Correspondent
Capitol Hill correspondent, covers legislative and political stories.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit dismissed an appeal regarding claims of ineffective assistance of counsel. The court found the record insufficient to fairly evaluate the defendant's arguments.
The Eighth Circuit enforced an appeal waiver contained in a plea agreement and dismissed the defendant's challenge to his sentence. The court rejected the argument that the district court's failure to explain its sentencing rationale constituted a miscarriage of justice.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted a motion by the Federal Public Defender to withdraw from representing the defendant. The court dismissed the appeal after finding no nonfrivolous issues for appellate review.
The Eighth Circuit affirmed a district court sentence below the United States Sentencing Guidelines range. The court found no abuse of discretion and identified no non-frivolous issues for appeal.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed a conviction for possession of a firearm by a felon. The court held that the defendant's constitutional challenges to the federal statute were foreclosed by existing precedent.
The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a data breach class action, holding that the plaintiff lacked Article III standing due to insufficient allegations linking her injury to the defendant's breach.
The Eleventh Circuit certified questions of state law to the Supreme Courts of Georgia and Florida regarding insurance coverage for opioid epidemic liabilities. The court determined that lower courts should not decide whether liability policies cover costs from mass tort suits without guidance from state high courts.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed a district court ruling that a federal psychiatrist is not entitled to immunity under the Westfall Act for alleged sexual and romantic misconduct with a patient, while granting immunity for non-sexual professional negligence.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed a thirty-six-month prison sentence for a defendant convicted of drug trafficking and firearm offenses. The court rejected the defendant's arguments that the district court failed to adequately explain the sentence or clearly erred in balancing sentencing factors.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed a district court judgment confirming a maritime lien for unpaid towage services against two barges. The court held that the lien supplier lacked actual knowledge of a no-lien clause at the time the contract was finalized.
