Law and legal issues

Despite California Gov. Jerry Brown's efforts to reduce prison overcrowding, a favorable ruling from a U.S. District Court three-judge panel that would lift court oversight of the state's prisons has remained elusive.

State officials filed an application Thursday in the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania to vacate the receivership for capital city Harrisburg.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has reportedly asked lawmakers to come up with $350 million to match private foundations' commitment to support Detroit's pension funds and art collection.

Harrisburg would exit receivership while remaining under state oversight under a plan by Pennsylvania officials.

Judge Steven Rhodes will rule Thursday afternoon on Detroit's interest-rate swap settlement in one of the most closely watched decisions of the city's historic bankruptcy case so far.

After nearly 40 years practicing law at Chapman and Cutler LLP, James Spiotto is leaving the courtroom to launch a new Chapman-owned consulting business to focus on municipal finance and Chapter 9 bankruptcy.

A former Pennsylvania Turnpike worker pleaded guilty and received probation in a case the judge called an "offshoot" of a pay-to-play scandal.

New Mayor Bill Peduto is smart to delay Pittsburgh's request to exit a state oversight program for distressed communities, capital markets observers say.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday tapped Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser Carlos Lopez-Cantera to become his lieutenant governor.

After a six-month delay to allow the market to digest Detroit's bankruptcy, Saginaw County, Mich. is bringing $52 million of pension obligation bonds to market Thursday.

The Court of Appeals, New York State's highest court, dismissed Nassau County's legal challenge to the MTA's payroll mobility tax by refusing to hear the case.

Lombard, Ill. faces the possible loss of its investment grade ratings for failing to honor its appropriation commitments and triggering payment default on hotel conference center bonds.

Illinois released new pools of underwriting, financial advisory, and legal firms for bond sales over the next two years with the most notable change being the state's selection of a new sole bond and disclosure counsel.

Steven Rhodes, judge in the Detroit bankruptcy case, will rule Thursday afternoon on whether to accept or reject the city's controversial settlement with its interest-rate swap counterparties.

The North Carolina State Employees Association filed a public records request to investigate the $83 billion Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System.

Mediators in Detroit's bankruptcy case unveiled a tentative plan created by a group of local and national foundations that have already raised $330M that could be used for some of the bankrupt city's unfunded pensions – as long as the city promises to preserve its storied art collection.

Minnesota delayed $468 million of state general fund appropriation bonds for a new Minnesota Vikings football stadium due to the 11th hour filing of litigation that challenges the financing arrangement.

Veteran Chicago-based public finance attorney Chuck Katz has joined Polsinelli PC as the firm continues to build its business nationally across legal practices.

The New Mexico Supreme Court's ruling in favor of the state's new pension reform law is a positive credit factor for the state, according to Moody's Investors Service.

Moody's Investors Service withdrew its Ca ratings on Jefferson County, Ala.'s sewer warrants as a result of the county's exit from bankruptcy.