Decisions

Every decision we've summarized — searchable, filterable, neutral.

Dec 16 2025
1st Cir. 24-1474 Panel Decision

United States v. Abercrombie

The First Circuit affirmed Tevin Abercrombie's conviction for unlawful firearm possession by a felon, ruling that circumstantial evidence of his control over the vehicle and suspicious behavior supported a finding of constructive possession. The court also held that Abercrombie waived his facial Second Amendment challenge to the statute by failing to adequately develop the argument on appeal.

Criminal Firearms
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Dec 16 2025
11th Cir. 5:22-cv-01448-LCB Published

National Small Business United d.b.a. National Small Business Association v. U.S. Department of the Treasury

The Eleventh Circuit reversed the district court, holding that the Corporate Transparency Act is a constitutional exercise of Congress's Commerce Clause power. The court further ruled that the Act's reporting requirements do not facially violate the Fourth Amendment's prohibition on unreasonable searches.

Criminal Robbery & Extortion Summary Judgment
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Dec 16 2025
11th Cir. 8:19-cv-01903-TPB-AAS Published

Creative Choice Homes XXX, LLC v. Amtax Holdings 690, LLC

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the removal of general partners from affordable housing limited partnerships after finding their misappropriation of funds constituted a material breach of contract. The court rejected arguments that the removal was an impermissible forfeiture or that the limited partners had waived their rights through prior inaction.

Civil Forfeiture / Penalty
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Dec 15 2025
11th Cir. 2:24-cv-00420-RDP Per Curiam

Alabama State Conference of the NAACP v. Attorney General, State of Alabama

The Eleventh Circuit certified four critical questions to the Alabama Supreme Court regarding the scope and criminal penalties of Alabama's SB1 absentee voting law. The federal court paused its review of a Voting Rights Act preemption claim because the state statute's ambiguity creates uncertainty about whether plaintiffs have standing to sue.

Civil Civil Rights - Voting Standing
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Dec 15 2025
11th Cir. 1:23-cv-03236-VMC Published

Williams v. Shapiro

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of a motion to compel arbitration in an ERISA case involving a terminated employee stock ownership plan. The court held that the plan's arbitration provision was unenforceable because it prohibited plaintiffs from seeking plan-wide relief, thereby prospectively waiving substantive statutory rights under ERISA.

Civil ERISA / Employee Benefits Securities
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Dec 13 2025
11th Cir. 4:25-cv-00488-MW-MAF Published

Walls v. Secretary, Department of Corrections

The Eleventh Circuit denied Frank A. Walls's motion for a stay of execution, ruling that his last-minute Eighth Amendment challenge to Florida's lethal injection protocol was barred by inexcusable delay. The court held that Walls failed to demonstrate a likelihood of success on the merits because he waited months to file suit despite knowing of his health risks and the protocol's history for years.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - State Prisoner (28 USC 2254) Res Judicata
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Dec 12 2025
1st Cir. 21-1197 Panel Decision

JAMES GARREY v. SHEILA CREATON KELLY, Superintendent of MCI-Concord

The First Circuit affirmed the denial of James Garrey's habeas petition, ruling that the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court did not unreasonably apply federal law in upholding a prosecutor's peremptory strike of a minority juror. The court held that the state trial court's acceptance of the prosecutor's race-neutral explanation was reasonable given the ambiguous record and the high deference required under AEDPA.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - State Prisoner (28 USC 2254)
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Dec 12 2025
11th Cir. 8:22-cr-00221-TPB-SPF-1 Published

United States v. Victor Yoel Perez Cremades

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed Victor Cremades' convictions for drug distribution, rejecting his arguments that the evidence was insufficient to support the jury's verdict. The court also held that any error in admitting a drug ledger was harmless given the overwhelming evidence of guilt.

Criminal Drug Trafficking
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Dec 12 2025
1st Cir. 25-1698 Panel Decision

Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. v. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit vacated a district court order that had enjoined enforcement of a federal statute withholding Medicaid funding from certain abortion providers. The appellate court held that the statute does not constitute a bill of attainder because it imposes prospective conditions on federal funds rather than retrospective punishment.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983
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