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

Mar 5 2026

7th Cir. 25-3023 Panel Decision

CHICAGO HEADLINE CLUB v. KRISTI NOEM, Secretary of Homeland Security

The Seventh Circuit vacated a district court's sweeping preliminary injunction regulating federal immigration enforcement in Chicago and dismissed the appeal as moot. The court applied the Munsingwear doctrine to clear the record, noting that the underlying enforcement operation had ended and the plaintiffs voluntarily sought dismissal.

Civil Mootness Securities

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Mar 5 2026

10th Cir. 5:23-CR-00094-D-2 Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. DONALD EUGENE COOKS

The Tenth Circuit granted counsel's motion to withdraw and dismissed the defendant's direct criminal appeal after an independent review found no arguable grounds for relief. The court concluded that procedural failures barred a suppression claim and that an ineffective assistance claim was improperly raised on direct appeal.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - Federal Prisoner (28 USC 2255)

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Mar 5 2026

10th Cir. 4:17-CV-00367-GKF-CDL Panel Decision

DEANDRE BETHEL v. DAVID LOUTHAN

The Tenth Circuit denied Deandre Bethel a certificate of appealability because his attempt to add a Fourth Amendment claim via a Rule 60(b) motion constituted an unauthorized second or successive habeas petition. The court held that the motion substantively challenged the validity of his conviction rather than addressing a procedural defect in the habeas proceedings themselves.

Constitutional Fourth Amendment - Search & Seizure Habeas Corpus - State Prisoner (28 USC 2254)

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Mar 5 2026

3rd Cir. 2:13-cv-06437 Panel Decision

JOSE MENDEZ v. SUPERINTENDENT HOUTZDALE SCI; THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA; THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF THE COUNTY OF PHILADELPHIA

The Third Circuit granted appointed counsel's motion to withdraw from a habeas corpus appeal after determining the case presented no nonfrivolous issues. The court affirmed the District Court's denial of Jose Mendez's petition challenging his first-degree murder conviction.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - General (28 USC 2241) Habeas Corpus - State Prisoner (28 USC 2254) Sixth Amendment - Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

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Mar 4 2026

7th Cir. 24-1817 Panel Decision

SHAREEF CHILDS v. CHERYL WEBSTER, et al

The Seventh Circuit held that a prison's refusal to provide accurate prayer schedules does not violate RLUIPA or the Free Exercise Clause when inmates can obtain them through donations or purchase. The court affirmed summary judgment for the defendants, ruling that the de minimis cost of buying a schedule does not constitute a substantial burden on religious exercise.

Civil Civil Rights - Religious Liberty (RLUIPA) Qualified Immunity Summary Judgment

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Mar 4 2026

6th Cir. 25-3265 Published

Norton Outdoor Advertising, Inc. v. Village of St. Bernard, Ohio

The Sixth Circuit affirmed the Village of St. Bernard's billboard ordinance, ruling that its unconstitutional exemption for public service signs is severable from the rest of the regulations. The court held that the remaining ordinance satisfies intermediate scrutiny as a valid content-neutral time, place, and manner restriction on speech.

Civil Civil Rights - Voting

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Mar 4 2026

6th Cir. 25-5800 Published

Weatherholt v. Crockett County, TN School Board

The Sixth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of the Weatherholts' Fourth Amendment excessive force claim, ruling that their complaint failed to plausibly allege a constitutional violation. The court held that the plaintiffs' bare assertions of force were insufficient to survive a motion to dismiss, particularly given video evidence that contradicted their version of events.

Constitutional Fourth Amendment - Search & Seizure

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Mar 4 2026

3rd Cir. 2:22-cv-06776 Panel Decision

CURTIS STABILE v. MACYS, INC.; FELECIA GREEN-HALL

The Third Circuit reversed the District Court's denial of a motion to compel arbitration, holding that an employee's failure to opt out of a clearly written arbitration plan constitutes valid acceptance under New Jersey law. The court found that the employer's Plan Document alone formed a binding agreement to arbitrate all employment-related claims.

Civil Civil Rights - Employment

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Mar 4 2026

3rd Cir. 3:19-cv-00242 Panel Decision

ROBERT BOYER, Executor of the Estate of Tamra Smith, Deceased; ROBERT BOYER v. MICHAEL MULVEY

The Third Circuit reversed the district court's denial of summary judgment, holding that a state trooper was entitled to qualified immunity for searching a former mayor's home. The court found that it was not clearly established at the time that a potential conflict of interest under state ethics laws provided probable cause for a warrantless search of a residence.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Qualified Immunity

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Mar 4 2026

1st Cir. 24-1996 Panel Decision

PAUL PERRUZZI; JEREMIAH SULLIVAN v. CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY; SNYDER'S-LANCE, INC

The First Circuit vacated and remanded a district court order that administratively closed a case without addressing the plaintiffs' claim that the Federal Arbitration Act exempts transportation workers from mandatory arbitration. The appellate court held that the lower court must explicitly rule on the Section 1 exemption argument before determining whether to stay or close the proceedings.

Civil Civil Rights - Voting

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