Correspondent
Capitol Hill correspondent, covers legislative and political stories.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted a motion by appointed counsel to withdraw from representing the defendant. The court dismissed the appeal after finding no nonfrivolous issues for appellate review.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed a district court's denial of a sentencing adjustment for a defendant involved in a liquor theft scheme. The court held that the defendant was ineligible for the adjustment because the robbery was interrupted by a 911 call rather than voluntary abandonment.
The Eleventh Circuit vacated a carjacking conviction because the district court gave a non-pattern Allen charge that failed to inform jurors they need not give up their honest beliefs. The court found this omission constituted plain error that affected the defendant's substantial rights.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed a 210-month sentence for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. The court dismissed challenges regarding sentence reasonableness and Eighth Amendment proportionality.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's order revoking Mario Jones's term of supervised release. The panel found no abuse of discretion given the evidence of multiple violations, including drug offenses and a threat against a probation officer.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed a preliminary injunction against a Dutch software company for misappropriating American intellectual property. The court held that the company's targeted conduct within the United States satisfied the extraterritoriality requirements established in Abitron.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed the denial of a motion for reconsideration regarding a sentence reduction. The court held that a statutory life sentence for carjacking resulting in death could not be altered by a retroactive change to the Sentencing Guidelines.
The Ninth Circuit granted a petition for review regarding the denial of counsel to an immigration petitioner. The court remanded the case for a new hearing after finding the immigration judge failed to provide a reasonable time to secure legal representation.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed a defendant's sentence for firearm possession and witness tampering. The court held that the district court correctly calculated the base offense level and did not abuse its discretion in rejecting the defendant's arguments for a downward departure.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted a motion by the Federal Public Defender to withdraw from representing the defendant. The court dismissed the appeal after finding no nonfrivolous issues for appellate review.
