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

1,080 decisions
Apr 30 2026
9th Cir. 2:25-cv-04659-AB-JC Unpublished

WE THE PATRIOTS USA, INC., ET AL. V. VENTURA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, ET AL.

The Ninth Circuit dismissed an appeal challenging the denial of a renewed temporary restraining order because such denials are generally not appealable. The court found the district court's ruling was procedural and did not resolve the merits of the case, meaning the plaintiffs retain the right to seek a preliminary injunction.

Civil Civil Rights - Education
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Apr 30 2026
11th Cir. 9:23-cv-81577-RMM Unpublished

QUIN E. BRISCOE v. TRANSAMERICA PREMIER LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY an Iowa Corporation, successor by merger to Peoples Benefit Life Insurance Company an Iowa corporation

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed that Transamerica Premier Life Insurance Company violated Florida contract law by unilaterally annuitizing Quin Briscoe's annuity without her selection of a payment option. The court held that the contract required the owner to elect a specific payout method before payments could begin, making the insurer's default action a breach of the agreement.

Civil Civil Rights - Voting Insurance
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Apr 30 2026
5th Cir. 25-50098 Per Curiam

Otis v. Miller

The Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of an inmate's Eighth Amendment claim regarding prison conditions, ruling that the complaint failed to allege personal involvement by the named officials. The court held that the plaintiff did not provide sufficient facts to demonstrate that the defendants were deliberately indifferent to a substantial risk of serious harm.

Civil Civil Rights - PLRA / Prisoner
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Apr 30 2026
5th Cir. 25-40686 Per Curiam

Pacheco-Morales v. Young

The Fifth Circuit dismissed the appeal of a former Texas prisoner seeking to challenge his conviction, ruling that his claims were untimely and failed to state a valid cause of action. The court held that the appellant's allegations of conspiracy and discrimination were conclusory and that he cannot raise new theories of relief for the first time on appeal.

Civil Civil Rights - ADA / Other Qualified Immunity
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Apr 29 2026
9th Cir. 2:19-cv-09430-DOC-KES Unpublished

VIEN-PHUONG HO V. THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, PUBLIC WORKS, ET AL

The Ninth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for the City and officers, ruling that the plaintiff failed to establish a protected possessory interest in the neighbors' portion of an alleyway. The court further held that the officers were entitled to qualified immunity and that the district court committed no abuse of discretion regarding procedural rulings.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Qualified Immunity Summary Judgment
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Apr 29 2026
9th Cir. 18-70315 Unpublished

NELDA PENA-PORTILLO, ET AL V. TODD BLANCHE

The Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review because the petitioner failed to argue the merits of her asylum and removal claims in her opening brief. The court also dismissed jurisdictional challenges regarding the Notice to Appear and ineffective assistance of counsel as unexhausted or foreclosed by precedent.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Apr 29 2026
9th Cir. 2:03-cv-00978- Published

James Scott v. Ron Broomfield

The Ninth Circuit reversed a district court's grant of habeas corpus relief, holding that the California Supreme Court reasonably concluded that trial counsel's performance was not deficient and did not prejudice the defendant. The panel remanded the case for the district court to consider Scott's remaining claims while affirming the denial of relief on the guilt-phase ineffective assistance of counsel claim.

Constitutional Fifth Amendment - Self-Incrimination Habeas Corpus - General (28 USC 2241) Habeas Corpus - State Prisoner (28 USC 2254)
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Apr 29 2026
8th Cir. 25-1533 Panel Decision

Jabbok Schlacks; William Schlacks v. Neil Chheda; Schlacks 2020 Transfer, LLC; RC Opportunity, LLC

The Eighth Circuit affirmed the denial of a motion to compel arbitration, holding that the Schlacks brothers were not parties bound by the partnership agreement's arbitration clause. The court found no clear and unmistakable evidence that the brothers agreed to delegate arbitrability questions to an arbitrator or that equitable estoppel and agency principles applied to bind them.

Constitutional Second Amendment
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Apr 29 2026
8th Cir. 24-3345 Panel Decision

Judith Etelvina Cancinos Guinac v. Todd Blanche, Acting Attorney General of the United States

The Eighth Circuit denied petitions for review of Board of Immigration Appeals orders rejecting motions to reopen immigration proceedings. The court held that the petitioner failed to exercise the due diligence required to equitably toll the filing deadline for her ineffective assistance of counsel claim.

Civil Immigration (Civil) Sixth Amendment - Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
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Apr 29 2026
1st Cir. 25-1578 Panel Decision

ED FRIEDMAN v. CENTRAL MAINE POWER COMPANY

The First Circuit affirmed summary judgment for Central Maine Power Company, ruling that the plaintiff failed to provide admissible evidence linking smart meter radiation to his specific health condition. Without proof of specific causation, the court held that the plaintiff could not establish that an analog meter was a necessary reasonable accommodation under federal disability laws.

Civil Civil Rights - Housing Summary Judgment
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