James Taylor

Correspondent

James Taylor

Capitol Hill correspondent, covers legislative and political stories.

Criminal Justice

Decisions covered by James Taylor

2,423 decisions
Feb 11 2026
11th Cir. 8:20-cv-00936-KKM-AAS Published

O'Neal v. American Shaman Franchise Systems, Inc.

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a franchisee's fraudulent transfer claims, holding that a settlement agreement barring non-FLSA claims remains enforceable even if the FLSA claims within it lacked required court approval. The court clarified that while the Fair Labor Standards Act mandates judicial or Department of Labor oversight for wage claims, state contract law governs the release of all other claims settled in the same agreement.

Civil Labor
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Feb 10 2026
7th Cir. 25-1101 Panel Decision

THOMAS EDWARD MARTIN v. JOHN R. GREENWOOD and MARY JO STVAN

The Seventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a former employer's civil rights and state-law claims while modifying the dismissal of his interpleader claim to be without prejudice. The court held that the plaintiff's claims were barred by the statute of limitations, the Rooker-Feldman doctrine, or a lack of subject-matter jurisdiction.

Civil Rights - Section 1983 Criminal Fraud Qualified Immunity
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Feb 10 2026
7th Cir. 22-3278 Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. EUNICE D. SALLEY

The Seventh Circuit affirmed Eunice Salley's conviction, ruling that her waiver of the right to counsel was knowing and voluntary despite her insistence on self-representation. The court rejected her appeal, finding no error in the district court's allowance of her pro se status while appointing stand-by counsel.

Criminal Fraud
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Feb 10 2026
7th Cir. 25-1015 Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. ERIK HARBIN

The Seventh Circuit affirmed the revocation of Erik Harbin's supervised release and his 15-month prison sentence, rejecting his claim that the district court improperly relied on his original offense's seriousness. The court held that the district judge's references to the original crime were permissible context for a breach-of-trust rationale rather than prohibited retribution.

Criminal Drug Trafficking Sentencing Guidelines Supervised Release
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Feb 10 2026
11th Cir. 1:22-cr-00028-LAG-TQL-1 Per Curiam

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. TOMARIO RICARDO HICKS

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed Tomario Hicks's 180-month sentence for being a felon in possession of a firearm, ruling that his prior marijuana convictions qualified as predicate offenses under the Armed Career Criminal Act. The court also rejected Hicks's Second Amendment challenge, holding that binding precedent prohibits felons from possessing firearms regardless of recent Supreme Court rulings.

Criminal Drug Trafficking
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Feb 10 2026
11th Cir. 1:22-cr-00060-MLB-RGV-1 Published

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. MALACHI MULLINGS

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of Malachi Mullings's motion to withdraw his guilty plea, rejecting his claim that his attorney coerced him into pleading. The court also upheld his 120-month sentence, finding no procedural or substantive unreasonableness in the district court's application of sentencing enhancements.

Criminal Fraud Money Laundering Sentencing Guidelines
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Feb 9 2026
9th Cir. 24-5467 Published

United States v. Tekola

The Ninth Circuit affirmed a defendant's sentence for drug trafficking where the district court applied a sentencing enhancement for maintaining a premises for distribution. The court held that drug trafficking can constitute a primary use of a residence even when the property also serves as the defendant's home.

Criminal Drug Trafficking Sentencing Guidelines
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Feb 6 2026
5th Cir. 25-20496 Panel Decision

Buenrostro-Mendez v. Bondi

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reversed district court orders granting bond hearings to two illegal entrants. The court held that aliens present in the United States without admission are applicants for admission subject to mandatory detention without bond under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Feb 5 2026
7th Cir. 24-2819 Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. ANTONIO CARRAZCO-MARTINEZ

The Seventh Circuit affirmed a drug trafficking conviction, ruling that the government acted in good faith when using a cell-site simulator warrant authorized under the Pen Register Act. The court also held that specific drug quantities are sentencing factors rather than elements of the crime, so juries need not find them to convict.

Criminal Drug Trafficking
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Feb 5 2026
4th Cir. 24-4410 Per Curiam

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. AHMAD RASHAD MCCLAIN, a/k/a Wop

The Fourth Circuit affirmed a 480-month sentence for drug distribution offenses, ruling that any error in classifying protonitazene as fentanyl under the Sentencing Guidelines was harmless. The court held that the district court explicitly stated it would have imposed the same sentence regardless of the drug classification and that the sentence remained substantively reasonable.

Criminal Drug Trafficking Sentencing Guidelines
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