Correspondent
Capitol Hill correspondent, covers legislative and political stories.
The Sixth Circuit reversed a district court order reducing a defendant's sentence based on youth and rehabilitation, holding these factors do not constitute extraordinary and compelling reasons under the compassionate-release statute.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed that the government's position was not substantially justified under the Equal Access to Justice Act. The court reversed the district court's fee reduction and remanded for a higher award based on the plaintiffs' significant success.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's sentence of eight months imprisonment and twelve months supervised release following a supervised release revocation. The court remanded the case solely to correct the written judgment to align with the oral pronouncement regarding restitution interest.
The Tenth Circuit denied a certificate of appealability and dismissed a habeas petition because the underlying state court order was declared void. The court held that no reasonable jurist could debate the propriety of dismissing a petition challenging a non-existent judgment.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed a seventy-month prison sentence for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aiding and abetting aggravated identity theft. The court held that the district court did not abuse its discretion by adequately considering the defendant's medical needs during sentencing.
The Tenth Circuit enforced an appeal waiver contained in a plea agreement, dismissing the defendant's challenge to her sentence. The court lifted an abatement pending a Supreme Court decision that ultimately rejected the defendant's argument that a district court's statement about appeal rights negates a waiver.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit dismissed an appeal challenging a term of supervised release. The court found the case moot because the appellant had completed his supervised release term while the appeal was pending.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted a motion by appointed counsel to withdraw from representing the defendant. The court dismissed the appeal after finding no nonfrivolous issues for appellate review.
The Eleventh Circuit vacated a sentence for a felon in possession of a firearm because the district court relied on insufficient evidence to apply a sentencing guideline cross-reference. The court granted a joint motion for summary reversal, finding the government failed to prove the necessary factual basis for the enhanced offense level.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted a motion by appointed counsel to withdraw from representing the defendant. The court dismissed the appeal after finding no nonfrivolous issues for appellate review.
