Courts

August 23, 2007 -- HELENA – Montana Attorney General Mike McGrath released the following statement in response to a decision (PDF) issued by the Montana Board of Pardons and Parole.

" I commend the Board for an extensive and thorough review of the record. The decision confirms what the initial trial and subsequent appeals have found – that the evidence supports that Barry Beach committed this crime.

I am grateful that the Board has, in its own words "laid this matter to rest."    » read more »

August 22, 2007 -- Colorado Governor Bill Ritter today announced he has appointed four new county court judges – one in Grand County and three in Weld County.

Ben W. McClelland of Granby will take up his new post as a Grand County Court judge after serving for the past two years as a Hot Sulphur Springs municipal judge. He has been a public administrator for the 14th Judicial District since 2001 and has run a solo practice since 1994. McClelland earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Wyoming in 1990 and his law degree from the same institution in 1994.    » read more »

August 21, 2007 -- HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania and its tobacco farmers have achieved a significant victory in their efforts to hold the nation's largest tobacco companies accountable under a 1999 trust agreement.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett announced that a recent North Carolina court ruling requires Philip Morris, USA, Inc., R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, and Lorillard Tobacco Company to make payments through 2010 totaling about $11 million for the benefit of Pennsylvania farmers and $13 million for Maryland farmers.    » read more »

August 21, 2007 -- LANSING - Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced the recent appointment of Michelle Rick as judge of the 29th Circuit Court, which serves Clinton and Gratiot counties, for a term expiring January 1, 2009. She replaces Judge Jeffrey Martlew who has resigned.    » read more »

August 21, 2007 -- Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Director Steven E. Chester announced today that the agency has entered into a Consent Agreement with Terra Energy, Ltd. to resolve alleged violations of Michigan's Oil and Gas Regulations associated with the State Briley D4-27 well located in Briley Township, Montmorency County.

The DEQ alleged that Terra failed to provide complete and accurate information in its application to drill and operate the well and commenced operation of the well without having first obtained permanent surface access to the well site.    » read more »

BALTIMORE, MD (August 20, 2007) - Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced today that the State of Maryland and its tobacco farmers have achieved a significant victory in their efforts to hold the nation’s largest tobacco companies accountable to a 1999 Trust Agreement.

The North Carolina court ruling requires Philip Morris, USA, Inc., R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, and Lorillard Tobacco Company to make payments through 2010 totaling about $13 million for the benefit of Maryland farmers, and $9 million for Pennsylvania farmers.    » read more »

August 21, 2007 -- FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Office of Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher announced today that Governor Fletcher intends to sign a death warrant for Ralph Baze, Jr. on Wednesday. The warrant affirms the finding of an impartial jury and the decisions of the Rowan County Circuit Court, the Kentucky Supreme Court and various federal courts.

In December 1993, Baze was convicted of the 1992 murders of Powell County Sheriff Steve Bennett and Deputy Arthur Briscoe. The substantive appeals of the case are exhausted and the execution is no longer stayed.    » read more »

August 21, 2007 -- LOS ANGELES – California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced a “landmark settlement” of the state’s global warming lawsuit against San Bernardino County. The agreement, approved today by the County Board of Supervisors, establishes a unique greenhouse gas reduction plan that will identify sources of emissions and set feasible reduction targets for the County.    » read more »

August 20, 2007 -- LANSING - Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced the appointments of Elizabeth L. Gleicher and Jane M. Beckering to the Michigan Court of Appeals.

Elizabeth L. Gleicher, of Pleasant Ridge, has been appointed judge of the 2nd District of the Court of Appeals, which includes Genesee, Macomb, Oakland and Shiawassee counties.    » read more »

08/20/2007 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the appointments of Douglas W. Daily and Bruce A. Young to judgeships in the Ventura County Superior Court.    » read more »

08/20/2007 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the appointment of Molly A. Bigelow to a judgeship in the Shasta County Superior Court.    » read more »

08/20/2007 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the appointment of Jennifer Conn Shirk to a judgeship in the Tulare County Superior Court:    » read more »

08/20/2007 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the appointments of Carol D. Codrington and Dale R. Wells to judgeships in the Riverside County Superior Court.    » read more »

08/20/2007 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the appointment of Mark Boessenecker to a judgeship in the Napa County Superior Court.    » read more »

08/20/2007 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the appointments of Robert A. Burlison and Efren N. Iglesia to judgeships in the Monterey County Superior Court.    » read more »