Correspondent
Federal courthouse correspondent, covers civil rights, employment discrimination, housing rights, and Second Amendment disputes.
The Ninth Circuit reversed a district court dismissal of Fourth Amendment claims, holding that prior state court orders did not constitute final judgments under Arizona law. The court further determined that the police officers lacked qualified immunity because the arrests were based on an objectively unreasonable dispersal order.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit dismissed in part and denied in part a petition for review of a Board of Immigration Appeals decision. The court held it lacked jurisdiction over the agency's discretionary denials and found the petitioner's constitutional claims unsupported by the record.
The Ninth Circuit granted in part and denied in part a petition for review of a Board of Immigration Appeals decision denying asylum and withholding of removal. The court remanded the case for further proceedings regarding family-based claims but affirmed the denial of claims based on race and imputed political opinion.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed a conviction for illegal reentry. The court held that the defendant failed to demonstrate prejudice from alleged errors in her prior removal orders.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review of a Board of Immigration Appeals decision. The court found the agency's determination that the petitioner's son would not face exceptional hardship was supported by substantial evidence.
The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit affirmed a district court ruling that the Federal Highway Administration adequately consulted with the Narragansett Indian Tribe regarding a bridge reconstruction project. The court held that the Tribe was not a required signatory to the programmatic agreement because the affected historic properties were not on tribal land.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment for four police officers in a Fourth Amendment suit arising from a seizure of a suspected overdose victim. The court held that the officers were entitled to qualified immunity because they had an objectively reasonable basis to seize the plaintiff under the emergency-aid doctrine.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed a district court judgment awarding compensation to a homeowner whose property was damaged by police during a hostage rescue. The court held that the necessity exception to the federal Takings Clause does not bar recovery under the Texas Constitution.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed a summary judgment ruling in favor of a television station accused of racial discrimination. The court held that the employer provided a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for terminating a news anchor who used racially offensive language on air.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit dismissed portions of an appeal regarding qualified immunity while affirming the denial of immunity on other claims. The court held that it lacked jurisdiction to review Heck doctrine arguments and factual disputes, but found that genuine issues of material fact precluded summary judgment on Brady and malicious prosecution claims.
