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Apr 27 2026
4th Cir. 25-4402 Per Curiam

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. DESHAWN STEPHONE HESTER

The Fourth Circuit affirmed Deshawn Stephone Hester's conviction for firearm possession by a felon while dismissing his appeal regarding sentence reasonableness due to a valid appellate waiver. The court found the district court's Rule 11 colloquy sufficient to establish that Hester's guilty plea was voluntary and that his waiver of appeal rights was knowingly entered.

Criminal Firearms
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Apr 27 2026
9th Cir. 24-6193 Unanimous

HANAN, ET AL. V. UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES, ET AL.

The Ninth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for the government, holding that the statutory marriage fraud bar applies even when no immigration benefit was actually sought in the prior fraudulent marriage. The court further ruled that USCIS satisfied due process requirements by relying on an ex-spouse's testimony without cross-examination, given the presence of independent evidence and the administrative burden of such hearings.

Civil Environmental (Civil) Summary Judgment
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Apr 27 2026
11th Cir. 1:23-cr-20385-CMA-2 Per Curiam

United States v. Henriquez

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed convictions under the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act for drug trafficking occurring within a foreign nation's Exclusive Economic Zone. The court held that Congress possesses authority under the Felonies Clause to prosecute such conduct and that a vessel becomes subject to U.S. jurisdiction when its master fails to claim nationality.

Criminal Drug Trafficking
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Apr 27 2026
9th Cir. 2:24-cv-00655- 2-1

FORWARD, INC. V. MACOMBER, ET AL.

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a citizen suit under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, ruling that state agency heads lacked the required 'fairly direct' connection to alleged hazardous waste violations to overcome Eleventh Amendment immunity. The court held that general supervisory roles over agencies causing pollution are insufficient to subject officials to suit under the Ex parte Young exception.

Civil Civil Rights - Voting Summary Judgment
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Apr 27 2026
11th Cir. 8:23-cr-00361-WFJ-CPT-1 Per Curiam

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. STEPHEN JAY THORN

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed a 60-month prison sentence for a defendant who made multiple interstate threats against a federal judge and her family. The court held that the district court acted within its discretion to impose an upward variance based on the premeditated and terroristic nature of the conduct, despite the defendant's arguments regarding mitigating personal history.

Criminal Sex Offenses
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Apr 27 2026
4th Cir. 25-4398 Per Curiam

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. CECIL EDWARD JACKSON

The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's judgment revoking Cecil Edward Jackson's supervised release and imposing a time-served sentence followed by one year of supervision. The court held that the revocation was supported by Jackson's voluntary admission and the sentence was procedurally and substantively reasonable under applicable law.

Criminal Sentencing Guidelines Supervised Release
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Apr 27 2026
7th Cir. 24-2489 Panel Decision

United States v. Corruthers

The Seventh Circuit affirmed a 48-month above-guidelines sentence for a defendant who facilitated a straw purchase of a firearm that was subsequently used to kill a police officer. The court held that the district court did not abuse its discretion in rejecting the standard sentencing guidelines for straw purchasers due to the severe consequences of the defendant's conduct.

Criminal Firearms Violent Crimes
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Apr 27 2026
11th Cir. 1:24-cv-20441-DPG Per Curiam

U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee of J.P. Morgan Alternative Loan Trust 2006-S4, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates v. Fernando V. Rivabem, Liset Rivabem

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of attorneys' fees to homeowners whose foreclosure case was dismissed due to the lender's failure to serve process within the required timeframe. The court held that a procedural dismissal without prejudice does not constitute a victory on the merits required to trigger fee-shifting statutes under Florida law.

Civil Real Property
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