Every decision we've summarized — searchable, filterable, neutral.
The First Circuit affirmed a 144-month sentence for a defendant convicted of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and marijuana distribution. The court held that the district court properly weighed sentencing factors without needing to explicitly address every mitigating fact or explain why recommended sentences were rejected.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed convictions for Hobbs Act robbery, holding that federal courts have jurisdiction over generally applicable federal crimes committed by Indians against Indians in Indian country. The court also ruled that while the district court erred by failing to perform an on-the-record balancing test before admitting prior conviction evidence, the error was harmless given the strength of the remaining evidence.
The Third Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Jason Todd's pro se complaint alleging constitutional violations and statutory claims arising from an assault incident. The court held that the amended complaint failed to state a plausible claim for relief under federal screening standards.
The Third Circuit affirmed the District Court's denial of motions to reopen a case under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(d) and to amend a complaint post-judgment. The court held that the appellants failed to prove fraud directed at the federal court itself, which is required to vacate a judgment under Rule 60(d).
The Fourth Circuit affirmed a 36-month prison sentence imposed after revoking a defendant's supervised release, rejecting the claim that the upward-variant sentence was plainly unreasonable. The court held that the district court exercised broad discretion and provided an adequate explanation based on the defendant's escalating violations and the need for public protection.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed qualified immunity for the officer who tackled a suspect during a drug raid but reversed the immunity grant for a second officer whose rifle struck the suspect's head. The court held that disputed facts regarding whether the blow was intentional or accidental preclude summary judgment on the excessive force claim.
The Eleventh Circuit vacated Jimmy Ray Lightsey's sentence, holding that his prior conviction for attempted armed robbery under Florida law does not qualify as a violent felony under the Armed Career Criminal Act. The court determined that the elements of Florida's attempt statute do not always require proof of the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force.
The Fourth Circuit vacated and remanded a district court order denying a petition for the return of a child under the Hague Convention. The appellate court found that the lower court applied the wrong law to determine custody rights and lacked evidentiary support for its findings on affirmative defenses.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed that prison officials violated an inmate's Eighth Amendment rights by using her as bait to catch a sexual predator, but reversed the damages award due to insufficient evidence and procedural errors. The court ordered a new trial on compensatory and punitive damages while leaving the liability finding intact.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed that prison officials acted with deliberate indifference by using an inmate as bait to catch a staff member who was sexually assaulting her, rejecting their qualified immunity defense. However, the court reversed the damages award, ordering a new trial because the jury lacked sufficient evidence to link the officials to the abuse prior to their specific knowledge and because the exclusion of evidence regarding the inmate's state of mind prejudiced the punitive damages calculation.
