11th Cir.

United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

Every decision we've summarized from United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

Apr 24 2026
5:98-cr-00067-TES-CHW-1 Per Curiam

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. ROBERT LEE SAWYER

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of a prisoner's motion for compassionate release, ruling that the sentencing court lacked authority to reduce a sentence that had already been fully served. The court clarified that when consecutive sentences are imposed at different times for unrelated crimes, the first sentence commences upon imposition, not upon the completion of a subsequent sentence.

Compassionate Release Constitutional Habeas Corpus - General (28 USC 2241)
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Apr 24 2026
3:23-cr-00137-TJC-MCR-1 Per Curiam

United States v. Mackey

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed Anthony Mackey's conviction for felon-in-possession, rejecting his claims that prosecutorial misconduct occurred and that the federal statute is unconstitutional. The court held that the government's closing arguments were reasonable inferences from the evidence and that binding precedent continues to uphold the constitutionality of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1).

Criminal Firearms
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Apr 24 2026
2:19-cv-08032-LSC Per Curiam

Patrick Dewayne Hall v. United States of America

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of Patrick Hall's § 2255 motion, ruling that the district court did not violate the *Clisby* mandate by resolving his ineffective assistance claim in a single sentence. The appellate court found that the district court's reliance on credibility findings and the lack of prejudice established a sufficient record for meaningful review.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - Federal Prisoner (28 USC 2255)
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Apr 24 2026
4:19-cv-01855-CLM Published

ROY STEWART MOORE v. GUY CECIL, et al SENATE MAJORITY PAC "SMP"

The Eleventh Circuit reversed a defamation and false-light judgment against Senate Majority PAC, holding that the plaintiff failed to prove actual malice by clear and convincing evidence. The court ruled that while the ad could imply a defamatory meaning, there was insufficient evidence that the defendants intended or recklessly disregarded that specific implication.

Civil Civil Rights - Voting Summary Judgment
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Apr 24 2026
1:18-cr-00098-SCJ-LTW-1 Per Curiam

United States v. Bickers

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed Mitzi Bickers's 144-month sentence and restitution order, ruling that any procedural error regarding acquitted conduct was harmless. The court further held that Bickers waived her challenge to the restitution amount under the law-of-the-case doctrine.

Criminal Fraud
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Apr 23 2026
5:22-cv-00342-TES-TQL Per Curiam

Daker v. Commissioner, Georgia Department of Corrections

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Waseem Daker's civil rights complaint because he violated a permanent filing injunction issued by the Northern District of Georgia. The court held that federal courts possess inherent authority to prevent vexatious litigants from encroaching on judicial resources, rejecting Daker's argument that the injunction was an impermissible universal injunction under Trump v. CASA.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983
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