Every decision we've summarized from United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
The Sixth Circuit held that the Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission violated a sitting judge's First Amendment rights by attempting to enforce ethics rules against her campaign statements. The court reversed the lower court's denial of relief for two rules, finding the enforcement was not narrowly tailored to serve a compelling state interest.
The Sixth Circuit held that the Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission violated a judge's First Amendment rights by attempting to enforce ethics rules against her campaign statements. The court reversed the lower court's denial of relief for two rules, ruling that the state's interest in judicial integrity did not justify suppressing speech that was readily capable of a true interpretation.
The Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Sixth Circuit reversed a bankruptcy court order confirming a Chapter 13 plan that attempted to retain a secured creditor's lien until the completion of plan payments rather than until discharge. The court held that the Bankruptcy Code's plain language requires lien retention until the earlier of debt payment or discharge, leaving no room for judicial modification when a debtor is ineligible for discharge.
The Sixth Circuit vacated a district court's dismissal of a § 1983 complaint alleging due process violations in a child custody removal, ruling that the domestic-relations exception does not automatically bar federal constitutional claims. The appellate court remanded the case for further proceedings, determining that the lower court prematurely dismissed the complaint without allowing the plaintiff to prove her federal claims.
The Sixth Circuit reversed summary judgment for an officer in a Fourth Amendment excessive force case, finding a genuine dispute of material fact regarding the timing of a chokehold. The court held that whether the deadly force was applied before or after the plaintiff attempted to grab the officer's gun is a factual question for a jury to decide.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed the denial of a federal habeas corpus petition filed by a death-row prisoner. The court held that the petitioner failed to demonstrate that false witness testimony or an alleged coerced jury waiver warranted relief under federal law.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed the denial of a death-row prisoner's federal habeas corpus petition. The court rejected claims regarding false witness testimony, jury trial waiver validity, and ineffective assistance of counsel.
The Sixth Circuit reversed the denial of qualified immunity for high-level prison officials, holding that their reliance on incompetent medical contractors did not constitute a clearly established Eighth Amendment violation. While the court affirmed that the officials were not the proximate cause of the injuries under state law, it remanded the case to allow the plaintiffs to pursue their state-law negligence claims.
The Sixth Circuit reversed the denial of qualified immunity for high-level prison officials who relied on contracted medical providers to treat a scabies outbreak. The court held that officials are not liable for the incompetence of contractors unless their own actions were so unreasonable as to violate clearly established law.
The Sixth Circuit denied a petition for review challenging the Board of Immigration Appeals' dismissal of a motion to reopen removal proceedings. The court held that the petitioner failed to demonstrate the exceptional circumstances required to rescind an in absentia removal order.