Topic

Criminal

Every decision we've filed under Criminal.

Related topics

Civil 2084 Summary Judgment 466 Sentencing Guidelines 413 Civil Rights - Section 1983 395 Immigration (Civil) 354 Constitutional 350 Supervised Release 285 Drug Trafficking 272 Firearms 213 Civil Rights - Employment 204 Intellectual Property 159 Qualified Immunity 151
Nov 4 2025
11th Cir. 6:20-cv-00025-RBD-DCI Published

Aguirre-Jarquin v. Seminole County

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of qualified immunity to a latent print examiner who allegedly fabricated forensic evidence, but reversed the denial of immunity for investigators who failed to pursue alternative suspects. The court held that fabricating a positive print match violates clearly established due process rights, while no such right existed to an investigation that eliminates all doubts about a suspect.

Criminal Drug Trafficking Qualified Immunity
Read summary →
Oct 17 2025
11th Cir. 1:22-cr-20137-JEM-1 Published

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. EDUARDO ULISES MARTINEZ

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed Eduardo Martinez's convictions for smuggling ivory and obstructing justice, rejecting arguments that antique exceptions excused his failure to declare the goods. The court upheld a 51-month sentence, ruling that an art dealer's own listing prices provided a reliable basis for valuing unsold ivory statues under the Sentencing Guidelines.

Criminal Environmental & Wildlife Sentencing Guidelines
Read summary →
Oct 17 2025
11th Cir. 7:19-cv-00529-LSC Published

Bridges v. Poe

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the grant of summary judgment in favor of jail administrators and the City of Jasper, ruling that plaintiffs failed to prove the supervisors knew of or tolerated widespread sexual abuse by jailers. The court held that without evidence of actual knowledge or a persistent custom of misconduct, the administrators could not be held liable under the Eighth Amendment or the TVPRA.

Criminal Qualified Immunity Sex Offenses Statute of Limitations
Read summary →
May 6 2025
9th Cir. 2:04-cr-00173- Published

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. RONALD BRUCE MYERS, AKA Rick LNU, AKA Rick Curtis

The Ninth Circuit held that the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act authorizes the government to seize funds accumulated gradually from multiple sources in an inmate's trust account. The court affirmed the district court's order turning over over $1,200 to satisfy unpaid restitution obligations.

Civil Rights - PLRA / Prisoner Criminal Embezzlement & Forgery Supervised Release
Read summary →
Feb 24 2025
9th Cir. 3:23-cr-08027- Published

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. PHILIP ALEJANDRO POWERS III

The Ninth Circuit affirmed Philip Powers III's convictions for setting three forest fires, ruling that his necessity defense failed because his actions were objectively unreasonable and he did not face imminent harm at the time of the first fire. The court held that even in a life-threatening situation, a defendant must choose the safest available method to signal for help, and Powers failed to meet this standard.

Criminal Other Criminal
Read summary →
Feb 20 2025
9th Cir. 6:23-cr-00001- Published

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. BRANDON WADE KURNS

The Ninth Circuit affirmed Brandon Wade Kurns's conviction and sentence for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The panel held that photographic evidence and ATF transfer forms sufficiently proved the enhancements applied, and that the district court did not violate the Fifth Amendment by suggesting Kurns could testify to rebut the government's case.

Criminal Firearms Sentencing Guidelines
Read summary →
Feb 18 2025
9th Cir. 2:23-cv-02093- Published

JOHN DOE, an individual v. GRINDR INC.; GRINDR LLC

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit against Grindr, holding that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act bars state law tort claims against the app for injuries sustained by an underage user. The court further ruled that the plaintiff failed to plausibly allege Grindr was a knowing perpetrator or beneficiary of sex trafficking, precluding relief under the FOSTA statutory exception.

Child Sexual Abuse Material Criminal
Read summary →
Feb 13 2025
2nd Cir. 22-861 Panel Decision

United States v. Mangano

The Second Circuit reversed Edward Mangano's convictions for federal programs bribery, ruling the evidence insufficient to prove he was an agent of the Town of Oyster Bay. The court affirmed his convictions for honest services fraud and obstruction of justice, as well as his wife's convictions for those crimes and making false statements.

Criminal Fraud Supervised Release
Read summary →