James Taylor

Correspondent

James Taylor

Capitol Hill correspondent, covers legislative and political stories.

Criminal Justice

Decisions covered by James Taylor

2,485 decisions
Apr 2 2026
4th Cir. 25-6067 Per Curiam

James Benjamin Charles v. Eddie M. Buffaloe, Jr.

The Fourth Circuit dismissed an appeal from a district court's denial of a habeas corpus petition because the petitioner failed to meet the statutory threshold for appellate review. The court held that the prisoner did not make a substantial showing that reasonable jurists could find the lower court's assessment of his constitutional claims debatable or wrong.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - State Prisoner (28 USC 2254)
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Apr 2 2026
5th Cir. 25-40363 Per Curiam

United States of America Plaintiff— v. Noel Mercado Defendant—

The Fifth Circuit remanded the case to correct a clerical error in the Presentence Investigation Report that retained an inapplicable obstruction of justice enhancement. The court ordered the district court to amend the record to ensure official documents accurately reflect the sentencing proceedings without altering the defendant's conviction or sentence.

Criminal Obstruction of Justice Sentencing Guidelines
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Apr 2 2026
1st Cir. 25-1259 Panel Decision

United States v. Ponzo

The First Circuit affirmed the prison sentences and multi-million dollar forfeiture orders imposed on the Ponzo brothers for their bribery and fraud schemes involving the Mass Save program. The court rejected arguments regarding sentencing guideline calculations, enhancements, and the constitutionality of the forfeiture amounts, finding the district court's decisions supported by the evidence.

Criminal Forfeiture / Penalty Fraud
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Apr 2 2026
5th Cir. 25-10292 Per Curiam

United States v. Ealey

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.

Anders Brief Criminal
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Apr 2 2026
11th Cir. 8:08-cr-00027-RAL-TGW-1 Per Curiam

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. CHEDDIE LAMAR GRIFFIN

The Eleventh Circuit dismissed Cheddie Lamar Griffin's appeal from his § 2255 motion denial because his notice of appeal was filed after the statutory deadline. Although the prison mailbox rule applied, the filing date of March 10 missed the 60-day window that expired on March 4.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - Federal Prisoner (28 USC 2255) Habeas Corpus - General (28 USC 2241)
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Apr 2 2026
1st Cir. 25-1203, 25-1259, 25-1327 Panel Decision

United States v. Ponzo

The First Circuit affirmed the sentences and multi-million dollar forfeiture orders against the Ponzo brothers, rejecting their challenges to sentencing enhancements and the calculation of criminal proceeds. The court held that the brothers' elaborate bribery scheme involving Mass Save contractors justified the prison terms and forfeiture amounts under federal law.

Criminal Forfeiture / Penalty Fraud Guidelines Departure
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Apr 2 2026
5th Cir. 25-11045 Per Curiam

United States v. Fulton

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.

Anders Brief Criminal
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Apr 2 2026
11th Cir. 8:04-cr-00327-VMC-NHA-1 Per Curiam

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. EFRAIN RODRIGUEZ-CANDELARIA

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a compassionate release motion, ruling that a defendant's extensive criminal history and the need for public safety outweighed his rehabilitation efforts. The court held that the district court did not abuse its discretion when it found the statutory sentencing factors favored maintaining the original sentence.

Compassionate Release Criminal Drug Trafficking Supervised Release
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Apr 2 2026
1st Cir. 25-1203, 25-1259, 25-1327 Panel Decision

United States v. Ponzo

The First Circuit affirmed the sentences and forfeiture orders of the Ponzo brothers, who orchestrated a massive bribery scheme involving the Mass Save energy program. The court rejected arguments regarding sentencing miscalculations and the constitutionality of the multi-million dollar forfeiture, upholding the penalties as reasonable and supported by the evidence.

Criminal Forfeiture / Penalty Fraud Sentencing Guidelines
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