Correspondent
Capitol Hill correspondent, covers legislative and political stories.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed the conviction of Jose Leonel Beltran-Nino for illegal reentry. The court rejected the defendant's constitutional challenge to a statutory sentencing enhancement as foreclosed by binding precedent.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed a district court's decision to revoke supervised release and impose a nine-month prison term after a defendant traveled to an unauthorized district. The court held that the district court acted within its broad discretion in weighing statutory factors to determine the sentence was substantively reasonable.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed the conviction and sentence of Gustavo Salas-Romero for illegal reentry. The court held that Salas-Romero's constitutional challenge to the sentencing enhancement is foreclosed by existing Supreme Court precedent.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit dismissed an appeal filed by a federal prisoner seeking relief under Section twenty-eight U.S.C. Section two thousand two hundred fifty-five. The court denied a certificate of appealability because the appellant failed to make a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right.
The Fifth Circuit held that the Food and Drug Administration violated a vape manufacturer's Seventh Amendment right to a jury trial by imposing civil penalties through an administrative proceeding. The court granted the petition and vacated the agency's decision to levy a nineteen thousand one hundred ninety-two dollar penalty.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit dismissed an appeal by a North Carolina prisoner seeking relief under a habeas corpus petition. The court found that the petitioner failed to make the requisite showing to obtain a certificate of appealability.
The Fifth Circuit clarified the proper procedural mechanism for appealing pretrial release orders. The court affirmed the release conditions but vacated the injunction preventing Immigration and Customs Enforcement from taking custody of the defendant.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed the admission of tribal enrollment records and self-defense instructions but reversed the first-degree murder conviction due to a jury instruction error. The court remanded the case with instructions to vacate the murder conviction and conduct further proceedings.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a federal prisoner's petition challenging the execution of her sentence. The appellate court found that the petitioner failed to exhaust her administrative remedies and did not demonstrate that exhaustion would have been futile.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed the conviction of a felon for possessing a firearm found in his vehicle. The court held that the traffic stop was supported by reasonable suspicion and that the evidence was sufficient to prove constructive possession.
