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Jan 27 2026
1st Cir. 25-1134 Panel Decision

JANE DOE v. CITY OF BOSTON; BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT; INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS in the official capacities

The First Circuit affirmed summary judgment for the City of Boston, ruling that no reasonable jury could find the police department's disclosure of a former officer's disciplinary records was motivated by retaliation. The court held that the department's actions were driven by standard procedures and legal obligations rather than a desire to punish the plaintiff for protected conduct.

Civil Civil Rights - Employment Summary Judgment
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Jan 23 2026
United States Court… 24-3129 Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. HAOTIAN SUN

The D.C. Circuit affirmed the convictions of Haotian Sun for mail fraud and conspiracy, ruling that the evidence was sufficient to prove he knowingly participated in a scheme to exchange counterfeit iPhones for authentic replacements. The court also rejected all sentencing and Fourth Amendment challenges raised by co-defendant Peng Fei Xue, upholding his conviction and sentence.

Criminal Fraud Sentencing Guidelines
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Jan 22 2026
1st Cir. 25-1275 Panel Decision

JOHN T. KOLACKOVSKY; ZENAS B. SEPPALA; ANNE HYDE; ROBERT SONIA; JONATHAN RING; TIM ROSE; RAY THURSBY; DEE OLIBERIO; CALANDRA SALO; LARY SALO; CASSI HOHENWARTER v. TOWN OF ROCKPORT

The First Circuit affirmed the dismissal of residents' constitutional and statutory challenges to a new zoning district because they failed to allege specific, concrete injuries required for Article III standing. The court held that vague assertions about potential property value changes and generalized grievances were insufficient to establish a personal stake in the outcome.

Civil Civil Rights - Voting Standing
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Jan 21 2026
11th Cir. 3:21-cr-00014-TCB-RGV-1 Published

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. STEFAN EBERHARD ZAPPEY

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed Stefan Zappey's conviction for sexually abusing children at a Department of Defense school in Germany, ruling that the district court properly limited expert testimony on memory reliability. The court held that while general science on memory is admissible, experts cannot opine on witness credibility or present cumulative testimony that duplicates other evidence.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - General (28 USC 2241)
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Jan 20 2026
United States Court… 24-5234 Panel Decision

MILTON S. HERSHEY MEDICAL CENTER, ET AL v. ROBERT F. KENNEDY, JR

The D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment, holding that the Secretary of Health and Human Services lacked the authority to unilaterally direct contractors to reopen final Medicare cost determinations outside the specific regulatory framework. The court ruled that the agency's attempt to apply a new reimbursement formula to settled reports was barred by explicit time limits and a prohibition on reopening based on changes in legal interpretation.

Administrative / Agency Review Civil Summary Judgment
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Jan 16 2026
United States Court… 24-3194 Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. JOSEPH A. CERRONI, JR.

The D.C. Circuit affirmed the denial of a writ of coram nobis, holding that the appellant failed to prove fundamental error or ineffective assistance of counsel regarding his guilty plea. The court further ruled that the appellant waited too long to challenge the conviction, offering no valid reason for the three-decade delay.

Constitutional Sixth Amendment - Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
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Jan 16 2026
1st Cir. 24-1746 Panel Decision

UNITED STATES v. ONIC MALDONADO-VELAZQUEZ

The First Circuit affirmed a ninety-six-month sentence for possessing machine guns and being a felon in possession of firearms, rejecting the defendant's claim that the district court failed to adequately explain an upward variance. The court held that the district court provided a plausible rationale based on the severity of the offenses, the defendant's criminal history, and the specific circumstances of the arrest.

Criminal Firearms Sentencing Guidelines Supervised Release
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Jan 14 2026
1st Cir. 24-2076 Panel Decision

United States v. Christian Del-Valle-Camacho

The First Circuit affirmed a sixty-month prison sentence for a felon in possession of a firearm and escape from a re-entry program. The court held that the district judge provided sufficient justification for a nineteen-month upward variance based on the defendant's possession of a modified machine gun, high-capacity magazines, and a large quantity of ammunition.

Criminal Drug Trafficking Sentencing Guidelines
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Jan 14 2026
1st Cir. 24-2077 Panel Decision

United States v. Christian Del-Valle-Camacho

The First Circuit affirmed a sixty-month prison sentence for a felon in possession of a firearm and escape from a re-entry program, rejecting the defendant's claim that the district court failed to justify a nineteen-month upward variance. The appellate court held that the district judge provided sufficient reasoning by highlighting the defendant's possession of a modified machine gun, high-capacity magazines, and a large quantity of ammunition.

Criminal Drug Trafficking Sentencing Guidelines
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Jan 13 2026
United States Court… 24-1346 Panel Decision

CENTURYTEL OF MONTANA, INC., A SUBSIDIARY OF LUMEN TECHNOLOGIES, INC v. NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS LOCAL UNION 768 Consolidat...: CENTURYTEL OF MONTANA, INC., A SUBSIDIARY OF LUMEN TECHNOLOGIES, INC v. NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS LOCAL UNION 768 Consolidat…

The D.C. Circuit denied CenturyTel's petition for review and granted enforcement of the NLRB's order, holding that the Board's finding of a violation of Sections 8(a)(5) and (1) of the National Labor Relations Act was supported by substantial evidence. The court concluded that CenturyTel improperly failed to furnish information regarding non-union technicians working within the Union's jurisdiction despite the collective bargaining agreement's provisions on crossing jurisdictional boundaries.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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