James Taylor

Correspondent

James Taylor

Capitol Hill correspondent, covers legislative and political stories.

Criminal Justice

Decisions covered by James Taylor

2,484 decisions
Mar 18 2026
3rd Cir. 22-2511 Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. STEVEN PENNYCOOKE

The Third Circuit affirmed Steven Pennycooke's conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm, upholding the District Court's denial of his motion to suppress evidence. The court held that the officers had reasonable suspicion to seize Pennycooke based on his suspicious conduct and the totality of the circumstances surrounding an anonymous tip about looting.

Criminal Firearms
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Mar 18 2026
6th Cir. 25-1287 Published

Jordan Christopher Danski v. Gary Miniard, Warden

The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed the denial of a federal habeas corpus petition filed by a Michigan prisoner. The court held that the state trial court did not violate constitutional rights by providing aiding-and-abetting jury instructions and that the evidence presented at trial was sufficient to support the convictions.

Criminal Violent Crimes
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Mar 17 2026
4th Cir. 25-4376 Per Curiam

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. DARIUS DEONTAE LITTLE

The Fourth Circuit affirmed the conviction of a convicted felon for firearm possession, rejecting both facial and as-applied Second Amendment challenges. The court held that its prior precedent in United States v. Canada and United States v. Hunt remains binding despite recent Supreme Court rulings.

Criminal Firearms
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Mar 17 2026
10th Cir. 4:23-CV-00045-DN and 4:21-CR-00069-DN-1) Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. CESAR AGUAYO-MONTES

The Tenth Circuit held that defense counsel violated the Sixth Amendment by failing to advise a defendant that his guilty plea to a drug offense would result in practically inevitable deportation. The court reversed the district court's denial of the habeas motion and remanded for a determination of prejudice.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - Federal Prisoner (28 USC 2255) Sixth Amendment - Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
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Mar 17 2026
United States Court… 23-3054 Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. LINWOOD DOUGLAS THORNE

The D.C. Circuit affirmed Linwood Thorne's convictions for drug trafficking and firearms offenses, ruling that law enforcement's good-faith reliance on a cell-site-simulator warrant precluded suppression of evidence. The court declined to decide whether the magistrate judge lacked jurisdiction under Rule 41(b), holding instead that the officers' reasonable reliance on the warrant shielded the evidence from the exclusionary rule.

Criminal Drug Trafficking
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Mar 17 2026
4th Cir. 25-4354 Per Curiam

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. ENGLAND EUGENE ADAMS

The Fourth Circuit affirmed England Eugene Adams' convictions and sentence while dismissing claims barred by his valid plea agreement appeal waiver. The court found the waiver knowing and voluntary under the totality of the circumstances and identified no meritorious issues for appeal.

Criminal Firearms
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Mar 17 2026
10th Cir. 1:24-CR-00112-PAB-1) Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. KYLEAR WILLIAMS

The Tenth Circuit reversed a conviction, ruling that the Fourth Amendment does not permit a protective sweep of a vehicle based solely on a passenger's romantic relationship with an arrested driver. The court held that the government's reliance on this association constituted an impermissible criminality-by-association test rather than a valid totality-of-circumstances analysis for reasonable suspicion.

Criminal Drug Trafficking Fifth Amendment - Self-Incrimination Fourth Amendment - Search & Seizure
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Mar 17 2026
11th Cir. 1:23-cr-20350-JEM-1 Per Curiam

United States v. Johanna Michely Garcia

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed a 240-month sentence for a defendant who orchestrated a $200 million Ponzi scheme, rejecting claims of sentencing guideline miscalculation and substantive unreasonableness. The court held that any potential error in applying victim enhancements was harmless because the statutory maximum sentence remained the same regardless.

Criminal Fraud Sentencing Guidelines
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