Topic
Every decision we've filed under Constitutional.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed the denial of federal habeas relief to a death row inmate challenging the admission of a hospital confession. The court held that the Mississippi state courts did not unreasonably apply federal law or make unreasonable factual findings regarding the voluntariness of the statement.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a defendant's motion to withdraw a guilty plea. The court declined to address ineffective assistance of counsel claims due to an insufficient record for review.
The Eighth Circuit affirmed a supervised release revocation sentence but remanded for reconsideration of a community service condition. The court held that the district court did not impermissibly consider retribution and that the community service condition was ripe for facial review.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the denial of a federal habeas petition challenging a state court's refusal to grant resentencing relief under California Penal Code Section one thousand one hundred seventy-two point six. The court held that the petition was timely filed and that any error in the state court's determination was harmless because the petitioner remained ineligible for relief.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed the conviction of Troy Shelvin Cannon for sex trafficking. The panel rejected arguments regarding the admission of prior acts evidence, hearsay exclusion, and the sufficiency of the evidence presented at trial.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of a federal prisoner's motions to amend his habeas petition and for reconsideration. The court held that the district court correctly applied the law-of-the-case doctrine and lacked authority to amend a petition after final judgment.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed a district court judgment upholding a wrongful death verdict against a county sheriff's office. The court held that the officers' failure to notify parents and release a minor to a responsible adult constituted operational negligence rather than a protected planning decision.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed a district court judgment upholding a jury verdict that held a sheriff's office liable for the wrongful death of a teenager ejected from a fair. The court rejected arguments regarding sovereign immunity, probable cause for arrest, and the admissibility of hearsay testimony.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed a district court's denial of a habeas motion challenging a federal sentence. The court held that the defendant failed to prove prejudice because the sentencing judge imposed a sentence below the correct Guidelines range independent of the erroneous calculation.
The Eighth Circuit enforced a valid appeal waiver in a federal drug conspiracy case, dismissing the defendant's challenge to his guilty plea. The court found the defendant knowingly and voluntarily entered the plea agreement despite objections to specific drug quantities.