Correspondent
Capitol Hill correspondent, covers legislative and political stories.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted a motion by the Federal Public Defender to withdraw from representing Michael Milaro. The court dismissed the appeal after finding no nonfrivolous issues for appellate review.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit dismissed an appeal after appointed counsel filed a motion to withdraw under Anders v. California. The court agreed with counsel that the appeal presented no nonfrivolous issues for review.
The Eighth Circuit affirmed a 168-month prison sentence for a defendant convicted of transporting a minor for sexual activity. The court rejected arguments that the sentence was substantively unreasonable and declined to address an ineffective assistance of counsel claim on direct appeal.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the denial of a federal habeas corpus petition filed by a death row inmate challenging the Idaho Supreme Court's rejection of a clemency recommendation. The panel held that the inmate's due process claim was not cognizable in federal court and failed on the merits under the deferential standards of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of a motion for compassionate release. The court held that the district court did not abuse its discretion in weighing the statutory sentencing factors.
The Ninth Circuit reversed a district court ruling that denied qualified immunity to police officers in a civil rights suit. The court held that the right to familial association was not clearly established at the time of the alleged misconduct in the early nineteen nineties.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of a motion to reduce a sentence based on a retroactive sentencing guideline amendment. The court held that the district court did not abuse its discretion when it weighed the nature of the offense and the defendant's obstructive conduct against the request for a lower sentence.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed an indefinite suspension without pay imposed on a Department of Justice employee following a sexual abuse indictment. The court held that the agency had reasonable cause to suspend the employee and that the suspension duration was reasonable pending the resolution of criminal charges.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the conviction and sentence of a defendant who orchestrated a fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program scheme with her attorney. The court found the evidence sufficient to prove wire fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering, and upheld the district court's calculation of loss and restitution.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed the denial of a preliminary injunction sought by media groups challenging Indiana's policy restricting execution attendance. The court held that the First Amendment does not grant a qualified right of public access to view executions, as they lack a historical tradition of openness to the general public.
