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.

Feb 26 2026
25-4248 Per Curiam

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. SIDNEY DERROD EVANS, a/k/a Dooley

The Fourth Circuit affirmed a 36-month prison sentence imposed after revoking a defendant's supervised release, rejecting the claim that the upward-variant sentence was plainly unreasonable. The court held that the district court exercised broad discretion and provided an adequate explanation based on the defendant's escalating violations and the need for public protection.

Criminal Sentencing Guidelines
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Feb 20 2026
21-4562 Per Curiam

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. MALIK ELI DAVIS, a/k/a Charles Prince Davis, a/k/a Black

The Fourth Circuit vacated the sentence of a defendant convicted of drug trafficking and firearm possession due to a 'Rogers error' involving ambiguous supervised release conditions. The court held that the district court failed to clearly incorporate the correct standing order, creating a material discrepancy between the oral pronouncement and the written judgment.

Criminal Drug Trafficking
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Mar 30 2026
25-1441 Per Curiam

HALIRON POWER LLC v. FLUOR DANIEL CARIBBEAN, INC.

The Fourth Circuit affirmed a district court's bench verdict against Haliron Power LLC, finding no clear error in the lower court's determination that Haliron failed to prove its claims. The appellate court applied a mixed standard of review, deferring to the district judge's factual findings while reviewing legal conclusions de novo.

Civil Insurance
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Feb 5 2026
24-4410 Per Curiam

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. AHMAD RASHAD MCCLAIN, a/k/a Wop

The Fourth Circuit affirmed a 480-month sentence for drug distribution offenses, ruling that any error in classifying protonitazene as fentanyl under the Sentencing Guidelines was harmless. The court held that the district court explicitly stated it would have imposed the same sentence regardless of the drug classification and that the sentence remained substantively reasonable.

Criminal Drug Trafficking Sentencing Guidelines
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Feb 2 2026
24-2006 Per Curiam

DREAMWORKS MOTORSPORTS, INC v. JONATHAN KLEIN

The Fourth Circuit affirmed a district court's remand of a contract dispute to state court because the defendant removed the case after the one-year statutory deadline had expired. The court held that the plaintiff's strategic delay in scheduling a hearing on a motion to amend the complaint did not constitute bad faith sufficient to excuse the untimely removal.

Civil Contract
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Jan 30 2026
24-7186 Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. GARY LEE HODGES

The Fourth Circuit affirmed Gary Lee Hodges's sentence for attempted enticement of a minor, rejecting his argument that sentencing enhancements do not apply when the victim is a fictitious person created by law enforcement. The court held that the term 'minor' in the Sentencing Guidelines is ambiguous and that the Guidelines' commentary defining 'minor' to include fictitious persons is entitled to deference.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - Federal Prisoner (28 USC 2255) Plain Error Review Sentencing Guidelines
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Jan 29 2026
25-1436 Panel Decision

JEREMY JAMES SKIDMORE v. MICHAEL SCHINKE; GAIL SAUL

The Fourth Circuit vacated a district court ruling that dismissed an employment retaliation case, finding the lower court erred in concluding the plaintiff had no possibility of success against an in-state defendant. The appellate court held that the district court improperly applied a high standard for fraudulent joinder without resolving ambiguous state law questions.

Civil Labor
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Jan 29 2026
25-1032 2-1

SOUTH CAROLINA STATE CONFERENCE OF THE NAACP; DISABILITY RIGHTS SOUTH CAROLINA; JUSTICE 360 Plaintiffs – v. SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE; EDEN HENDRICK

The Fourth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of an institutional reform lawsuit against South Carolina's Department of Juvenile Justice because the plaintiff advocacy groups lacked Article III standing. The court held that organizations cannot substitute for detained juveniles to drive litigation regarding conditions of confinement.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Standing
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Jan 28 2026
23-7016 Panel Decision

TONY DAUGHERTY v. DENNIS DINGUS, Warden

The Fourth Circuit affirmed the denial of habeas relief, holding that a juror's comments about knowing the defendant's family and fearing for their safety were internal to the deliberation process. The court ruled that the West Virginia Supreme Court did not unreasonably apply federal precedent in finding this conduct did not constitute impermissible external influence.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - State Prisoner (28 USC 2254)
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Jan 28 2026
24-6996 Per Curiam

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. MARCUS ROOSEVELT TAYLOR

The Fourth Circuit affirmed the denial of Marcus Taylor's federal post-conviction relief motion, ruling that his challenges to the sufficiency of evidence were procedurally barred. The court further held that Taylor failed to demonstrate ineffective assistance of counsel or the need for an evidentiary hearing regarding his trial strategy claims.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - Federal Prisoner (28 USC 2255) Sixth Amendment - Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Summary Judgment
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