Every decision we've summarized — searchable, filterable, neutral.
The Seventh Circuit reversed a district court order confirming an arbitration award because the arbitrator failed to conduct a mandatory post-award review of punitive damages. The court held that ignoring express contractual terms regarding this review procedure constituted an excess of authority rather than a permissible interpretation of the agreement.
The Eighth Circuit affirmed Oscar Navarro-Zepeda's conviction and 204-month sentence for drug trafficking and firearm possession. The court held that the defendant's waiver of Federal Rule of Evidence 410 allowed the government to use plea stipulations against him after he contradicted them during the change-of-plea hearing.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed Desean Williams's conviction because his claim of a conflict of interest regarding his plea agreement's appellate waiver was raised for the first time on direct appeal. The court held that resolving the factual predicate of this claim would require acting as a fact-finder, a role it cannot perform without a record developed in the district court.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of qualified immunity to school officials who allegedly refused to implement a settlement agreement due to racial animus. The court held that officials were on notice that interfering with a contract because of race was illegal, regardless of uncertainty regarding personal liability under 42 U.S.C. § 1981.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed Tayseer Yousef's conviction and 109-month sentence for interstate transportation of stolen goods and conspiracy. The court held that Yousef was accountable for the armed robberies committed by his coconspirators because the violence was within the scope of their jointly undertaken criminal activity.
The Seventh Circuit certified a question of Kentucky state law to the Kentucky Supreme Court to determine if a state conviction for receiving stolen property categorically matches the federal definition of an aggravated felony. The court could not discern whether the state statute requires subjective knowledge of the stolen nature of the property, which is a mandatory element under federal immigration law.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court’s preliminary injunction enjoining state officials from enforcing Montana House Bill 359, which restricted drag story hours and sexually oriented performances in state-funded facilities. The court held that plaintiffs had…
The Fourth Circuit affirmed in part and vacated in part the district court’s judgment regarding liability under the Alien Tort Statute and the Torture Victim Protection Act against a private contractor for alleged torture of detainees…
The Sixth Circuit affirmed a preliminary injunction blocking the City of Mackinac Island from regulating ferry parking fees but vacated the portion enjoining the City from regulating ferry rates. The court held that while the City lacks authority to regulate parking under its charter, its broad statutory power to regulate ferry fares and services remains intact pending further litigation.
The Ninth Circuit reversed a district court's grant of habeas relief, holding that the Nevada Court of Appeals' rejection of an ineffective assistance of counsel claim was not objectively unreasonable. The appellate court found that state counsel's decision not to file a motion to suppress was a reasonable strategic choice given the high likelihood of failure and the benefits of the plea agreement.
