Topic
Every decision we've filed under Criminal.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed a district court's decision to revoke supervised release and impose a new ten-year term. The court held that the defendant failed to demonstrate plain error regarding an unconditional ban on contact with minors.
The Eighth Circuit reversed a fraud conviction and remanded for a new trial after the district court improperly excluded evidence of witness bias. The court held that statements made during government witness preparation were admissible to show the accomplice's bias against the defendant.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed a federal sentence requiring mandatory consecutive terms for firearm offenses under Section nine hundred twenty-four of Title eighteen. The court held that the district court properly clarified an ambiguity in the oral sentencing order to comply with statutory mandates.
The Sixth Circuit vacated a substantially below-Guidelines sentence for a defendant who traveled to Syria to fight for ISIS. The court held that the district court erred by minimizing the seriousness of the defendant's conduct and relying too heavily on national sentencing statistics.
The Sixth Circuit vacated a terrorism defendant's sentence, ruling it was substantively unreasonable. The court held that the district court erred by minimizing the brutality of ISIS and relying too heavily on national sentencing statistics.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed Victor Manuel Chavarria's conviction and sentence while dismissing the remainder of his appeal. The panel concluded that Chavarria's plea was voluntary and that his appeal waiver was enforceable.
The Eighth Circuit affirmed a district court's revocation of supervised release and thirty-month prison sentence. The court held that the categorical approach does not apply when determining the grade of a supervised release violation.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit dismissed an appeal after appointed counsel filed a motion to withdraw under Anders v. California. The court agreed that the appeal presented no nonfrivolous issues for review.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the conviction of Joshua Ian Celnik for distribution and possession of child pornography. The court rejected challenges to the admission of computer logs and expert testimony, finding no violation of the Confrontation Clause or evidentiary rules.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted a motion to withdraw counsel and dismissed an appeal. The court found that the appointed attorney's Anders brief correctly identified no nonfrivolous issues for review.