James Taylor

Correspondent

James Taylor

Capitol Hill correspondent, covers legislative and political stories.

Criminal Justice

Decisions covered by James Taylor

1,506 decisions
May 14 2026
5th Cir. 25-50486 Per Curiam

United States v. Tolentino-Cortes

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed a forty-eight-month sentence for illegal reentry. The court held that the district court did not abuse its discretion in imposing an upward variance based on the defendant's criminal and removal history.

May 14 2026
5th Cir. 25-50529 Per Curiam

United States v. Berryman

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit dismissed an appeal after appointed counsel filed a motion to withdraw under Anders v. California. The court found the appeal presented no nonfrivolous issues for review.

May 14 2026
1st Cir. 24-1829 Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. LILIAN GIANG

The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit issued an errata sheet to correct a typographical error in its April twenty-two, two thousand twenty-six opinion. The correction replaces the word restructuring with the word structuring on page nine of the original decision.

May 14 2026
5th Cir. 25-30428 Per Curiam

United States v. Washington

The Fifth Circuit granted the appointed attorney's motion to withdraw and dismissed the appeal due to an insufficiently developed record. The court also denied the defendant's pro se motion to appoint new counsel as untimely.

May 14 2026
4th Cir. 24-4409 Per Curiam

United States v. Sweeley

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed the conviction and sentence of Samuel Sweeley in an unpublished per curiam opinion. The court declined to address a potential error regarding a drug testing payment condition because the defendant did not challenge that specific aspect of his sentence.

May 14 2026
5th Cir. 25-10285 Per Curiam

United States v. Seaton

The Fifth Circuit granted the Federal Public Defender's motion to withdraw from representing Charles Dandraon Seaton. The court dismissed the appeal after finding no nonfrivolous issues for appellate review.

May 14 2026
5th Cir. 25-30506 Per Curiam

United States v. Celestine

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed the conviction of Michael Celestine for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The court held that Celestine's constitutional challenges to the statute were foreclosed by existing precedent.

May 14 2026
5th Cir. 24-60649 Panel Decision

Starbucks Corporation v. National Labor Relations Board

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted Starbucks Corporation's petition for review and vacated the National Labor Relations Board's decision. The court held that the Board failed to adequately consider contradictory evidence regarding the termination of a union organizer.