7th Cir.

United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

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

Mar 11 2026
25-2415 Panel Decision

Carnell D. Taylor v. John Idleburg, et al.

The Seventh Circuit vacated a district court's dismissal of a pretrial detainee's failure-to-protect claim, ruling that the lower court erred in treating defendant-authored documents as incontrovertible contradictions of the plaintiff's allegations. The appellate court held that the attached grievance responses did not definitively refute the detainee's claim that officials had a record of a keep-separate order.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983
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Mar 11 2026
25-2414 Panel Decision

Carnell D. Taylor v. John Idleburg, et al.

The Seventh Circuit vacated a district court's dismissal of a pretrial detainee's failure-to-protect claim, ruling that the lower court erred in treating defendant-authored grievance responses as incontrovertible proof contradicting the plaintiff's allegations. The appellate court held that the attached documents did not definitively refute the detainee's assertion that officials had a record of a keep-separate order.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983
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Mar 10 2026
23-1249 Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. DERRICK DAVIS

The Seventh Circuit affirmed a 84-month prison sentence for a felon in possession of a firearm, rejecting claims that the district court committed procedural error or imposed a substantively unreasonable sentence on remand. The court held that the judge properly relied on the defendant's boastful jail call and extensive criminal history to justify an above-Guidelines sentence, even after agreeing that evidence was insufficient to prove he fired a weapon.

Criminal Drug Trafficking Sentencing Guidelines
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Mar 9 2026
25-2074 Panel Decision

Yinnv Liu v. Monthly

The Seventh Circuit vacated a default judgment against absent e-commerce vendors, ruling that the district court lacked personal jurisdiction due to insufficient evidence of actual sales in Illinois. The court clarified that merely operating an accessible website is not enough to establish jurisdiction under the Lanham Act without proof of forum-specific transactions.

Criminal Embezzlement & Forgery
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Mar 9 2026
25-1739 Panel Decision

ISMAEL TORRIJOS-ZAMORA v. PAMELA J. BONDI, Attorney General of the United States

The Seventh Circuit denied a petition for review of a Board of Immigration Appeals order rejecting an asylum claim because the petitioner failed to prove the gang targeted him for a protected reason. The court upheld the finding that the gang's motivation was purely economic, aimed at recruiting boys for fuel theft rather than punishing the petitioner's civic activities.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Mar 6 2026
25-1304 Panel Decision

ELIAS VILLALOBOS v. LOUIS PICICCO, et al

The Seventh Circuit vacated a district court ruling that granted partial summary judgment to a plaintiff regarding a warrantless home entry, finding that unresolved factual disputes precluded a legal determination on qualified immunity. The appellate court remanded the case for the district court to resolve key factual issues and ensure both prongs of the qualified immunity test are addressed.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Qualified Immunity
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Mar 6 2026
24-3173 Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. JERRON WILLIAMS

The Seventh Circuit dismissed Jerron Williams's appeal because he had contractually waived his right to challenge his conviction in a plea agreement. The court further held that the magistrate judge properly explained the charges, rendering Williams's argument about the statutory classification of the underlying offense moot.

Criminal Firearms
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Mar 5 2026
22-2838 Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. ATORIS JAQUEZ SLATER

The Seventh Circuit affirmed a defendant's sentence after he failed to object to a revised sentencing guideline calculation that applied a higher drug conversion ratio to THC-infused edibles. The court held that the district court acted within its discretion to permit a late government objection to the presentence report and that the defendant waived his substantive argument regarding the conversion ratio by agreeing to the revised calculation.

Criminal Drug Trafficking Sentencing Guidelines
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Mar 4 2026
24-1817 Panel Decision

SHAREEF CHILDS v. CHERYL WEBSTER, et al

The Seventh Circuit held that a prison's refusal to provide accurate prayer schedules does not violate RLUIPA or the Free Exercise Clause when inmates can obtain them through donations or purchase. The court affirmed summary judgment for the defendants, ruling that the de minimis cost of buying a schedule does not constitute a substantial burden on religious exercise.

Civil Civil Rights - Religious Liberty (RLUIPA) Qualified Immunity Summary Judgment
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