Correspondent
Capitol Hill correspondent, covers legislative and political stories.
The Ninth Circuit vacated a district court's dismissal of a federal prisoner's habeas petition because the lower court failed to provide notice and an opportunity to respond. The appellate court remanded the case to ensure the petitioner received the procedural protections required under Ninth Circuit precedent.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a federal prisoner's habeas corpus petition challenging his classification as a disruptive group member. The court held that federal courts lack jurisdiction to review the Bureau of Prisons' discretionary determinations under the relevant statute.
The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed the conviction and sentence of Jose Padilla-Galarza for a scheme to steal firearms from a Puerto Rico police compound, rejecting arguments regarding the statute of limitations and trial delays.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the denial of a habeas corpus petition challenging a Bureau of Prisons calculation of good conduct time credits. The court held that the Bureau of Prisons properly applied statutory guidelines to reduce credits for disciplinary violations even when the inmate was serving a life sentence.
The Tenth Circuit reversed the dismissal of charges against defendants who sold unprocessed poppy seeds coated in opium latex. The court held that extracting opioids from these seeds to make tea constitutes manufacturing a controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed the conviction and sentence of a defendant convicted of felon possession of ammunition. The court held that while the district court erred in admitting evidence of the defendant's prior conviction, the error was harmless given the overwhelming evidence of guilt.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit affirmed a 42-month prison sentence for illegal re-entry, rejecting the defendant's claim that the sentence was substantively unreasonable despite the advisory Guidelines range being significantly lower.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the conviction and sentence of a convicted felon for possessing a firearm. The court rejected challenges regarding an armed career criminal enhancement, sufficiency of the evidence, and a constitutional claim under the Bruen framework.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed a 151-month sentence for drug distribution, rejecting the defendant's claim that the district court gave undue weight to his extensive criminal history.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the convictions and sentences of two defendants who orchestrated a fraudulent discount scheme involving medical and consumer goods. The court rejected challenges to the indictment, evidentiary rulings, and sentencing enhancements, while remanding for the correction of clerical errors in the criminal judgment.
