James Taylor

Correspondent

James Taylor

Capitol Hill correspondent, covers legislative and political stories.

Criminal Justice

Decisions covered by James Taylor

1,506 decisions
Mar 6 2026
10th Cir. 1:21-CR-00670-JB-1) Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. KYLE AGUILAR

The Tenth Circuit affirmed Kyle Aguilar's convictions for two counts of Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country, ruling that the statute treats touching different body parts as separate criminal acts. The court further held that the victim's testimony provided sufficient evidence for a jury to infer the defendant's intent to gratify his sexual desire.

Constitutional Fifth Amendment - Double Jeopardy Habeas Corpus - General (28 USC 2241)
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Mar 6 2026
10th Cir. 2:14-CR-00058-ABJ-1 Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. JOSEPH COLVIN

The Tenth Circuit affirmed a three-year prison sentence for a supervised release violation, ruling that a police report detailing firearm possession was admissible evidence. The court held that the report met the minimal reliability standard required for sentencing and that the defendant waived his right to object to the timing of its disclosure.

Criminal Drug Trafficking
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Mar 6 2026
3rd Cir. 26-1084 Panel Decision

In re JOBADIAH SINCLAIR WEEKS

The Third Circuit dismissed a petition for a writ of mandamus filed by Jobadiah Weeks because the District Court subsequently ruled on the underlying motions. The appellate court found that the lower court's actions resolved the specific relief sought, eliminating the live controversy required for judicial intervention.

Criminal Fraud
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Mar 6 2026
9th Cir. 2:22-cv-06206-ODW-ADS Unpublished

JOSE LUIS AYALA v. ROBERTO A. ARIAS, Warden

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the denial of a state prisoner's habeas petition, ruling that his request to represent himself was made too close to trial to be considered timely under federal law. The court held that the California Court of Appeal reasonably applied Supreme Court precedent by finding the request untimely when made on the eve of trial.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - State Prisoner (28 USC 2254)
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Mar 6 2026
9th Cir. 1:22-cr-00062-JLT-SKO-4 Unpublished

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. ALMA GARZA

The Ninth Circuit affirmed Alma Garza's conviction for drug conspiracy and possession, ruling that a less-than-three-day warrantless detention of a mailed package was reasonable under the Fourth Amendment. The court held that investigators acted diligently and that an evidentiary hearing was unnecessary given the lack of specific factual allegations from the defense.

Criminal Sentencing Guidelines
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Mar 6 2026
3rd Cir. 23-3184 Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. JEROME BROWN

The Third Circuit affirmed Jerome Brown's conviction and sentence, ruling that while the District Court improperly participated in plea negotiations, the error was harmless. Brown failed to demonstrate that the judicial interference violated his substantial rights or resulted in a heavier sentence than he would have otherwise accepted.

Criminal Drug Trafficking Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Guidelines
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Mar 6 2026
Fed. Cir. 26-1242 Panel Decision

GUSTAVO BURGA v. UNITED STATES 2026-1242

The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit dismissed Gustavo Burga's appeal because he failed to pay the required docketing fee within the time allowed by court rules. This ruling underscores that strict adherence to procedural deadlines is mandatory for maintaining an appeal, regardless of the underlying merits.

Civil Other Civil
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