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

Apr 28 2026
8th Cir. 24-3316 Panel Decision

Robert Ward v. City of Sherwood, Arkansas, an Arkansas municipality; Matt Harris

The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of qualified immunity to Officer Harris, holding that no clearly established law prohibited his warning against using foul language in public near children during a noise complaint investigation. The court found that Ward's belligerent conduct provided arguable probable cause for a disorderly conduct arrest, defeating his constitutional claims.

Civil Civil Rights - Employment Civil Rights - Section 1983 Fourth Amendment - Search & Seizure
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Apr 28 2026
11th Cir. 5:24-cr-00042-MTT-CHW-1 Per Curiam

United States v. York

The Eleventh Circuit summarily affirmed Joshua York's 270-month sentence, ruling that his prior Georgia methamphetamine convictions qualify as controlled substance offenses under the Sentencing Guidelines. The court held that its prior decision in United States v. Kennedy forecloses York's challenge regarding the definition of controlled substances.

Criminal Drug Trafficking Sentencing Guidelines
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Apr 28 2026
4th Cir. 25-6949 Per Curiam

Weldon Eugene Holtzclaw, Jr. v. Michael Floyd Pittman

The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a pro se litigant's postjudgment motion to amend, finding no reversible error in the lower court's conclusion that the appellant presented no grounds for relief. Relying on a prior unpublished opinion that dismissed the underlying complaint, the appellate court upheld the dismissal without oral argument.

Bankruptcy Civil
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Apr 28 2026
11th Cir. 0:22-cr-60078-RAR-6 Per Curiam

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. WILBER VIGIL-BENITEZ

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed Wilber Vigil-Benitez's conviction for murder in aid of racketeering, ruling that the district court's jury instructions on motive and participation were legally correct. The court held that the defendant waived his challenge to the motive instruction by expressly accepting it and that the refusal to give a separate "mere presence" instruction was proper because the aiding-and-abetting charge already covered the defense theory.

Criminal Violent Crimes
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Apr 28 2026
4th Cir. 25-6882 Per Curiam

JOEVAUGHN LEON MEREDITH v. MINDY HERVEY LIPINKSI, Head Public Defender; STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

The Fourth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a pro se civil rights action because the appellant failed to challenge the district court's reasoning in his informal brief. Additionally, the court held that the appellant's objections to the magistrate judge's recommendation were not sufficiently specific to preserve the issues for appeal.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983
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Apr 28 2026
11th Cir. 8:97-cr-00082-RAL-SPF-1 Per Curiam

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. HAROLD THORNTON

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of Harold Thornton's third motion for compassionate release, ruling that the district court did not abuse its discretion in finding Thornton dangerous to the community. The court held that Thornton's extensive violent history and ongoing threats to prison officials satisfied the statutory requirements to deny sentence reduction.

Compassionate Release Criminal Robbery & Extortion
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Apr 28 2026
4th Cir. 25-6683 Per Curiam

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. BERNARD CELESTINE

The Fourth Circuit affirmed the denial of Bernard Celestine's motions for sentence reduction and compassionate release while dismissing his appeal regarding a successive habeas claim. The court held that Celestine failed to challenge the procedural dismissal of his § 2255 motion in his informal brief, thereby failing to demonstrate the requisite substantial showing of a constitutional right denial.

Compassionate Release Constitutional Habeas Corpus - Federal Prisoner (28 USC 2255)
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Apr 28 2026
11th Cir. 1:24-cr-00050-SDG-RDC-1 Per Curiam

United States v. Byner

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed Brandon Byner's 540-month sentence for producing and possessing child sexual abuse material, ruling that the district court did not abuse its discretion. The appellate court held that the severity of the crimes and the need to protect vulnerable victims justified the lengthy term despite the defendant's history of abuse.

Child Sexual Abuse Material Criminal
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Apr 28 2026
4th Cir. 25-4655 Per Curiam

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. TRISTAN MICHAEL MARTIN, JR

The Fourth Circuit affirmed a 78-month prison sentence for a convicted felon found in possession of a firearm, ruling that the district court did not abuse its discretion. The court held that the defendant failed to rebut the presumption of reasonableness for a within-Guidelines sentence despite arguments regarding his delayed brain development and rehabilitation efforts.

Criminal Firearms
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Apr 28 2026
11th Cir. 3:23-cr-00064-TKW-1 Per Curiam

United States v. Beck

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the drug conspiracy and possession convictions of Philip Beck, Florence Beck, and Joshua Martinez, rejecting challenges to evidence admission and sentencing. The court held that the defendants' confrontation and evidentiary objections were either unpreserved or lacked merit under controlling precedent.

Criminal Drug Trafficking
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