Every decision we've summarized from United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed a conviction for possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute, ruling that the defendant forfeited his challenge to the exclusion of video recordings. Because the defendant failed to preserve the evidentiary issue under Federal Rule of Evidence 106, the court applied a plain error standard and found no manifest injustice.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed the denial of a federal prisoner's habeas petition challenging the Bureau of Prisons' calculation of First Step Act time credits. The court held that the petitioner failed to meet his burden of proving he actually earned credits through successful participation in qualifying programming during his pre-designation custody period.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Wade Reeves' pro se complaint against state officials for failing to meet the pleading standards of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a)(2). The court held that the district court did not abuse its discretion in closing the case without granting leave to amend because the complaint lacked a short, plain statement of the claim and the proposed amendments would have been futile.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed the denial of habeas relief because the petitioner failed to prove he actually earned First Step Act time credits through qualifying programming. The court held that without evidence of successful participation in assigned programs, a prisoner cannot establish entitlement to credit adjustments.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed a conviction for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, ruling that the district court correctly excluded video recordings of the defendant's post-arrest statements under the hearsay rule.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a pro se plaintiff's complaint alleging constitutional violations in child support proceedings. The court held that the complaint failed to comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure eight subsection A two and that the district court properly denied post-judgment relief.
The Tenth Circuit reversed Thomas Petro's conviction because the prosecutor's closing argument improperly declared that the defendant's presumption of innocence had been removed before deliberations began. The court held that these remarks, combined with the presentation of a nude photo, unfairly shifted the burden of proof and prejudiced the jury's impartiality.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit affirmed a district court order enforcing a settlement agreement between an employee and her employer. The appellate panel also ruled on motions to seal and redact confidential financial terms from the public record.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed the conviction of Michael Anthony Rangel for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The court held that existing precedent upholding the constitutionality of the federal statute remains binding despite recent Supreme Court guidance.
The Tenth Circuit held that the Office of Natural Resources Revenue acted arbitrarily and capriciously by failing to consider a prior settlement agreement when denying Devon Energy's cost deductions for gas production. The court remanded the case to the district court with instructions to vacate the agency's order and require a new determination consistent with the settlement terms.