Every decision we've summarized — searchable, filterable, neutral.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed Nikonda Taye Ingram's conviction and sentence after finding his plea agreement waiver of appeal rights was valid and knowing. The court dismissed the appeal on issues covered by the waiver and found no meritorious grounds for appeal outside that scope following an Anders review.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a Title VII religious accommodation claim because the plaintiff failed to prove extraordinary circumstances excused her failure to meet the 90-day administrative exhaustion deadline. The court also upheld the dismissal of state law fraud and punitive damages claims due to insufficient pleading particularity and the absence of a freestanding cause of action under North Carolina law.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed a 324-month sentence for drug trafficking, ruling that defense counsel's explicit agreement with the Presentence Report's drug quantity constituted a deliberate waiver of any challenge to those facts. The court held that strategic choices made during sentencing cannot be undone on appeal simply because they later appear unwise.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed a 60-month prison sentence for a defendant who made multiple interstate threats against a federal judge and her family. The court held that the district court acted within its discretion to impose an upward variance based on the premeditated and terroristic nature of the conduct, despite the defendant's arguments regarding mitigating personal history.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Erwin Eugene Semien's civil rights complaint, ruling that he abandoned several claims and failed to adequately allege constitutional violations. The court held that Semien did not state a claim for due process or equal protection because he lacked a protected property interest and failed to identify specific comparators.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's judgment revoking Cecil Edward Jackson's supervised release and imposing a time-served sentence followed by one year of supervision. The court held that the revocation was supported by Jackson's voluntary admission and the sentence was procedurally and substantively reasonable under applicable law.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of nine consolidated civil actions filed by Miyuki Maureen Johnson, ruling that her claims were frivolous under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i). The court held that Johnson failed to prove the existence of any lawful trust and cannot proceed pro se on behalf of non-existent entities.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed Michael Madigan's federal bribery convictions, ruling that wiretap recordings and circumstantial evidence sufficiently proved a quid pro quo exchange between the former Illinois Speaker and utility company ComEd. The court further held that jury instructions regarding the definition of official acts and corrupt intent were legally sound and not prejudicial.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of attorneys' fees to homeowners whose foreclosure case was dismissed due to the lender's failure to serve process within the required timeframe. The court held that a procedural dismissal without prejudice does not constitute a victory on the merits required to trigger fee-shifting statutes under Florida law.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a federal prisoner's habeas petition because his appeal brief failed to challenge the underlying dismissal order. By exclusively arguing against the denial of a motion for reconsideration without filing a separate notice of appeal, the petitioner abandoned his substantive claims.
