Every decision we've summarized — searchable, filterable, neutral.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed Sharmaine Jackson's sentence, ruling that the district court did not clearly err in applying a sentencing enhancement for vulnerable victims. The court held that targeting older customers with large balances who rarely checked their accounts rendered them unusually vulnerable under federal sentencing guidelines.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed Mitchell McNeil's 300-month sentence, ruling that the government did not breach its plea agreement by seeking a dangerous weapon enhancement. The court held that contract law principles limit the government to only those promises explicitly made in the agreement, and the agreement here reserved the right to present evidence on sentencing factors not stipulated by the parties.
The Fourth Circuit dismissed Olee Wonzo Robinson's appeal because the district court's order reopening his habeas case was not a final judgment or an appealable interlocutory order. The appellate court held it lacked subject-matter jurisdiction to review the order granting reconsideration.
The First Circuit vacated the dismissal of Arthur Miles' habeas petition, ruling that the Bureau of Prisons cannot deny First Step Act time credits for work performed in a county jail prior to transfer to a federal facility. The court held that the BOP's regulations contradicting the statutory definition of when a sentence commences are invalid and that a risk assessment is not a prerequisite for earning credits.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed convictions under the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act for drug trafficking occurring within Colombia's Exclusive Economic Zone. The court rejected arguments that the statute is unconstitutional or lacks jurisdictional nexus, holding that the vessel was stateless because the master failed to claim nationality.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed summary judgment against a Deepwater Horizon cleanup worker who failed to submit expert reports within an extended deadline. The court held that the settlement agreement did not mandate indefinite delays and that the district court acted within its authority to manage its docket.
The Fourth Circuit dismissed a petition for a writ of mandamus as moot because the district court had already resolved the underlying dispute. The appellate court found that no further judicial relief could be granted since the district court had dismissed the complaint and ruled on all pending motions.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed Anthony Lee Daniels' Armed Career Criminal Act sentence, ruling that while the district court erred by determining predicate offenses occurred on different occasions without a jury, the mistake was harmless. The court found that Daniels would have admitted to the different occasions facts during his guilty plea had he been properly advised of his right to a jury determination.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed drug trafficking convictions under the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act, rejecting challenges that the statute lacks constitutional authority over offenses in foreign Exclusive Economic Zones. The court held that the vessel was subject to U.S. jurisdiction because the master failed to claim nationality, and that foreign cooperation does not strip American courts of authority.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a federal prisoner's motion for compassionate release, ruling that the lower court properly weighed statutory sentencing factors. The appellate court held that the defendant's criminal history and non-compliance with medical instructions justified maintaining his sentence despite his chronic kidney disease.
