Judiciary News

Lawsuits against oil and gas companies in Louisiana have taken a toll on the industry and the state’s economy generally. But documents obtained by Scribe suggest plaintiffs’ attorneys in the lawsuits seek out litigation even when they know their claims are baseless.

State Supreme Court Justice Marilyn Kelly and U.S. Court of Appeals Judge James Ryan are two of the most experienced jurists in Michigan. They tend to diverge on political matters -- she's a liberal Democrat, he's a conservative Republican -- but between them is more than 25 years of service on our state's highest court.

Through its legal affiliate, the Institute for Legal Reform, the Chamber on Tuesday issued a statement in support of the courts. "Recent reductions in court fundings are paralyzing judiciaries in some states and slowing the delivery of justice in others," the statement reads. "

The Missouri Senate is close to passing a resolution that would give the state’s governor excessive and unwise control over the selection of judges to its highest courts. The resolution, if passed by the House as well, would clear the way for a ballot issue to change the judicial selection process as outlined in the Missouri Constitution.

Landowners have answered the oil and gas industry with their preferred rewrite of the rules governing the lawsuits property owners file against energy firms alleging environmental damages left behind after exploration and production leases are up.