Correspondent
Capitol Hill correspondent, covers legislative and political stories.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a motion for a new trial filed by a criminal defendant. The appellate court held that the motion was untimely under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure thirty-three.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed the denial of a federal prisoner's motion to reduce his sentence under the Sentencing Guidelines. The court held that the defendant was ineligible for a reduction because the district court did not base the original sentence on the amended guidelines range.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed one defendant's sentence while vacating and remanding another's in a consolidated appeal involving unemployment fraud. The court found sufficient evidence for a sophisticated-means enhancement against the leader of the scheme but not against her codefendant.
The Eleventh Circuit dismissed an appeal regarding a sentence reduction motion because the underlying issue became moot. The district court had already granted the government's motion to reduce the defendant's sentence after the appeal was filed.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed a district court order denying pretrial release to a defendant charged with assaulting a federal officer. The appellate court found the evidence supported the lower court's conclusion that the defendant posed a substantial risk of flight.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the conviction of a convicted felon for possessing a firearm. The court held that binding precedent confirms the constitutionality of the federal statute under the Second Amendment.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a motion for compassionate release. The appellate court found no abuse of discretion in the lower court's determination that the defendant failed to demonstrate extraordinary and compelling reasons for early release.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit granted the Government's motion to dismiss an appeal. The court enforced an appeal waiver contained in the defendant's plea agreement.
The Fourth Circuit vacated and remanded the defendant's sentence because the district court failed to make sufficient factual findings to support the application of a sentencing guideline enhancement.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit dismissed an appeal filed by Carl William Murdaugh challenging the denial of his federal habeas corpus motion. The court held that Murdaugh failed to make the requisite showing to obtain a certificate of appealability.
