Correspondent
Federal courthouse correspondent, covers civil rights, employment discrimination, housing rights, and Second Amendment disputes.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of two journalists' Title VII discrimination claims against their employer. The court held that the plaintiffs failed to allege sufficient facts to support a plausible inference that their terminations were based on national origin rather than insubordination.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed the denial of qualified immunity to a sheriff in a wrongful death lawsuit involving a pretrial detainee. The court held that the plaintiffs' allegations, if true, established a violation of clearly established law regarding the failure to provide medical care.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the conviction of a police officer who submitted a false report to cover up coercing a minor into sex. The court rejected challenges regarding federal jurisdiction intent, Franks hearing denials, the good-faith exception, and claims of substantial prejudice from indictment delay.
The Eleventh Circuit vacated a dismissal, holding that a male student plausibly alleged sex-based sexual harassment under Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause due to hazing intended to emasculate him.
The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment in a civil rights action brought by a prisoner. The court held that the plaintiff failed to meet his burden of producing evidence to support his failure-to-protect claim.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed a district court's grant of summary judgment in an employment discrimination case. The appellate panel concluded that the lower court's decision was proper after reviewing the record and arguments.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the denial of a federal habeas corpus petition filed by an Arizona death row prisoner. The court held that the prisoner procedurally defaulted most of his ineffective assistance of counsel claims and failed to show cause and prejudice to excuse those defaults.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed a district court's grant of summary judgment against a plaintiff alleging constitutional violations during an employment investigation. The panel held that the plaintiff's interactions with officers were consensual, his First Amendment claim was waived, and he received adequate procedural due process.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a pro se civil rights complaint filed by a federal prisoner. The court held that the plaintiff's claims were barred by the Heck doctrine because a favorable judgment would imply the invalidity of his underlying criminal conviction.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed a district court's dismissal of a pro se inmate's claims regarding conspiracy, access to courts, and legal mail. The panel held that the plaintiff failed to provide specific facts supporting his allegations or demonstrate actual harm from the alleged interference.
