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U.S. Supreme Court likely to overturn “flatly inconsistent” Alabama Supreme Court ruling in Poarch Creek immunity case

The U.S. solicitor general has recommended that the U.S. Supreme Court overturn an Alabama Supreme Court ruling in a case that challenged the reaches of sovereign immunity for the Poarch Band of Creek Indians after the tribe promised to waive its immunity in some cases. The solicitor general recommended that the high court not grant … Continued
June 11, 2019

Governor signs bill reforming Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed legislation Thursday that will reform the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles.   House Bill 380 is designed to increase the efficiency of the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles. This bill creates a Director of Pardons and Paroles, appointed by the governor, and provides strict rules and guidelines to … Continued
June 7, 2019

Federal ruling allows Alabama Census lawsuit to proceed

A lawsuit filed by the state of Alabama against several federal departments has been allowed to proceed after a federal district court denied a federal government motion to drop the case. Attorney General Marshall and U.S. Rep. Brook filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Census Bureau in May 2018, arguing … Continued
June 7, 2019

Muscogee tribe refiles lawsuit against the Poarch Creek Indians over a Wetumpka burial site

The Muscogee Nation tribe has renewed its federal lawsuit against the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, alleging that the construction of a casino in Wetumpka illegally desecrated a burial site and violated numerous federal laws. The Muscogee originally filed suit against the Poarch Creeks in 2012 in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of … Continued
June 6, 2019

Court hammers state, coddles defense in Hubbard case 

The Alabama Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case against former Republican Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard on Tuesday. Court observers agreed that during the hour-long hearing, the seven justices repeatedly threw hostile questions at the state’s Solicitor General Edmund G. LaCour Jr. while lobbing softballs at Hubbard’s defense lawyer Sam Heldman, a … Continued
June 5, 2019

Lawsuit filed challenging Alabama abortion ban

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Alabama and Planned Parenthood Federation of America filed a lawsuit on Friday challenging Alabama’s recent legislation that bans abortion in nearly all cases and punishes doctors who perform abortions. The lawsuit is challenging House Bill 314 or the “Human Life Protection Act,” which bans all abortions in the … Continued
May 27, 2019

Ivey appoints Judge Reid to Fifteenth Judicial Circuit

The Honorable Holbrook “Brooke” E. Reid of Montgomery has taken the oath of office as a Circuit Judge for Alabama’s Fifteenth Judicial Circuit. Governor Ivey appointed Judge Reid to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Montgomery County Circuit Judge Truman Hobbs. The Honorable Johnny Hardwick presided over Judge Reid’s Oath of Office Ceremony. … Continued
May 17, 2019

Court rules Drummond is violating Clean Water Act on Black Warrior River’s Locust Fork

Drummond Company has been found to be violating the Clean Water Act by continuously discharging acid amid mine drainage into the Black Warrior River’s Locust Fork from the Maxine Mine site. Judge Abdul Kallon rejected Drummond’s arguments that the Clean Water Act does not prohibit ongoing pollution originating from a substantial coal mine waste pile … Continued
May 13, 2019