Every decision we've summarized from United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed LaVaughn Odom's 192-month sentence for drug trafficking and firearm offenses, ruling that the district court did not commit procedural or substantive error. The court held that the sentence was reasonable despite being below the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines range.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed the Village of St. Bernard's billboard ordinance, ruling that its unconstitutional exemption for public service signs is severable from the rest of the regulations. The court held that the remaining ordinance satisfies intermediate scrutiny as a valid content-neutral time, place, and manner restriction on speech.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of the Weatherholts' Fourth Amendment excessive force claim, ruling that their complaint failed to plausibly allege a constitutional violation. The court held that the plaintiffs' bare assertions of force were insufficient to survive a motion to dismiss, particularly given video evidence that contradicted their version of events.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed a district court's decision to impose consecutive sentences for drug distribution, money laundering, and a supervised release violation. The court held that the district court did not plainly err in considering the seriousness of the violation conduct or in explaining its rationale for running the terms consecutively.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed the district court's judgment, rejecting Demetrius Catching's appeal regarding his sentences for new federal drug distribution and money laundering offenses committed while on supervised release. The court found no error in the imposition of consecutive within-Guidelines sentences totaling 93 months for the new crimes and 55 months for the supervised release violation.
The Sixth Circuit denied Amadou Sy's petition for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals' decision, upholding the finding that his testimony regarding alleged persecution in Mauritania lacked credibility. The court concluded that substantial evidence supported the immigration judge's determination that Sy's accounts of repeated arrests were strikingly similar and implausible.
The Sixth Circuit upheld the constitutionality of AEDPA and affirmed the denial of Sanders's habeas petition. The court found no merit in Sanders's claims regarding jury instructions and ineffective assistance of counsel.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed Amador Magallon Guerrero's convictions for drug trafficking and money laundering, rejecting his claims that his confession and cellphone searches violated the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments. The court held that Guerrero failed to prove his statements were coerced or that his consent to search his phones was involuntary.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for Meharry Medical College, ruling that a resident physician failed to prove pretext in his FMLA retaliation claim. The court held that the college's stated reasons for suspending the doctor—unprofessional conduct and insubordination—were supported by evidence and not a cover for retaliation.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed a 37-month prison sentence for drug possession with intent to distribute, rejecting the defendant's claim that the district court improperly prioritized Sentencing Guidelines over statutory factors. The court held that the district judge conducted a thorough review of the defendant's history and the nature of the offense, finding no abuse of discretion.