Topic
Every decision we've filed under Constitutional.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of a federal prisoner's motion to vacate his conviction, ruling that his statute of limitations argument lacked legal merit. Although the district court failed to address a specific timeliness claim, the appellate court determined a remand was unnecessary because the claim would fail regardless.
The Eleventh Circuit dismissed the appeal regarding the April 2, 2025 judgment because the notice of appeal was filed well past the statutory deadline. However, the court retained jurisdiction over the appeal concerning the December 31, 2025 post-judgment order, which was filed within the allowable time limit.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a pro se plaintiff's amended complaint as a shotgun pleading that failed to comply with federal civil procedure rules. The court also upheld the district court's denial of the plaintiff's motion for appointed counsel, finding no exceptional circumstances existed to warrant it.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed Desean Williams's conviction because his claim of a conflict of interest regarding his plea agreement's appellate waiver was raised for the first time on direct appeal. The court held that resolving the factual predicate of this claim would require acting as a fact-finder, a role it cannot perform without a record developed in the district court.
The First Circuit affirmed the denial of a habeas petition challenging a first-degree murder conviction, ruling that the Sixth Amendment speedy-trial clock did not begin until Carr's 1997 indictment. The court further held that Carr's claims of ineffective assistance of counsel failed because his attorneys' strategic choices were not objectively unreasonable and the additional evidence would not have changed the outcome under state law.
The Fourth Circuit denied a certificate of appealability to Benjamin Forrest Carter, finding he failed to show that reasonable jurists could debate the district court's denial of his habeas relief. Consequently, the court dismissed the appeal without oral argument.
The Fifth Circuit vacated a certificate of appealability because it failed to indicate a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right as required by federal statute. The court dismissed the appeal because the petitioner's sole claim was for actual innocence, which is not cognizable under federal habeas corpus review.
The Fourth Circuit denied Antonio Edwards's petition for a writ of mandamus because the district court had already ruled on his underlying motions. The court found the issue moot since the alleged delay no longer existed.
The Fifth Circuit dismissed Olamide Olatayo Bello's appeal as moot because he is no longer confined at the Fannin County Detention Center. Consequently, the court lacks jurisdiction to grant the requested relief and denied his motion to proceed in forma pauperis.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed the denial of Elijah Porter's motion to suppress evidence, holding that license plate reader data does not constitute a Fourth Amendment search. The court further ruled that the traffic stop was supported by reasonable suspicion and that the firearm was lawfully seized under the plain view doctrine.