Courts

Gov. Tim Pawlenty on Thursday promoted Appeals Judge Matthew E. Johnson, appointing him to a three-year term as chief judge that begins Nov. 1 and expires Oct. 31, 2013.
The Supreme Court is trying to sort out whether drug companies can be sued for claims of serious side effects from childhood vaccines without driving vaccine makers from the market and risking a public health crisis.
Mediation authorized for ND oil patch disputes
A North Dakota program that helps mediate disputes between farmers and ranchers and their creditors will now help with disagreements involving oil exploration.
GOP Supreme Court candidate tests new freedoms
In what's officially a nonpartisan race, Minnesota Supreme Court candidate Greg Wersal appears at as many Republican events as he can. He's also been asking for donations, something Minnesota's judicial candidates weren't allowed to do until Wersal won his latest court victory in July.
A Rochester public defender has been threatened with a contempt of court citation for missing a hearing, but Rick Smith and his boss told the judge he was scheduled to be in two courthouse in two different counties at once - a symptom of chronic understaffing.
The Minnesota Court of Appeals has struck down a state law against making false statements that allege police misconduct.
The new bill would heighten restrictions and stiffen penalties for debt collectors.
Newsmaker: The distracted driving summit
As the number of traffic fatalities caused by distracted driving increases, Obama administration officials are pushing states to target drivers who use mobile devices from the road. But Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says he's also concerned that technologies automakers are adding to cars could exacerbate the problem.
Public defenders in Minnesota are taking another step to try to reduce caseloads that they say are nearly double the level recommended by the American Bar Association.