James Taylor

Correspondent

James Taylor

Capitol Hill correspondent, covers legislative and political stories.

Criminal Justice

Decisions covered by James Taylor

2,413 decisions
Feb 3 2025
2nd Cir. 22-3076 Panel Decision

In re Shanda Games Ltd. Sec. Litig.

The Second Circuit vacated the dismissal of a securities fraud class action, holding that minority shareholders adequately alleged loss causation and that the scienter of conflicted directors is imputable to the company. The court ruled that the fraud-on-the-market presumption applies to shareholders who forfeited appraisal rights in a freeze-out merger, allowing the case to proceed to trial.

Criminal Embezzlement & Forgery
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Jan 15 2025
9th Cir. 8:23-cv-01798 Published

Carralero v. Bonta

The Ninth Circuit panel denied petitions for rehearing in a Second Amendment case involving California and Hawaii gun carry restrictions. Dissenting judges argued the panel failed to apply proper historical standards and effectively nullified the right to bear arms in public.

Firearms
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Jan 13 2025
2nd Cir. 22-2884 Panel Decision

Mallet v. New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision

The Second Circuit reversed the dismissal of an inmate's Eighth Amendment claim, holding that the statute of limitations did not begin to run until he reasonably suspected he had prostate cancer, not when he was released from prison. The court remanded the case for further proceedings on the claims against two prison doctors while dismissing the claims against a third provider and state officials.

Civil Rights - Section 1983 Criminal Qualified Immunity Statute of Limitations
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Jan 3 2025
2nd Cir. 22-1799 Panel Decision

United States v. Cuomo

The Second Circuit affirmed Guy Cuomo's convictions for computer fraud and identity theft, ruling that impersonating debtors to access state unemployment databases constituted unauthorized access under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. The court also upheld his 45-month sentence, rejecting challenges to the evidence sufficiency and sentencing enhancements.

Criminal Sentencing Guidelines
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Dec 30 2024
9th Cir. 2:20-cr-00095- Published

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. LARRY SENG IN

The Ninth Circuit reversed a district court's suppression order, ruling that handcuffing a suspect during a traffic stop did not constitute an unlawful de facto arrest. The panel held that officers had a reasonable basis to fear for their safety given an unsecured firearm and the suspect's uncooperative demeanor.

Criminal Fifth Amendment - Self-Incrimination Firearms Fourth Amendment - Search & Seizure
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Dec 30 2024
9th Cir. 9:21-cr-00029- Published

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. MICHAEL BLAKE DEFRANCE

The Ninth Circuit reversed Michael Blake DeFrance's conviction for possessing a firearm as a convicted domestic abuser because his prior state offense did not legally require physical force. The court held that Montana's assault statute is too broad to qualify as a predicate offense under federal law because it can be violated by inflicting emotional distress alone.

Criminal Drug Trafficking Firearms
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Dec 30 2024
2nd Cir. 23-793 Per Curiam

Carroll v. Trump

The Second Circuit affirmed the $5 million judgment against Donald Trump, ruling that the district court properly admitted evidence of prior sexual misconduct and a 2005 recording under Federal Rules of Evidence 415 and 404(b). The court held that Trump failed to demonstrate any reversible error or that such rulings affected his substantial rights, thereby denying his request for a new trial.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - General (28 USC 2241)
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Dec 26 2024
9th Cir. 23-1887 Published

Magana-Magana v. Garland

The Ninth Circuit held it has jurisdiction to review whether an alien demonstrated extraordinary circumstances to waive the one-year motion-to-reopen deadline under the Violence Against Women Act. The panel concluded the Board of Immigration Appeals did not abuse its discretion in finding the petitioner failed to meet that standard.

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