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Apr 22 2026
5th Cir. 25-60300 Per Curiam

Tasha N. Flemons v. Louis DeJoy, Postmaster General of the United States Postal Service

The Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a pro se employment discrimination lawsuit because the plaintiff failed to timely serve the United States and the Postal Service as required by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The court held that the plaintiff's failure to respond to the motion to dismiss and her counsel's inactivity forfeited any arguments regarding equitable leniency or the expiration of the statute of limitations.

Civil Civil Rights - Employment
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Apr 22 2026
5th Cir. 24-20495 Panel Decision

Scott Martin v. Marilyn Burgess, Harris County District Clerk, In her Official and Individual Capacities; Judge Genesis Draper, In her Official and Individual Capacities; Judge...: Scott Martin v. Marilyn Burgess, Harris County District Clerk, In her Official and Individual Capacities; Judge Genesis Draper, In her Official and Individual Capacities; Judge…

The Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a challenge to a Harris County administrative order restricting public access to criminal defendants' contact information in bail bond orders. The court held that the order constitutes a permissible denial of access to government information rather than a violation of the First Amendment, and that the presiding judge acted within her statutory authority.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Standing
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Apr 22 2026
4th Cir. 24-4530 Per Curiam

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. GREGORY LARGENT

The Fourth Circuit affirmed the revocation of Gregory Largent's supervised release and his 18-month prison sentence, rejecting his claim that the district court erred by modifying a contact condition without a separate hearing. The court held that Largent failed to demonstrate plain error, as he had counsel and an opportunity to present evidence during the proceeding.

Criminal Plain Error Review Sentencing Guidelines Supervised Release
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Apr 21 2026
5th Cir. 25-11159 Per Curiam

United States v. Diaz-Cuellar

The Fifth Circuit affirmed a sentence for illegal reentry, rejecting a constitutional challenge to a statutory enhancement because the argument is foreclosed by Supreme Court precedent. The court granted the Government's motion for summary affirmance without oral argument, leaving the district court's judgment intact.

Criminal Immigration (Criminal)
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Apr 21 2026
5th Cir. 25-11003 Per Curiam

United States v. Perez-Checa

The Fifth Circuit affirmed a 21-month sentence for illegal reentry, holding that the district court provided sufficient reasons for its within-guidelines ruling. The court applied plain error review to the defendant's forfeited procedural challenge and found no reversible error.

Criminal Immigration (Criminal)
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Apr 21 2026
4th Cir. 18-4893 Per Curiam

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. VINSON THOMPSON

The Fourth Circuit affirmed Vinson Thompson's Armed Career Criminal Act sentence because his challenge regarding the lack of a jury finding was procedurally barred by the plain error standard. The court concluded that while the district court erred by not advising Thompson of his right to a jury on the 'different occasions' element, the error did not affect his substantial rights given the overwhelming evidence of his criminal history.

Criminal Firearms Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Guidelines
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Apr 21 2026
4th Cir. 25-4296 Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. DUSTIN ERIC WILSON

The Fourth Circuit affirmed Dustin Wilson's conviction, ruling that his trial counsel's decision to advocate for medical treatment rather than pre-trial release was objectively reasonable. The court found no evidence that Wilson's medical condition would have secured his release or that his guilty plea was the result of ineffective assistance.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - Federal Prisoner (28 USC 2255) Sixth Amendment - Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
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