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Plain Error Review

Every decision we've filed under Plain Error Review.

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Civil 3399 Criminal 1956 Summary Judgment 806 Sentencing Guidelines 718 Civil Rights - Section 1983 647 Immigration (Civil) 646 Constitutional 536 Supervised Release 473 Drug Trafficking 443 Civil Rights - Employment 367 Firearms 319 Qualified Immunity 251
Mar 30 2026
11th Cir. 3:24-cr-00107-TKW-1 Per Curiam

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. CHRISTOPHER MICHAEL STANTON, JR

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed Christopher Stanton Jr.'s convictions for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and as a convicted felon. The court rejected Stanton's novel Second Amendment challenge, ruling that binding precedent forecloses the argument regarding felon possession while the drug trafficking enhancement argument failed to meet the plain error standard.

Criminal Drug Trafficking Plain Error Review
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Mar 27 2026
5th Cir. 25-50231 Per Curiam

United States of America v. Luciano Diaz-Contreras

The Fifth Circuit affirmed a federal sentence, holding that a prior four-year state firearms conviction counts toward criminal history points even if the defendant did not physically serve the full term. The court also rejected a challenge to a supervised release revocation, finding the district court properly considered the defendant's history and the need for public protection.

Criminal Firearms Plain Error Review Sentencing Guidelines
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Mar 27 2026
4th Cir. 25-4041 Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. JERONE TYRELL HOLMAN

The Fourth Circuit affirmed Jerone Holman's conviction and 66-month sentence for possessing a firearm as a felon, rejecting his Second Amendment challenge based on established precedent. The court also upheld the district court's application of the large-capacity magazine enhancement and clarified the rigorous standards for plain error review under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 52(b).

Criminal Firearms Plain Error Review
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Mar 26 2026
4th Cir. 24-4298 Per Curiam

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. ANTHONY P. SPENCER

The Fourth Circuit affirmed the revocation of Anthony P. Spencer's supervised release, ruling that certified state court documents were sufficient evidence of a violation even without a separate determination of guilt. The court held that Spencer failed to preserve his objection to the evidence, triggering a plain error standard that he could not meet.

Criminal Firearms Plain Error Review
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Mar 25 2026
3rd Cir. 2:16-cr-00088-001) Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. MOHAMMED JABATEH

The Third Circuit affirmed the denial of a § 2255 motion challenging an asylee's convictions for perjury and immigration fraud based on false oral statements. The court held that while the immigration fraud statute does not apply to oral statements, the appellant failed to preserve this specific challenge for direct appeal, and thus no plain error existed to warrant relief.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - Federal Prisoner (28 USC 2255) Plain Error Review Sixth Amendment - Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
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Mar 25 2026
5th Cir. 24-40825 Per Curiam

United States v. Lacandreal Shokitra Jackson

The Fifth Circuit affirmed the sentence and restitution order for a defendant convicted of PPP wire fraud conspiracy, rejecting her challenges to the loss calculation and mass-marketing enhancement. The court held that the district court acted within its discretion by relying on conservative estimates from the Presentence Report that the defendant failed to rebut with evidence.

Criminal Fraud Plain Error Review Sentencing Guidelines
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Mar 23 2026
5th Cir. 25-20247 Per Curiam

United States v. Toledo-Gomez

The Fifth Circuit affirmed a sentence for illegal reentry, rejecting the defendant's claim that a written supervised release condition conflicted with the court's oral pronouncement. The court held that the discrepancy was a mere ambiguity rather than a conflict, as the condition aligned with the district court's intent and the parties' understanding regarding deportation.

Criminal Immigration (Criminal) Plain Error Review Supervised Release
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Mar 18 2026
11th Cir. 6:18-cr-00176-RBD-DCI-1 Per Curiam

United States v. Siaca Melendez

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed a 24-month upward variance sentence imposed for federal probation violations involving child pornography. The court held that although the district court failed to explicitly state the reasons for the variance in open court, the record was sufficiently clear to prevent reversible error.

Criminal Firearms Plain Error Review
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