4th Cir.

United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

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

May 1 2026
26-6068 Per Curiam

CORVIN JAUWAN YOUNG v. KELLY GOTHARD, South Carolina Department of Mental Health Director; ERIN GAFFNEY, Residential Program (Superintendent), Wellpath Recovery Solutions; JENNI...

The Fourth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a civil rights complaint because the plaintiff failed to file specific objections to a magistrate judge's recommendation. This procedural failure forfeited the plaintiff's right to appellate review of the case's merits.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983
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May 1 2026
25-6168 Per Curiam

NATHAN DAVIS v. JOSEPH WALTERS, Dir. of Virginia Department of Correction

The Fourth Circuit remanded a habeas case to determine if a late notice of appeal should be excused because the petitioner claimed he never received notice of the district court's judgment. The court treated the petitioner's letter as a motion to reopen the appeal period under Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 4(a)(6).

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - State Prisoner (28 USC 2254)
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May 1 2026
26-1061 Per Curiam

In re DEBRA NELSON

The Fourth Circuit denied Debra Nelson's petition for a writ of prohibition, ruling that such relief is an extraordinary remedy unavailable when adequate appellate review exists. The court held that the writ cannot substitute for a direct appeal in her underlying employment discrimination case.

Civil Civil Rights - Employment
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May 1 2026
25-7074 Per Curiam

Richard Vandale Clowney v. SCDC

The Fourth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Richard Vandale Clowney's Section 1983 complaint because his appellate objections to the magistrate judge's recommendation lacked the required specificity. Although Clowney filed objections on time, they were too generalized to alert the district court to the true legal grounds for his appeal, resulting in a waiver of substantive review.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983
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May 1 2026
25-6939 Per Curiam

KEVIN MARK WILLSON v. DIRECTOR SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF PROBATION, PAROLE AND PARDON SERVICES

The Fourth Circuit dismissed an appeal from a district court's dismissal of a habeas petition because the petitioner failed to file specific objections to the magistrate judge's recommendation. This procedural default bars appellate review of the underlying claim's merits, leaving the district court's order in effect.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - State Prisoner (28 USC 2254)
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Apr 30 2026
25-4561 Per Curiam

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. CHARLES DANA JOHNSON, II

The Fourth Circuit affirmed an 84-month sentence for a felon-in-possession conviction, ruling that the district court sufficiently addressed the defendant's mitigating arguments. The court held that a district court need not explicitly spell out responses to defense arguments when the context makes it patently obvious that those arguments were rejected.

Criminal Firearms
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Apr 30 2026
25-1691 Per Curiam

Yates v. U.S. Bank National Association

The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of the Yateses' mortgage dispute, ruling that their claims were barred by the doctrine of res judicata. The court also upheld the lower court's prefiling injunction, finding no abuse of discretion in restricting the plaintiffs' ability to file new lawsuits on the same issues.

Civil Real Property Res Judicata
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