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The Seventh Circuit affirmed Glenn Wooden's conviction and sentence, rejecting his novel argument that the Controlled Substances Act criminalizes only specific optical isomers of methamphetamine. The court held that federal law prohibits all forms of the drug regardless of molecular composition, rendering the government's expert testimony on purity sufficient.
The Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review of a BIA order denying asylum and protection under the Convention Against Torture. The court held that substantial evidence supported the Agency's finding that the petitioner's abuse was motivated by her abuser's drug use rather than a protected ground.
The Fifth Circuit reversed Elijah Martin's convictions under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), holding the statute unconstitutional as applied to him because his predicate offenses were simple drug possession. The court found the government failed to demonstrate a sufficient historical tradition for disarming individuals based on non-violent drug possession under the Bruen test.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed a bankruptcy court judgment declaring a $150,000 debt non-dischargeable against Patrick Stephen Rankin. The appellate court found no reversible error in the lower courts' determinations and denied all pending motions filed by the pro se appellant.
The First Circuit held that the New England Fishery Management Council's role in developing Framework Adjustment 65 was purely advisory and did not violate the Appointments Clause. Consequently, the court affirmed the denial of injunctive relief and reversed the district court's severance of unrelated statutory provisions.
The Ninth Circuit dismissed an appeal challenging the denial of a renewed temporary restraining order because such denials are generally not appealable. The court found the district court's ruling was procedural and did not resolve the merits of the case, meaning the plaintiffs retain the right to seek a preliminary injunction.
The Fifth Circuit granted appointed counsel's motion to withdraw and dismissed the appeal after determining the case presented no nonfrivolous issues for review. The court concurred with the attorney's assessment under the Anders standard, leaving the district court's judgment in effect.
The Fourth Circuit vacated Joseph David Sirak's sentence because the written judgment contained a warrantless search condition that was materially broader than the condition announced orally at sentencing. This discrepancy violated the rule established in United States v. Rogers, requiring the case to be remanded for resentencing to align the final order with the court's oral pronouncement.
The First Circuit held that the New England Fishery Management Council functions solely as an advisory body and does not exercise final executive authority under the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Consequently, the Council's involvement in developing Framework Adjustment 65 does not violate the Appointments Clause, and the reduced catch limits for the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan remain in full effect.
The Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review of the BIA's decision, upholding the finding that Mexican men deported from the U.S. is too broad to constitute a cognizable particular social group. The court further held that substantial evidence supported the conclusion that the petitioner's harm was motivated by personal interference in a relationship rather than membership in a protected class.
