Topic
Every decision we've filed under Criminal.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit dismissed an appeal filed by a defendant who had previously agreed to waive his right to appeal as part of a plea agreement. The court held that the waiver was knowing, voluntary, and enforceable despite the defendant's arguments regarding procedural rules.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed a district court ruling that a convicted murderer is barred from receiving her deceased husband's retirement benefits under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. The court held that the final criminal conviction conclusively established the appellant as the slayer, precluding her from claiming the estate's assets.
The First Circuit vacated a drug trafficking sentence because the district court erred in defining the universe of participants for a mitigating role adjustment. The court affirmed the dangerous weapon enhancement and the denial of a duress departure but remanded for resentencing.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed the conviction of Quincy Taylor for drug trafficking and firearm offenses. The court held that the district court did not violate Taylor's Confrontation Clause rights by limiting cross-examination of a key witness regarding the underlying facts of the witness's expunged criminal charges.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the conviction and sentence of Maurice Devantay Kimbrough following an Anders brief motion. The court granted the appointed counsel's request to withdraw after an independent review found no arguable issues of merit.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed a federal sentence for a firearms violation, ruling that a defendant is responsible for firearms sold by co-conspirators during jointly undertaken criminal activity. The court held that the defendant's coordinated actions with his cohorts established the necessary scope for sentencing enhancements under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed two supervised release revocation sentences for a defendant convicted of possessing child pornography. The court held that reimprisonment for violating supervised release conditions is not capped by the statutory maximum of the underlying offense.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed the conviction and sentence of a defendant for illegal reentry after a prior removal. The court held that the defendant's argument regarding prior convictions was foreclosed by Supreme Court precedent.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed the convictions of three doctors who operated a pill mill disguised as an addiction treatment clinic. The court found the evidence sufficient to prove the defendants knowingly distributed controlled substances outside the usual course of professional practice.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed the convictions of three doctors who operated a pill mill disguised as an addiction treatment clinic. The court found the evidence sufficient to prove the defendants knowingly distributed controlled substances outside the usual course of professional practice.