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

1,757 decisions
Mar 31 2026
4th Cir. 24-1708 Panel Decision

ROD JENKINS v. VALLEY HEALTH SYSTEM

The Fourth Circuit reversed the district court's dismissal of a Title VII failure-to-accommodate claim, holding that the plaintiff's objections to fetal cell therapy and constitutional rights plausibly established a sincerely held religious belief. The court clarified that an employee need not provide a detailed theological treatise to satisfy the pleading standard if they assert a common religious objection within a formal accommodation request.

Civil Civil Rights - Employment
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Mar 31 2026
11th Cir. 8:24-cv-01528-SDM-AEP Per Curiam

JAMES M. HEYWARD v. DIANA MORELAND

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a federal lawsuit challenging a state court foreclosure judgment, ruling that the Rooker-Feldman doctrine bars federal courts from acting as appellate bodies over state court decisions. The court further held that absolute judicial immunity protects state judges from liability for official acts, even when the plaintiff alleges the judge lacked a proper oath of office.

Civil Civil Rights - Voting
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Mar 31 2026
11th Cir. 4:23-cv-00019-TKW-MAF Per Curiam

KENNETH MARK POHLMANN v. LISA NOLES AMELIA HILL

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment for a prison nurse, ruling that her management of an inmate's irritable bowel syndrome did not constitute deliberate indifference under the Eighth Amendment. The court held that the record demonstrated consistent medical evaluation and treatment, distinguishing a disagreement over care from constitutional violation.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Eighth Amendment - Cruel & Unusual Summary Judgment
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Mar 31 2026
11th Cir. 1:24-cv-00021-MW-MAF Per Curiam

JOSHUA I. MARTINEZ v. MAYO CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION SECRETARY, FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a prisoner's Equal Protection claim challenging a prison policy delaying sex-offender therapy eligibility. The court held that the plaintiff failed to plead sufficient factual allegations to show invidious discrimination or that he was similarly situated to other prisoners who received more favorable treatment.

Civil Securities
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Mar 31 2026
5th Cir. 24-40731 Per Curiam

Logan Wesley, III v. Jeff Neal

The Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a Texas prisoner's Section 1983 claims alleging assault and medical neglect by jail officials. The court held that the district court properly dismissed claims with prejudice for failure to state a claim and without prejudice for defective service of process.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983
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Mar 30 2026
6th Cir. 25-1527 Unanimous

RENEE MARIE JOHNSON v. HON. MATTHEW ANTKOVIAK, Chief Circuit Court Judge

The Sixth Circuit vacated a district court's dismissal of a § 1983 complaint alleging due process violations in a child custody removal, ruling that the domestic-relations exception does not automatically bar federal constitutional claims. The appellate court remanded the case for further proceedings, determining that the lower court prematurely dismissed the complaint without allowing the plaintiff to prove her federal claims.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983
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Mar 30 2026
10th Cir. 4:17-CV-00336-EFM-SH Panel Decision

MICHAEL MANNING, as the Administrator of the Estate of Terence Crutcher, Sr v. CITY OF TULSA; BETTY JO SHELBY

The Tenth Circuit reversed the district court's grant of qualified immunity to Officer Betty Shelby, holding that the right to be free from deadly force against an unarmed, nonthreatening suspect was clearly established. The court affirmed the dismissal of Monell claims against the City of Tulsa but remanded for consideration of supplemental jurisdiction over the remaining state-law wrongful death claim.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Qualified Immunity
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Mar 30 2026
7th Cir. 24-3346 Panel Decision

MAURICE J. HOLT v. GARY BOUGHTON

The Seventh Circuit reversed a district court's grant of habeas relief, holding that the Wisconsin Court of Appeals reasonably applied federal standards in rejecting a defendant's claims regarding excluded evidence and ineffective assistance of counsel. The appellate court found that the state court's decision was not an unreasonable application of Supreme Court precedent under the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - State Prisoner (28 USC 2254) Sixth Amendment - Confrontation Clause Sixth Amendment - Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
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