Topic

Constitutional

Every decision we've filed under Constitutional.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. KIMBERLY CHANCELLOR

The Tenth Circuit denied Kimberly Chancellor's request for a certificate of appealability because he failed to show that reasonable jurists would find the district court's procedural ruling debatable. The court held that his Rule 60(b)(6) motion was substantively an unauthorized second or successive § 2255 claim, which the district court correctly dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - Federal Prisoner (28 USC 2255) Habeas Corpus - State Prisoner (28 USC 2254)

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Mar 27 2026

4th Cir. 24-6406 Per Curiam

TODD MICHAEL GIFFEN v. WARDEN FMC ROCHESTER

The Fourth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Todd Michael Giffen's habeas corpus petition due to his failure to prosecute the case. The court also dismissed a separate appeal for lack of jurisdiction because the challenged orders were not final or appealable.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - General (28 USC 2241)

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Mar 27 2026

4th Cir. 25-6219 Per Curiam

Todd Giffen v. Warden FMC Rochester

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed a district court order dismissing a habeas corpus petition due to the petitioner's failure to prosecute. The appellate court held that the petitioner forfeited the right to appellate review because his informal brief did not challenge the basis for the dismissal.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - General (28 USC 2241)

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Mar 27 2026

4th Cir. 25-6103 Per Curiam

Todd Michael Giffen v. Warden FMC Rochester

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a federal prisoner's petition for relief. The court found no reversible error in the district court's handling of the habeas corpus petition.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - General (28 USC 2241)

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Mar 26 2026

11th Cir. 8:25-cv-00682-TPB-NHA Per Curiam

Larome Deon Waiters v. United States of America

The Eleventh Circuit dismissed an appeal from a federal prisoner's habeas corpus motion due to a missed filing deadline. The court found the notice of appeal was filed two days after the statutory time limit expired.

Appellate Jurisdiction Constitutional Habeas Corpus - Federal Prisoner (28 USC 2255)

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Mar 26 2026

10th Cir. 5:24-CR-00398-R-1) Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. MARLON DEWAYNE MARTIN

The Tenth Circuit dismissed Marlon DeWayne Martin's appeal of his child sex trafficking sentence because he signed a plea agreement containing an enforceable waiver of appellate rights. The court found the waiver covered the specific claim raised and that enforcing it would not result in a miscarriage of justice.

Constitutional Sixth Amendment - Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

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Mar 26 2026

4th Cir. 25-4222 Per Curiam

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. MARION LAMONT FLOWERS

The Fourth Circuit affirmed the conviction and sentence of a defendant who pleaded guilty to federal drug distribution offenses. The court held that the defendant's appellate waiver was valid and that his ineffective assistance claim must be raised in a separate motion rather than on direct appeal.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - Federal Prisoner (28 USC 2255)

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Mar 26 2026

4th Cir. 25-6776 Per Curiam

United States v. Dallas Michael Acoff

The Fourth Circuit dismissed an appeal from a district court order denying a federal prisoner's motion for relief. The court found it lacked jurisdiction because the district court had not yet resolved all claims raised in the motion.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - Federal Prisoner (28 USC 2255)

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Mar 26 2026

4th Cir. 26-6191 Per Curiam

United States of America v. Earl Lamont Taylor

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit dismissed an appeal filed by a federal prisoner challenging the denial of his habeas corpus motion. The court held that the appellant failed to make a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right required to obtain a certificate of appealability.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - Federal Prisoner (28 USC 2255)

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Mar 26 2026

4th Cir. 25-6855 Per Curiam

Stephen James Kilpatrick v. Joseph Walters

The Fourth Circuit dismissed an appeal from a district court order that barred a state prisoner's habeas petition as time barred. The court found the appellant failed to make the requisite showing for a certificate of appealability.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - State Prisoner (28 USC 2254) Statute of Limitations

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