Every decision we've summarized — searchable, filterable, neutral.
The Fourth Circuit denied a petition for review, upholding the Merit Systems Protection Board's dismissal of a federal employee's whistleblower retaliation claims. The court found no reversible error in the Board's determination that the employee failed to prove protected activity was a contributing factor in his employment actions.
The Fourth Circuit dismissed an appeal from a district court's denial of a habeas corpus petition because the petitioner failed to meet the statutory threshold for appellate review. The court held that the prisoner did not make a substantial showing that reasonable jurists could find the lower court's assessment of his constitutional claims debatable or wrong.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the denial of a preliminary injunction against a congressionally mandated land exchange involving Oak Flat. The court held that plaintiffs failed to demonstrate a likelihood of success on the merits of their claims under NEPA, RFRA, and the Free Exercise Clause, leaving the land transfer to proceed.
The Eleventh Circuit dismissed the defendant's appeal sua sponte because the district court's order denying his motion to dismiss was not a final judgment. The court held that the ruling did not qualify for the collateral order doctrine since the issue could be effectively challenged after sentencing.
The Sixth Circuit reversed the denial of qualified immunity for officers who used force to handcuff a large suspect actively resisting arrest for violent felonies. The court held that no clearly established law prohibited the officers' actions because the suspect's physical defiance created a unique factual context not covered by prior precedent.
The Sixth Circuit held that the Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission violated a sitting judge's First Amendment rights by attempting to enforce ethics rules against her campaign statements. The court reversed the lower court's denial of relief for two rules, finding the enforcement was not narrowly tailored to serve a compelling state interest.
The Sixth Circuit held that the Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission violated a judge's First Amendment rights by attempting to enforce ethics rules against her campaign statements. The court reversed the lower court's denial of relief for two rules, ruling that the state's interest in judicial integrity did not justify suppressing speech that was readily capable of a true interpretation.
The Third Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a police officer's civil rights claims, holding that internal disagreements over departmental policy do not constitute protected speech under the First Amendment. The court ruled that the plaintiff failed to allege a deprivation of property or liberty interests sufficient to state a procedural due process claim.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a § 1983 lawsuit alleging wrongful arrest because the arresting officer possessed probable cause based on the totality of circumstances. The court held that the subsequent dismissal of the underlying assault charge does not negate the existence of probable cause at the time of arrest.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit dismissed an appeal in a tax dispute following a mutual agreement between the parties. This procedural dismissal terminates the appellate review without establishing any legal precedent or resolving the underlying merits of the case.
