinks.
The House already approved a version. The measure goes to Gov. Pat McCrory if Senate changes are accepted.

Oklahoma
AG says Hobby Lobby bolsters  his challenge
MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma’s attorney general says a court decision favoring Hobby Lobby’s fight against parts of the new federal health care law bolsters his fight against the law.
Attorney General Scott Pruitt is challenging parts of the Affordable Care Act. The law imposes tax penalties in certain cases, but federal lawyers say the Anti-Injunction Act prevents Oklahoma from raising questions about taxes before they’re levied.
In a court filing Monday, Pruitt pointed U.S. District Judge Ronald White to last week’s Hobby Lobby decision. While government lawyers had said Hobby Lobby also had to wait until tax penalties kicked in before they could fight, judges at the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the company could proceed now.
Pruitt says parts of the health care law cannot apply in Oklahoma.

The Hague
Japan opens world court defense of whaling
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Japan is opening its defense of the country’s controversial whaling program in the seas around Antarctica during hearings at the United Nations’ highest court.
Based on their written pleadings, lawyers for Tokyo were expected to argue Tuesday that the International Court of Justice has no jurisdiction to hear the dispute with Australia and New Zealand over the annual hunt and slaughter of hundreds of minke and fin whales in the Southern Ocean.
Japan also will argue that its whaling is for scientific research and therefore permitted under the 1946 convention that regulates whaling.
Lawyers for Australia told the court last week that the whaling is a commercial hunt dressed up as science and should be stopped.
The 16-judge world court will take months to issue a judgment.

Oregon
Bill targets johns who pay for sex with kids
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — The Oregon Legislature has voted to join the vast majority of states in making paying for sex with a minor a felony on the first conviction.
In a 56-1 vote, the Oregon House gave final legislative approval on Monday, sending the bill to the governor for signature.
Penalties for a buyer convicted for the first time of having sex with a minor include a $10,000 fine, at least 30 days in jail and completion of a rehabilitative program for johns.
Albany Republican Sen. Betsy Close, a sponsor, said enhancing the penalties for sex crimes sends the message that Oregon’s children are not for sale.
More than 40 states have laws on their books making it a felony to pay for sex with a minor.