Apr 24 2026
11th Cir. 2:19-cv-08032-LSC Per Curiam

Patrick Dewayne Hall v. United States of America

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of Patrick Hall's § 2255 motion, ruling that the district court did not violate the *Clisby* mandate by resolving his ineffective assistance claim in a single sentence. The appellate court found that the district court's reliance on credibility findings and the lack of prejudice established a sufficient record for meaningful review.

Apr 23 2026
10th Cir. 5:17-CR-00014-R-11) Panel Decision

United States v. Favela

The Tenth Circuit affirmed the denial of Hilde Favela's motion for compassionate release, ruling that sentencing disparities and presentence report disputes do not constitute extraordinary and compelling reasons. The court held that challenges to sentencing calculations must be pursued through a habeas motion rather than a compassionate release proceeding.

Apr 22 2026
4th Cir. 23-7116 Panel Decision

White v. Warden of Fed. Corr. Inst. - Cumberland

The Fourth Circuit denied a petition for panel rehearing in a First Step Act time credit dispute, upholding the original ruling that denied sentence credits. The majority rejected the petitioner's new claim of participation in psychological programming as inconsistent with his prior litigation positions and insufficient to meet statutory requirements.

Apr 21 2026
10th Cir. 25-3119 Panel Decision

United States v. Lowe

The Tenth Circuit denied Gary Lowe's request for a certificate of appealability, finding that reasonable jurists could not view the district court's denial as debatable or wrong. The court concluded that Lowe's claims of judicial bias and ineffective assistance of counsel lacked merit due to a lack of transcript support and a misunderstanding of local rules.

Apr 21 2026
4th Cir. 25-4296 Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. DUSTIN ERIC WILSON

The Fourth Circuit affirmed Dustin Wilson's conviction, ruling that his trial counsel's decision to advocate for medical treatment rather than pre-trial release was objectively reasonable. The court found no evidence that Wilson's medical condition would have secured his release or that his guilty plea was the result of ineffective assistance.

Apr 20 2026
9th Cir. 3:13-cr-00092-RRB-1 Unpublished

USA V. SEUGASALA

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the denial of Stuart Seugasala's motion for relief from judgment, ruling that any procedural error by the district court was harmless. The court further held that the district judge did not abuse his discretion by declining to recuse himself despite minimal undisclosed contacts with a witness.

Apr 20 2026
9th Cir. 3:13-cr-00092-RRB-2 Unpublished

USA v. Khamnivong

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the denial of Phosavan Khamnivong's motion to vacate his sentence, ruling that the district judge did not abuse his discretion by declining to recuse himself. The court held that the judge's minimal contacts with a witness were insufficient to cause a reasonable person to question his impartiality.