Correspondent

James Taylor

Capitol Hill correspondent, covers legislative and political stories.

Criminal Justice

Decisions covered by James Taylor

2,433 decisions

Mar 10 2026

11th Cir. 1:23-cv-21478-RNS Per Curiam

RENELL JONES v. FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of Renell Jones's habeas petition, ruling that Florida state courts reasonably applied federal law regarding his Miranda waiver and invocation of counsel. The court held that a detective's mischaracterization of a rights form as a literacy test did not invalidate the waiver, and that Jones's statements regarding an attorney were too equivocal to require police to stop questioning.

Constitutional Fifth Amendment - Self-Incrimination Habeas Corpus - General (28 USC 2241) Habeas Corpus - State Prisoner (28 USC 2254)

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Mar 10 2026

8th Cir. 24-3433 Panel Decision

United States v. Balentine

The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit has issued an opinion in the case of United States v. Balentine. Judgment has been entered in accordance with the court's decision.

Criminal Other Criminal

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Mar 10 2026

11th Cir. 2:24-cr-00087-TPB-NPM-1 Per Curiam

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. JUAN SEBASTIAN PEREZ

The Eleventh Circuit dismissed Juan Sebastian Perez's appeal of his 360-month sentence because he signed a knowing and voluntary plea agreement containing an enforceable waiver of his right to appeal. The court found the waiver barred Perez's challenge to the sentence's reasonableness and the district court's consideration of sentencing factors.

Child Sexual Abuse Material Criminal Sentencing Guidelines

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Mar 10 2026

7th Cir. 24-1024 Panel Decision

United States v. Bull

The Seventh Circuit affirmed a drug trafficking sentence where the district court relied on the defendant's own post-arrest statements to calculate drug quantities. The court held that self-incriminating statements made by a defendant are sufficiently reliable for sentencing even if the defendant claims they were made while under the influence.

Criminal Drug Trafficking

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Mar 10 2026

11th Cir. 2:21-cr-00103-TPB-KCD-1 Per Curiam

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. DANZAVIERAN DURAND THURMAN

The Eleventh Circuit granted appointed counsel's motion to withdraw from representing the appellant in a direct criminal appeal. The court affirmed the district court's denial of the defendant's motion for sentence reduction under the compassionate release statute.

Compassionate Release Criminal

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Mar 10 2026

11th Cir. 1:25-cv-02372-MHC Per Curiam

JORDAN KERSAINT v. WARDEN VALDOSTA STATE PRISON

The Eleventh Circuit dismissed a habeas appeal because the petitioner filed his notice of appeal before the district court adopted the magistrate judge's report and recommendation. The court held that a magistrate's recommendation is not a final order until adopted, and a subsequent adoption cannot cure a premature filing.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - General (28 USC 2241)

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Mar 10 2026

3rd Cir. 26-1085 Panel Decision

In re WILLIAM F. KAETZ

The Third Circuit denied William Kaetz's petition for a writ of mandamus seeking to overturn rulings in his federal habeas corpus proceeding. The court characterized Kaetz's arguments as frivolous and clarified that mandamus cannot be used as a substitute for the regular appellate process.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - Federal Prisoner (28 USC 2255)

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Mar 10 2026

9th Cir. 3:24-CR-02115-JAH Unpublished

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. JUAN GONZALEZ-LOPEZ

The Ninth Circuit affirmed a forty-month sentence for transporting aliens, rejecting claims that the district court failed to properly apply the advisory Sentencing Guidelines. The court held that the judge adequately explained the upward variance and considered statutory factors without committing procedural error.

Criminal Sentencing Guidelines

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Mar 9 2026

Fed. Cir. 25-1792 Panel Decision

LIGADO NETWORKS LLC v. UNITED STATES 2025-1792

The Federal Circuit affirmed the Court of Federal Claims' jurisdiction to hear Ligado Networks' takings claim but vacated rulings on whether the company holds a protected property right in its radio spectrum license. The court remanded the case because the parties presented arguments at too high a level of generality, requiring a more specific analysis of the Communications Act and FCC actions.

Criminal Robbery & Extortion

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Mar 9 2026

3rd Cir. 2:24-cr-00022-001) Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. BRANDYN ALLEN SEABREEZE

The Third Circuit affirmed Brandyn Allen Seabreeze's conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, ruling that the traffic stop and subsequent search did not violate the Fourth Amendment. The court further held that Seabreeze had knowingly waived his right to appeal the sentencing calculation in his plea agreement.

Criminal Firearms

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