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 4 2026
United States Court… 25-7122 Panel Decision

Samar Chatterjee v. Yvonne Williams, Judge and District of Columbia Superior Court

The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit affirmed the lower court's denial of appointed counsel and dismissal of claims against a judge. The appellate court held that the appellant forfeited jurisdictional challenges and that the judge was protected by absolute judicial immunity.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983
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Feb 2 2026
7th Cir. 25-2277 Panel Decision

STEVEN L. ZIRKO v. CHERYL HANSEN

The Seventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment for a nurse practitioner who discontinued a prisoner's medical shower permit. The court held that her decision did not constitute deliberate indifference under the Eighth Amendment because she relied on prison directives and the plaintiff's alternative access to showers.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983
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Feb 2 2026
7th Cir. 25-1859 Panel Decision

PACKAGING CORPORATION OF AMERICA THRIFT PLAN FOR HOURLY EMPLOYEES v. DENA LANGDON CHRISTINA COPISKEY, as the Personal Representative of the Estate of CARL W. KLEINFELDT and the...

The Seventh Circuit reversed a district court ruling that applied the substantial compliance doctrine to validate a decedent's fax request to change a retirement beneficiary. The appellate court held that sending a fax did not constitute the positive action required by the plan's strict terms, leaving the ex-wife as the rightful primary beneficiary.

Civil ERISA / Employee Benefits
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Feb 2 2026
7th Cir. 25-1124 Panel Decision

MARKANTHONY M. HARRIS v. JEREMY WILTZIUS

The Seventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment for prison officials, holding that disciplinary segregation and a transfer to a maximum-security facility did not deprive the prisoner of a constitutionally protected liberty interest. Because no liberty interest was implicated, the court declined to rule on whether the disciplinary hearing procedures were constitutionally deficient.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983
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Feb 2 2026
7th Cir. 25-1432 Panel Decision

JESSIE HATCHER v. JOHN JONES

The Seventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment for prison medical staff and their employer, ruling that delays in post-operative care did not constitute deliberate indifference to a prisoner's serious medical needs. The court held that providers acted within professional discretion and that the plaintiff failed to prove an unconstitutional policy by the employer.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Summary Judgment
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Feb 2 2026
7th Cir. 25-1717 Panel Decision

MICHELLE L. VEASEY v. MIKE THOMS

The Seventh Circuit affirmed a district court ruling granting summary judgment to local officials in a civil rights suit challenging the revocation of a liquor license. The appellate court upheld the lower court's findings that the officials were protected by absolute immunity and that the plaintiff failed to provide sufficient evidence of due process violations or racial discrimination.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Qualified Immunity Summary Judgment
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Feb 2 2026
7th Cir. 25-1061 Panel Decision

RYAN W. MILBECK v. ALLISON GEORGE, et al

The Seventh Circuit held that a law enforcement officer's 'temporary felony want' does not constitute a valid warrant sufficient to justify entering a home without a judge's authorization. While the court affirmed the dismissal of claims regarding arrest and malicious prosecution due to probable cause, it reversed the dismissal of the plaintiff's Fourth Amendment claim for unlawful warrantless entry.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Qualified Immunity
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Jan 29 2026
4th Cir. 25-1032 2-1

SOUTH CAROLINA STATE CONFERENCE OF THE NAACP; DISABILITY RIGHTS SOUTH CAROLINA; JUSTICE 360 Plaintiffs – v. SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE; EDEN HENDRICK

The Fourth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of an institutional reform lawsuit against South Carolina's Department of Juvenile Justice because the plaintiff advocacy groups lacked Article III standing. The court held that organizations cannot substitute for detained juveniles to drive litigation regarding conditions of confinement.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Standing
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