Every decision we've summarized from United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed Gary Duane Cool's conviction for methamphetamine trafficking, finding no plain error in the district court's acceptance of his guilty plea. The court held that the magistrate judge fully complied with Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11, ensuring the plea was knowing, voluntary, and supported by a sufficient factual basis.
The Fourth Circuit denied a petition for an extraordinary writ seeking to enjoin a state court order that prohibited the petitioner from practicing law. The court held it lacked jurisdiction to issue such relief because the requested injunction was not incidental to its appellate jurisdiction and the petitioner had other adequate means to challenge the order.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed an 18-month supervised release revocation sentence, applying a deferential abuse-of-discretion standard to the district court's decision. The court held that the sentence was procedurally and substantively reasonable given the defendant's repeated violations and the district court's adequate explanation of its reasoning.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a Title VII claim because the plaintiff failed to file a formal EEO complaint within the mandatory 15-day window. The court held that this statutory deadline is a non-waivable claim-processing rule that bars federal litigation when missed.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a former employee's claims for unpaid profit-sharing, ruling that oral agreements contradicting a written contract's 'Entire Agreement' clause are unenforceable. The court held that the written contract's explicit statement of 'full compensation' barred quasi-contractual theories like promissory estoppel and unjust enrichment.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a pro se litigant's motion for sanctions, ruling that the motion failed to satisfy the mandatory safe harbor provision and was untimely. The court also upheld the rejection of a motion for reconsideration because the appellant failed to identify errors or present new evidence.
The Fourth Circuit dismissed Robert Allen McClinton's appeal from his denied § 2255 motion because his notice of appeal was filed well past the 60-day deadline. The court rejected McClinton's claim that the prison mailbox rule applied, finding he failed to deliver the notice to prison officials within the statutory period.
The Fourth Circuit denied Michael R. White's petition for a writ of mandamus, ruling the case moot because the district court had already issued a final order on his motion. The court found no live controversy remained to justify an appellate directive forcing the district court to act.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for law enforcement officers, holding that a traffic stop and arrest warrant were supported by probable cause under the totality of the circumstances. The court found sufficient evidence of witness intimidation to justify the seizure, rejecting the plaintiff's Fourth Amendment claim.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of Jesse D. Pellow's civil action against the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. The court found no reversible error in the lower court's ruling, leaving the plaintiff without a federal forum to pursue his claims.