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May 1 2026
4th Cir. 25-6625 Per Curiam

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. XAVIER MILTON EARQUHART

The Fourth Circuit dismissed Xavier Milton Earquhart's federal habeas appeal because he failed to make the requisite substantial showing that reasonable jurists could debate the district court's denial of constitutional relief. The court independently reviewed the record and found no debatable constitutional claims or procedural errors warranting further review.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - Federal Prisoner (28 USC 2255)
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May 1 2026
1st Cir. 24-2067 Panel Decision

Lantigua-Núñez v. United States Coast Guard

The First Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a Federal Tort Claims Act claim against the Coast Guard, holding that the Suits in Admiralty Act provides the exclusive remedy for maritime torts involving government vessels. Because the plaintiff's proposed amendment to add a claim under the Suits in Admiralty Act was time-barred, the court ruled that no federal subject matter jurisdiction existed over the tort claim.

Admiralty / Maritime Civil
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May 1 2026
11th Cir. 8:23-cv-00676-WFJ-CPT Per Curiam

Giehl v. Ocwen Financial Corporation

The Eleventh Circuit vacated a federal dismissal order and remanded with instructions to dismiss without prejudice, clarifying that the Rooker-Feldman doctrine does not bar claims for damages against private parties in state court proceedings. The court held that the plaintiff's federal claims were wholly insubstantial because they lacked a plausible foundation in federal law and did not involve state action.

Criminal Fraud
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May 1 2026
4th Cir. 25-6600 Per Curiam

TIMOTHY O'NEIL BULLOCK v. JOSEPH WALTERS, Director of the Virginia Department of Corrections; COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY GENERAL: TIMOTHY O’NEIL BULLOCK v. JOSEPH WALTERS, Director of the Virginia Department of Corrections; COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY GENERAL

The Fourth Circuit denied a certificate of appealability and dismissed Timothy Bullock's appeal of his dismissed habeas petition because he failed to make a substantial showing that reasonable jurists could debate the district court's procedural ruling. The court held that Bullock's informal brief was insufficient to preserve any issues for review, resulting in the immediate termination of the appellate proceeding.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - State Prisoner (28 USC 2254)
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May 1 2026
11th Cir. 1:25-cv-02192-MHC Per Curiam

Oleksandra Plyatsko v. Judge Alice Benton

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a pro se plaintiff's § 1983 claims against state judges and officials but vacated the judgment to remand with instructions for a dismissal without prejudice. The court held that the plaintiff abandoned her challenge to the domestic relations exception on appeal, requiring the lower court to dismiss the case on that specific jurisdictional ground rather than other procedural bases.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983
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May 1 2026
4th Cir. 26-6068 Per Curiam

CORVIN JAUWAN YOUNG v. KELLY GOTHARD, South Carolina Department of Mental Health Director; ERIN GAFFNEY, Residential Program (Superintendent), Wellpath Recovery Solutions; JENNI...: CORVIN JAUWAN YOUNG v. KELLY GOTHARD, South Carolina Department of Mental Health Director; ERIN GAFFNEY, Residential Program (Superintendent), Wellpath Recovery Solutions; JENNI…

The Fourth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a civil rights complaint because the plaintiff failed to file specific objections to a magistrate judge's recommendation. This procedural failure forfeited the plaintiff's right to appellate review of the case's merits.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983
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May 1 2026
1st Cir. 24-1842 Panel Decision

United States v. Rosa-Borges

The First Circuit vacated a defendant's sentence for firearm possession because the district court relied on a legally invalid rationale regarding the amount and type of ammunition. The court affirmed the defendant's supervised release revocation sentence because the defendant failed to properly preserve his legal challenges on appeal.

Criminal Drug Trafficking Firearms Supervised Release
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