Every decision we've summarized — searchable, filterable, neutral.
The D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a prisoner's motion for free case files, ruling that the argument was waived because it was not raised in the lower court. The court clarified that while there is no constitutional right to free transcripts for preparing § 2255 motions, statutory avenues remain available for indigent prisoners.
The Fourth Circuit vacated a district court ruling that dismissed an employment retaliation case, finding the lower court erred in concluding the plaintiff had no possibility of success against an in-state defendant. The appellate court held that the district court improperly applied a high standard for fraudulent joinder without resolving ambiguous state law questions.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of an institutional reform lawsuit against South Carolina's Department of Juvenile Justice because the plaintiff advocacy groups lacked Article III standing. The court held that organizations cannot substitute for detained juveniles to drive litigation regarding conditions of confinement.
The First Circuit vacated the dismissal of a Title VII claim alleging religious discrimination and retaliation against Hasbro, Inc. The court held that the plaintiffs plausibly alleged that their sincerely held religious objections to the COVID-19 vaccine were not accommodated and that the employer's subsequent actions constituted adverse employment actions.
The First Circuit affirmed Hassan Abbas's 87-month sentence and restitution order, rejecting his claims of procedural error in sentencing calculations. The court held that the district judge correctly applied the Sentencing Guidelines and acted within discretion given Abbas's history of fraud.
The First Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a wage-and-hour lawsuit after the plaintiff refused to sign a written settlement agreement that had been orally agreed upon and recited in court. The court held that the plaintiff's subsequent refusal to comply with the court's enforcement order justified dismissal with prejudice under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b).
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed a defendant's sentence, ruling that an attempt to commit New York second-degree robbery qualifies as a crime of violence under the Sentencing Guidelines. This decision relies on a 2023 amendment that explicitly includes inchoate offenses within the definition of a crime of violence.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the denial of habeas relief, holding that a juror's comments about knowing the defendant's family and fearing for their safety were internal to the deliberation process. The court ruled that the West Virginia Supreme Court did not unreasonably apply federal precedent in finding this conduct did not constitute impermissible external influence.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the denial of Marcus Taylor's federal post-conviction relief motion, ruling that his challenges to the sufficiency of evidence were procedurally barred. The court further held that Taylor failed to demonstrate ineffective assistance of counsel or the need for an evidentiary hearing regarding his trial strategy claims.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment for county sheriffs sued under the ADA and Rehabilitation Act, ruling that the plaintiff failed to prove intentional discrimination required for monetary damages. The court also held that the plaintiff's claims for injunctive relief were moot because he was no longer incarcerated.
