James Taylor

Correspondent

James Taylor

Capitol Hill correspondent, covers legislative and political stories.

Criminal Justice

Decisions covered by James Taylor

2,423 decisions
Mar 3 2026
10th Cir. 4:24-CR-00051-SEH-1) Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. MARCO DIONTE ATKINS

The Tenth Circuit affirmed Marco Atkins' convictions for assault and firearm offenses, ruling that any error in admitting a government agent's testimony about security footage did not affect the outcome of the trial. The court held that the evidence of guilt was so substantial that the jury would have convicted Atkins regardless of the agent's statements.

Criminal Firearms
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Mar 3 2026
10th Cir. 2:20-CR-00284-TS-3) Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. NELLY IDOWU

The Tenth Circuit affirmed Nelly Idowu's conviction and sentence, rejecting her claim that the district court misapplied sentencing guidelines for money laundering. The court held that because Idowu failed to object to the guideline calculation at sentencing, she could only succeed by showing plain error, which she could not establish.

Criminal Fraud Money Laundering Plain Error Review
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Mar 3 2026
8th Cir. 24-3420 Panel Decision

United States v. Gaddy

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

Criminal Other Criminal
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Mar 2 2026
7th Cir. 22-1082 Panel Decision

CROTHERSVILLE LIGHTHOUSE TABERNACLE CHURCH, INCORPORATED v. CHURCH MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY, S.I

The Seventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment for an insurer, holding that a church breached its policy by delaying repairs for two years while disputing cost estimates. The court ruled that the contractual obligation to rebuild 'as soon as reasonably possible' is a strict condition precedent that cannot be bypassed by valuation disputes.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - General (28 USC 2241) Summary Judgment
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Mar 2 2026
6th Cir. 25-1604 Published

United States v. Robledo

The Sixth Circuit affirmed a 37-month prison sentence for drug possession with intent to distribute, rejecting the defendant's claim that the district court improperly prioritized Sentencing Guidelines over statutory factors. The court held that the district judge conducted a thorough review of the defendant's history and the nature of the offense, finding no abuse of discretion.

Criminal Sentencing Guidelines
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Mar 2 2026
6th Cir. 24-5953 Published

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. RIHANNA BUDDI

The Sixth Circuit reversed a defendant's Tier II sex offender classification under SORNA, holding that her underlying Florida conviction did not meet the federal mens rea requirements for heightened tier status. The court also vacated a twenty-year supervised release sentence, finding the district court procedurally erred by miscalculating the applicable sentencing guidelines.

Criminal Firearms Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Guidelines
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Mar 2 2026
3rd Cir. 25-1662 Panel Decision

SELASSIE ATOKLO v. ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

The Third Circuit denied a petition for review seeking withholding of removal and Convention Against Torture protection for a Ghanaian national convicted of federal fraud and money laundering crimes. The court upheld the Board of Immigration Appeals' finding that the petitioner failed to provide substantial evidence that he faced a clear probability of future persecution or torture upon return to Ghana.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Mar 2 2026
1st Cir. 25-1265 Panel Decision

City of Boston v. OptumRx, Inc.

The First Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Boston's public nuisance lawsuit against pharmacy benefit managers, ruling the claims were barred by the three-year statute of limitations. The court held that the City had actual knowledge of the alleged wrongdoing well before 2021, precluding tolling under the fraudulent concealment doctrine.

Civil Consumer Protection Statute of Limitations
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Mar 2 2026
1st Cir. 25-1258 Panel Decision

City of Boston v. OptumRx, Inc.

The First Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Boston's public nuisance lawsuit against pharmacy benefit managers, ruling the claim was barred by the three-year statute of limitations. The court held that the City had actual knowledge of the alleged wrongdoing well before the filing deadline and failed to plead a continuing nuisance theory under Massachusetts law.

Civil Consumer Protection Statute of Limitations
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