James Taylor

Correspondent

James Taylor

Capitol Hill correspondent, covers legislative and political stories.

Criminal Justice

Decisions covered by James Taylor

1,523 decisions
Apr 2 2026
7th Cir. 24-2432 Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. EDLANDO M. WATSON

The Seventh Circuit affirmed Edlando Watson's conviction for possessing a firearm as a felon, holding that disarming individuals convicted of dangerous drug-dealing felonies aligns with the nation's historical tradition. The court applied the Supreme Court's two-step *Bruen* test to find the statute constitutional as applied to Watson, while explicitly declining to rule on whether non-dangerous felons may be similarly restricted.

Criminal Drug Trafficking Firearms
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Apr 2 2026
5th Cir. 25-40311 Per Curiam

United States v. Pena-Llanas

The Fifth Circuit granted the Federal Public Defender's motion to withdraw from representing Mario Pena-Llanas, finding no nonfrivolous issues for appeal. The court dismissed the consolidated appeals after reviewing the record and finding no meritorious grounds for reversal.

Anders Brief Criminal
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Apr 2 2026
7th Cir. 25-1553 Panel Decision

THOMAS T.D. POLK v. PROGRESSIVE NORTHERN INSURANCE COMPANY and SECURA SU- PREME INSURANCE COMPANY

The Seventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment for Progressive and Secura, holding that Illinois law permits anti-stacking provisions to cap total recovery at the highest single-policy limit. The court ruled that the plaintiff's existing $900,000 recovery from other sources satisfied the cap, leaving the insurers liable only for the remaining $100,000.

Civil ERISA / Employee Benefits Insurance Summary Judgment
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Apr 2 2026
10th Cir. 1:25-CR-00101-SWS-1) Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. SCOTT VANGOETHEN

The Tenth Circuit granted the government's motion to enforce a plea agreement appeal waiver, dismissing Scott Vangoethen's direct appeal. Because the appellant waived his right to challenge the sentence and offered no valid exceptions, the court found no legal basis to proceed.

Criminal Other Criminal
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Apr 2 2026
7th Cir. 25-2361 Panel Decision

KENNETH KARWACKI v. JOSH KAUL, Attorney General of Wisconsin

The Seventh Circuit affirmed the denial of a concealed-carry permit to a former soldier with a military drug conviction, holding that the Full Faith and Credit Clause does not restrict states from imposing firearm disabilities based on federal military judgments. The court further ruled that Wisconsin's prohibition on firearm possession for individuals convicted of distributing drugs is constitutional both on its face and as applied to the appellant.

Criminal Drug Trafficking Firearms
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Apr 2 2026
5th Cir. 25-10468 Per Curiam

United States of America v. Carlos Robles

The Fifth Circuit affirmed Carlos Robles's sentence, ruling that the district court properly applied sentencing guidelines cross-references and enhancements based on relevant conduct involving grooming and sexual acts with a minor. The court further upheld supervised release conditions requiring SORNA compliance and polygraph testing as reasonably related to public safety and the nature of the offense.

Child Sexual Abuse Material Criminal Sentencing Guidelines Supervised Release
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Apr 2 2026
5th Cir. 25-40563 Per Curiam

United States v. Juares-Perez

The Fifth Circuit granted the Federal Public Defender's motion to withdraw from representing the defendant on appeal. The court dismissed the criminal appeal after determining that the case presented no nonfrivolous issues for review.

Anders Brief Criminal
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Apr 2 2026
3rd Cir. 25-2718 Panel Decision

JOSHUA ANTHONY JONES v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

The Third Circuit summarily affirmed the dismissal of a pro se complaint alleging unconsented human experimentation, holding that sovereign immunity bars claims against the federal government absent an explicit statutory waiver. The court modified the lower court's judgment to dismiss the complaint without prejudice, correcting the procedural error of dismissing for lack of subject matter jurisdiction with prejudice.

Civil Other Civil
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Apr 2 2026
4th Cir. 25-4044 Per Curiam

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. SEBASTIAN REIGLE

The Fourth Circuit affirmed Sebastian Reigle's thirty-month upward variance sentence, ruling that the district court did not abuse its discretion by implicitly addressing his disparity argument. The court held that the sentencing judge's explicit rejection of Reigle's conduct as typical satisfied the requirement to consider all non-frivolous reasons for a lower sentence.

Criminal Guidelines Departure Sentencing Guidelines
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