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Apr 16 2026
6th Cir. 24-4068 Published

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. CHRISTEN L. CLARK

The Sixth Circuit vacated the district court's denial of a defendant's motion to withdraw a guilty plea, ruling that the sudden resignation of counsel due to pending disciplinary action created a presumption of ineffective assistance requiring an evidentiary hearing. The court held that the district court abused its discretion by relying solely on the plea colloquy without resolving factual disputes regarding the voluntariness of the plea.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - Federal Prisoner (28 USC 2255) Sixth Amendment - Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
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Apr 16 2026
9th Cir. 25-2352 Unpublished

MARCELINO NAVARRO GOMEZ v. TODD BLANCHE, Acting Attorney General

The Ninth Circuit denies a petition for review of a Board of Immigration Appeals order denying cancellation of removal, holding that substantial evidence supports the finding that the petitioner's family would not suffer exceptional and extremely unusual hardship. The court reaffirms that factual findings regarding financial support and educational prospects are unreviewable under Wilkinson v. Garland.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Apr 16 2026
9th Cir. 20-70342 Unpublished

ERICK GEOVANNI HENRIQUEZ-MEJIA v. TODD BLANCHE, Acting Attorney General

The Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review of an immigration order, upholding the agency's refusal to consider a withholding of removal claim based on membership in a particular social group. The court ruled that the petitioner procedurally defaulted by failing to clearly delineate the specific social group before the Immigration Judge.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Apr 16 2026
9th Cir. 25-5158 Unpublished

MARTIN EMILIO CUADROS MOLINA; DIANA CAROLINA MARTINEZ MARTIN; M. C. M.; S. C. M v. TODD BLANCHE, Acting Attorney General

The Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review of an immigration order, holding that substantial evidence supported the agency's adverse credibility determination against the petitioner. Because the petitioner's testimony was found unreliable, he failed to meet his burden of proof for asylum, withholding of removal, and Convention Against Torture relief.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Apr 16 2026
11th Cir. 4:24-cr-00006-AW-MAF-1 Per Curiam

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. QUANTAVIOUS HURT

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed a 42-month prison sentence for a federal inmate who stabbed a fellow prisoner with a shank, rejecting claims that the sentence was unreasonably high. The court held that the district judge properly weighed the statutory factors under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) and the Guidelines' recommendation of ten to sixteen months against the defendant's violent conduct.

Criminal Sentencing Guidelines Violent Crimes
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Apr 16 2026
9th Cir. 22-1584 Unpublished

Jessica Yunuen Vargas Sanchez v. Todd Blanche, Acting Attorney General

The Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review of a Board of Immigration Appeals decision, ruling that the petitioner failed to prove eligibility for asylum or other relief. The court held that evidence of generalized cartel violence and corruption does not establish the required nexus to a protected ground or a particularized risk of torture.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Apr 16 2026
9th Cir. 4:20-cv-00102- Published

ROMAN T. GONZALES v. BATTELLE ENERGY ALLIANCE LLC

The Ninth Circuit affirmed a jury verdict for an employee terminated for prescription pain medication use, rejecting the employer's claim that the termination was a nonjusticiable security clearance decision. The court held that medical and physical fitness standards under 10 C.F.R. § 1046 are distinct from predictive national security judgments protected by the Supreme Court's decision in Department of Navy v. Egan.

Criminal National Defense & Espionage
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