James Taylor

Correspondent

James Taylor

Capitol Hill correspondent, covers legislative and political stories.

Criminal Justice

Decisions covered by James Taylor

1,506 decisions
May 1 2026
11th Cir. 8:23-cv-00676-WFJ-CPT Per Curiam

Giehl v. Ocwen Financial Corporation

The Eleventh Circuit vacated a federal dismissal order and remanded with instructions to dismiss without prejudice, clarifying that the Rooker-Feldman doctrine does not bar claims for damages against private parties in state court proceedings. The court held that the plaintiff's federal claims were wholly insubstantial because they lacked a plausible foundation in federal law and did not involve state action.

Criminal Fraud
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May 1 2026
4th Cir. 25-6600 Per Curiam

TIMOTHY O'NEIL BULLOCK v. JOSEPH WALTERS, Director of the Virginia Department of Corrections; COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY GENERAL

The Fourth Circuit denied a certificate of appealability and dismissed Timothy Bullock's appeal of his dismissed habeas petition because he failed to make a substantial showing that reasonable jurists could debate the district court's procedural ruling. The court held that Bullock's informal brief was insufficient to preserve any issues for review, resulting in the immediate termination of the appellate proceeding.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - State Prisoner (28 USC 2254)
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May 1 2026
11th Cir. 2:24-cr-14058-DMM-2 Per Curiam

United States v. Denzil Olajuwon Stewart

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of Denzil Stewart's motion for a new trial based on newly discovered evidence. The court held that the evidence merely constituted cumulative impeachment of a cooperating witness and was insufficient to likely change the trial's outcome given the overwhelming proof of guilt.

Criminal Drug Trafficking
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May 1 2026
4th Cir. 26-1157 Per Curiam

In re JEANNETTE SOTO SANTINI

The Fourth Circuit denied a petition for a writ of mandamus because the underlying dispute was moot. The court found that the district court had already transmitted the notice of appeal and resolved all related postjudgment motions.

Civil Mootness Other Civil
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May 1 2026
6th Cir. 25-6101 Unanimous

United States v. Turner

The Sixth Circuit affirmed a 246-month sentence for a defendant who committed three armed carjackings as a teenager, ruling that the district court did not abuse its discretion by weighing his extensive juvenile criminal history as an aggravating factor. The court held that the sentencing judge properly balanced the defendant's youth and background against the need for deterrence and the statutory mandatory minimums.

Criminal Firearms
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May 1 2026
4th Cir. 25-6168 Per Curiam

NATHAN DAVIS v. JOSEPH WALTERS, Dir. of Virginia Department of Correction

The Fourth Circuit remanded a habeas case to determine if a late notice of appeal should be excused because the petitioner claimed he never received notice of the district court's judgment. The court treated the petitioner's letter as a motion to reopen the appeal period under Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 4(a)(6).

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - State Prisoner (28 USC 2254)
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May 1 2026
5th Cir. 26-10117 Per Curiam

Carson v. Guerrero

The Fifth Circuit vacated a district court's denial of a prisoner's Rule 60(b) motion because the motion functioned as an unauthorized successive habeas petition. The court held that the prisoner's claims did not allege a defect in the integrity of the prior proceedings, which is the only exception to the bar on successive petitions.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - General (28 USC 2241) Habeas Corpus - State Prisoner (28 USC 2254)
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May 1 2026
5th Cir. 25-30187 Per Curiam

United States of America v. Kenric W. Young

The Fifth Circuit affirmed Kenric W. Young's conviction and 322-month sentence, finding no plain error in the district court's denial of his suppression motion or its career offender classification. The court held that the officer's reasonable suspicion to conduct a pat-down was supported by the totality of circumstances, including flight and a visible bulge, and that Young failed to prove a realistic probability that his prior state conviction would not qualify as a predicate offense.

Criminal Drug Trafficking Sentencing Guidelines
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May 1 2026
8th Cir. 24-3400 Panel Decision

United States of America v. Quivadas Quadell-Lee Gaines

The Eighth Circuit affirmed the 115-month prison sentence for a felon in possession of a firearm, rejecting a facial constitutional challenge under Bruen. The court also upheld a sentencing enhancement for possessing a firearm in connection with another felony based on sufficient evidence linking the gun to the defendant's theft.

Criminal Firearms
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