Aisha Johnson

Correspondent

Aisha Johnson

Federal courthouse correspondent, covers civil rights, employment discrimination, housing rights, and Second Amendment disputes.

Civil Rights & Constitutional

Decisions covered by Aisha Johnson

1,073 decisions
Oct 8 2025
9th Cir. 3:23-cv-00528- Published

L.B., By and Through his Guardian Ad Litem ROBIN MORRISEY v. SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

The Ninth Circuit reversed a district court ruling that held a school district had no duty to offer a free appropriate public education because parents requested an IEP meeting rather than an IEP document. The panel clarified that the purpose of an IEP meeting is to develop and offer an IEP, making the specific terminology used by parents irrelevant to the district's obligation.

Civil Civil Rights - Education
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Jul 7 2025
United States Court… 25-5278 Panel Decision

Uzamere v. Trump

The D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a complaint filed against the President, ruling that the pleading failed to provide fair notice of the claims under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a). The court further held that the district court properly declined to grant leave to amend sua sponte because the appellant identified no viable amendments that would entitle her to relief.

Admiralty / Maritime Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983
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Jun 5 2025
9th Cir. 2:20-cv-01030- Per Curiam

Mooney v. Roller Bearing Co. of America, Inc.

The Ninth Circuit affirmed a district court's decision to apply a fluctuating federal interest rate to a mixed federal and state law judgment. The court held that when a verdict does not distinguish between state and federal claims, the district court retains discretion to select the rate that most accurately compensates the plaintiff for lost wages.

Civil Labor
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May 16 2025
9th Cir. 3:23-cv-00381-SK Published

ESTATE OF DECEDENT LOLOMANIA SOAKAI; LAVINIA SOAKAI, an individual and personal representative of Estate; DANIEL FIFITA, an individual; SAMIEUELA FINAU, an individual; INA LAVAL...

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the denial of qualified immunity for police officers involved in a high-speed chase where a fleeing suspect crashed into innocent bystanders. The court held that plaintiffs plausibly alleged a Fourteenth Amendment substantive due process violation by claiming the officers chased with a purpose to harm the suspect in a manner exceeding legitimate law enforcement needs, and that this right was clearly established.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Qualified Immunity
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Apr 11 2025
7th Cir. 24-1223 Panel Decision

Griffith Foods International Inc. v. National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh PA

The Seventh Circuit certified to the Illinois Supreme Court the unsettled question of whether industrial emissions of ethylene oxide discharged pursuant to a regulatory permit constitute traditional environmental pollution under standard commercial general liability policies. The court reversed the district court's judgment and remanded the case to await the state supreme court's resolution of this critical insurance coverage issue.

Civil Insurance
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Feb 26 2025
2nd Cir. 23-903 Panel Decision

Uviles v. City of New York

The Second Circuit affirmed that the City of New York lawfully detained a parolee pursuant to a warrant that remained facially valid despite the expiration of the statutory deadline for a preliminary hearing. The court held that New York law requires municipal authorities to honor outstanding parole warrants until the state board of parole lifts them, regardless of procedural delays in the state's internal hearing process.

Civil Rights - Section 1983 Constitutional Fourth Amendment - Search & Seizure Habeas Corpus - General (28 USC 2241)
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Feb 13 2025
9th Cir. 21-1422 Published

EDGAR MURILLO-CHAVEZ v. PAMELA BONDI, Attorney General

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the denial of cancellation of removal for a lawful permanent resident convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude. The court held that the petitioner failed to prove prejudice from ineffective assistance of counsel because his Special Immigrant Juvenile status did not constitute a legal admission, meaning his offenses occurred within the seven-year bar period.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Feb 13 2025
2nd Cir. 22-1377 Panel Decision

Hoffer v. Tellone

The Second Circuit clarified that sanctions for lost electronic evidence under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37(e)(2) require a specific finding of intent to deprive the opponent of that information. The court rejected the application of a lesser negligence standard, affirming the district court's denial of an adverse inference instruction in a civil rights excessive force case.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983
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Feb 12 2025
2nd Cir. 22-1982 Panel Decision

United States v. Kelly

The Second Circuit affirmed R. Kelly's RICO and Mann Act convictions, rejecting challenges to the sufficiency of the evidence and the constitutionality of the underlying state laws. The court also upheld the district court's evidentiary rulings, jury selection process, and restitution orders, leaving the defendant subject to his original sentence and financial penalties.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - General (28 USC 2241) Sixth Amendment - Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Supervised Release
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Feb 12 2025
2nd Cir. 22-1481 Panel Decision

United States v. Kelly

The Second Circuit affirmed Robert Sylvester Kelly's RICO and Mann Act convictions, ruling that sufficient evidence supported each count and that the underlying state laws were constitutional as applied to him. The court rejected claims of juror bias, ineffective assistance during voir dire, and errors in evidentiary rulings and restitution orders.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - General (28 USC 2241) Sixth Amendment - Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Supervised Release
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