Correspondent
Capitol Hill correspondent, covers legislative and political stories.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed a district court order denying a defendant's request to run his federal sentence concurrently with a state sentence. The appellate court held that the district court lacked the legal authority to modify the already-imposed federal sentence under the circumstances presented.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed the drug trafficking and firearms convictions of Jerlen Horton and Jacoby Summers. The court found the evidence sufficient to prove firearm possession in furtherance of drug trafficking and determined that any trial errors were harmless.
The Eleventh Circuit granted appointed counsel's motion to withdraw from representing the defendant in a direct criminal appeal. The court affirmed the conviction and sentence after an independent review found no arguable issues of merit.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the denial of a motion for compassionate release filed by Curtis Washington. The court held that Washington failed to demonstrate extraordinary and compelling reasons because he had not served the required ten years of imprisonment.
The Eighth Circuit reversed a sentencing enhancement applied to a defendant convicted of drug trafficking while on pretrial release. The court held that the district court erred by applying a leadership enhancement without finding that the defendant organized or supervised another participant.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of a death row inmate's habeas corpus petition regarding jury instructions on intent. The court held that the state court did not unreasonably apply federal law in finding the instructions did not violate due process.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit dismissed an appeal filed by a state prisoner seeking relief under the federal habeas corpus statute. The court denied a certificate of appealability because the petitioner failed to make a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right.
The Eighth Circuit affirmed a one hundred forty month prison sentence for a felon in possession of a firearm. The court held the district court did not abuse its discretion in imposing an upward variance based on the defendant's repeated dangerous conduct.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed a conviction for a felon in possession of a firearm. The court held that binding precedent forecloses a Second Amendment challenge to the statute.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit dismissed an appeal filed by a state prisoner seeking habeas corpus relief. The court denied the petitioner's request for a certificate of appealability because he failed to make a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right.
