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

1,706 decisions
Feb 17 2026
7th Cir. 24-2774 Panel Decision

EDWARD L. ASH v. CITY OF AURORA

The Seventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment for the City of Aurora and its officers, ruling that the plaintiff's Fourth Amendment claims were either time-barred or defeated by the existence of probable cause. The court held that a state judge's finding of probable cause to charge the plaintiff with a weapon offense provided an absolute defense to his civil rights lawsuit, regardless of his subsequent acquittal.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Statute of Limitations
Read summary →
Feb 13 2026
United States Court… 25-7005 Panel Decision

STABIL LLC v. RUSSIAN FEDERATION

The D.C. Circuit affirmed that the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act permits U.S. courts to enforce arbitral awards against the Russian Federation for the expropriation of Ukrainian assets in Crimea. The court held that Russia's waiver of immunity under the New York Convention and the FSIA's arbitration exception precludes its immunity defense, even absent direct commercial contacts with the United States.

Civil Civil Rights - Voting
Read summary →
Feb 13 2026
7th Cir. 24-2962 Panel Decision

ARTURO SOLIS v. STEVEN MERENDINO, Warden

The Seventh Circuit affirmed the denial of a federal prisoner's habeas petition, holding that the Ex Post Facto Clause does not prohibit applying an amended statute that extends the time period for collecting criminal fines. The court ruled that because the original liability period had not expired when the law changed, the amendment did not constitute retroactive punishment.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - General (28 USC 2241)
Read summary →
Feb 13 2026
1st Cir. 24-1397 Panel Decision

Soscia Holdings, LLC v. State of Rhode Island

The First Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Soscia Holdings' federal constitutional and statutory claims against state officials, upholding Eleventh Amendment immunity for the State and qualified immunity for individual defendants. The court sustained the district court's dismissal of remaining federal claims arising from a civil penalty assessment under the state Permitting Act.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Qualified Immunity
Read summary →
Feb 13 2026
11th Cir. 0:23-cv-60762-RKA Published

Winston Calder v. Secretary, Florida Department of Corrections

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of Winston Calder's federal habeas petition, holding that the state court's finding of no prejudice constituted an adjudication on the merits under AEDPA. The court concluded that the state court's determination that the evidence was sufficient for conviction without the challenged impeachment statement was not an unreasonable application of federal law.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - State Prisoner (28 USC 2254)
Read summary →
Feb 12 2026
7th Cir. 22-3212 Panel Decision

JENNIFER SHIRK v. TRUSTEES OF INDIANA UNIVERSITY, et al

The Seventh Circuit affirmed the grant of summary judgment, holding that an employee failed to prove causation for her FMLA and Rehabilitation Act retaliation claims. The court found that the university's decision to terminate the plaintiff was based on her insubordinate emails to senior leadership, not her protected medical leave or accommodation requests.

Civil Civil Rights - Employment Summary Judgment
Read summary →