Every decision we've summarized from United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed a defendant's sentence for firearm possession and witness tampering. The court held that the district court correctly calculated the base offense level and did not abuse its discretion in rejecting the defendant's arguments for a downward departure.
The Fourth Circuit vacated a civil contempt order against an attorney who failed to submit a court-ordered statement to a foreign tribunal. The court held that the district court abused its discretion because the moving party failed to prove the attorney's noncompliance caused actual harm.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for the defendant on most employment claims brought by a former department chair. However, the court vacated the lower court's ruling on a retaliation claim regarding the accelerated timeline of the plaintiff's removal.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed a district court's grant of summary judgment for prison officials sued over the Eighth Amendment death of an inmate. The court held that the officers did not act with the deliberate indifference required to establish a constitutional violation.
The Fourth Circuit granted a petition for review and vacated a removal order against a lawful permanent resident convicted of embezzlement under Virginia law. The court held that the state statute does not categorically require fraudulent or deceitful conduct to constitute an aggravated felony under federal immigration law.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the denial of a motion to dismiss an illegal reentry indictment because the defendant failed to exhaust administrative remedies. The court held that a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel regarding an immigration appeal must be presented to the Board of Immigration Appeals before it can be raised in federal court.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit dismissed an appeal filed by a pro se prisoner challenging a district court order. The court held that the order appealed was neither a final order nor an appealable interlocutory or collateral order.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a second motion for compassionate release. The court held that even if extraordinary and compelling reasons existed, the statutory factors counseled against granting relief.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a motion for compassionate release filed by Matthew Darnell Pittman. The appellate court found no abuse of discretion in the lower court's conclusion that Pittman failed to establish extraordinary and compelling reasons for sentence reduction.
The Fourth Circuit clarified that federal habeas courts must defer only to the last state court decision that provides reasoned analysis on the merits. In this ineffective assistance of counsel claim, the court affirmed the denial of relief because the state appellate court's finding of no prejudice was reasonable.