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Apr 23 2026
6th Cir. 25-3486 Published

United States v. Crockett

The Sixth Circuit affirmed a 131-month sentence for drug trafficking, ruling that the district court did not abuse its discretion in imposing an upward variance. The court held that the judge properly considered the defendant's extensive uncharged criminal history and recent jail violence under the statutory sentencing factors.

Criminal Drug Trafficking Sentencing Guidelines
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Apr 23 2026
9th Cir. 2:22-cr-00586-ODW-1 Unpublished

USA v. Polzin

The Ninth Circuit affirmed Jacques Polzin's conviction for violating federal conflict-of-interest statutes, ruling that a rational jury could reject his entrapment by estoppel defense. The court deferred to the jury's resolution of conflicting evidence regarding supervisor approval and Polzin's concealment from ICE agents.

Criminal Fraud Plain Error Review Sixth Amendment - Jury Trial
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Apr 23 2026
8th Cir. 25-1750 Panel Decision

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Inc. v. Reynolds

The Eighth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of an as-applied First Amendment challenge to Iowa's trespass-surveillance statute, ruling that the law is narrowly tailored to protect private property rights. The court held that property owners who request a trespasser to leave implicitly retain the right to prohibit recording on their premises, even if they do not explicitly demand the cessation of filming.

Administrative / Agency Review Civil
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Apr 23 2026
6th Cir. 25-5733 Published

Eurton v. Thomas

The Sixth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for police officers who entered a home to conduct a welfare check, ruling that their actions were objectively reasonable under the emergency aid exception. The court held that the officers were shielded by qualified immunity because a reasonable officer could have believed immediate force was necessary to prevent harm given the dispatch warnings and the plaintiff's behavior.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Fourth Amendment - Search & Seizure Qualified Immunity
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Apr 23 2026
9th Cir. 2:24-cv-00964-MRA-SSC Unpublished

SILVER V. COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, ET AL.

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a pro se lawsuit challenging Los Angeles County property tax collection, holding that federal comity principles bar § 1983 challenges where state remedies exist. The court also upheld the dismissal of civil RICO and state law claims for failing to meet the plausibility standard required by federal pleading rules.

Criminal Robbery & Extortion
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Apr 23 2026
8th Cir. 25-1339 Panel Decision

United States of America v. Matthew David Keirans

The Eighth Circuit affirmed Matthew Keirans's 144-month prison sentence, rejecting his claim that the district court abused its discretion by weighing the unique harm of his identity theft. The court held that the lower court properly imposed special conditions of supervised release based on Keirans's decades-long pattern of deception and history of mental health and substance abuse issues.

Criminal Sentencing Guidelines Supervised Release
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Apr 23 2026
6th Cir. 24-4060 2-1

Driscoll v. Montgomery Cnty. Bd. of Comm'rs: Driscoll v. Montgomery Cnty. Bd. of Comm’rs

The Sixth Circuit affirmed the denial of Deputy Smiley's qualified immunity motion, holding that a reasonable officer could not have known that shooting an unarmed, non-dangerous man with evident diminished capacity violated clearly established law. The court concluded that the deputy's belief that the plaintiff was drinking gasoline was objectively unreasonable, rendering the use of deadly force unconstitutional under the Fourth Amendment.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Fourth Amendment - Search & Seizure Qualified Immunity
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