Correspondent
Capitol Hill correspondent, covers legislative and political stories.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's order dismissing Latosha Ward's civil claims. The panel found no reversible error in the lower court's decision to grant the defendants' motions to dismiss.
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 Eleventh Circuit affirmed convictions under the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act for drug trafficking occurring within a foreign nation's Exclusive Economic Zone. The court held that Congress possesses authority under the Felonies Clause to prosecute such conduct and that a vessel becomes subject to U.S. jurisdiction when its master fails to claim nationality.
The Fifth Circuit granted an appointed attorney's motion to withdraw from representing a criminal defendant after reviewing the record and finding no non-frivolous issues for appeal. Consequently, the court dismissed the appeal and excused counsel from further responsibilities.
The Eighth Circuit affirmed an 18-month prison sentence imposed after revoking Macy Renee Patterson's supervised release. The court held the sentence was substantively reasonable because the district court properly weighed sentencing factors without clear error.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the convictions and sentences of Noel Alredo Garcia following an Anders brief filed by appointed appellate counsel. The court granted the motion to withdraw after an independent review found no arguable issues of merit in the appeal.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit dismissed an appeal filed by Ronald Satish Emrit because it was premature. The court held that it lacks jurisdiction to hear cases before a final order is entered by the district court.
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 Eleventh Circuit affirmed a 60-month prison sentence for a defendant who made multiple interstate threats against a federal judge and her family. The court held that the district court acted within its discretion to impose an upward variance based on the premeditated and terroristic nature of the conduct, despite the defendant's arguments regarding mitigating personal history.
The Fifth Circuit granted the Federal Public Defender's motion to withdraw from representing Willie Ray Valentine, finding no nonfrivolous issues for appellate review. The court dismissed the appeal pursuant to Fifth Circuit Rule 42.2 after a thorough examination of the record.
