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Thursday, August 03, 2006

Law - More on: Lawyers faint, become speechless, in stories today

On March 26th, an ILB entry pointed to a story about a North Dakota assistant attorney general who became speechless during his argument before the 8th Circuit. Here are a few quotes from the AP story at the time (no longer available online) published in the North Dakota Grand Forks Herald:

After making a few remarks, Haas was able to speak only a few words at a time, standing silent at the lectern for about 20 seconds at a time before sitting down. He appeared to be stricken by stage fright. * * *

"You really had a good brief," [Appeals Judge Myron] Bright told Haas, referring to his court filing in the case. "You shouldn't be concerned."

Indeed. According to this report today via How Appealing, the 8th Circuit has ruled in favor of North Dakota in the suit brought by the State of Minnesota. According to the March 26th AP story referenced above:
The dispute is about North Dakota restrictions on out-of-state hunters that mainly affect duck and goose hunters, but also extend to pheasants and other types of game.

North Dakota gives resident waterfowl hunters a week's head start on the duck season, during which duck hunting by visitors is banned. The state charges visitors more for duck licenses and requires out-of-state hunters who own North Dakota land to buy a state license to hunt that land. Resident North Dakota landowners may hunt their property without buying a license.

Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch, U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., and two Minnesota residents who own property in North Dakota challenged the laws in a federal lawsuit filed in Bismarck. U.S. District Judge Dan Hovland dismissed the case last June, and Minnesota appealed.

Here is a link to today's 8th Circuit opinion, affirming the District Court.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on August 3, 2006 01:12 PM
Posted to General Law Related