Verdict . News

Second Circuit Court of Appeals

2nd Circuit Upholds Terrorism Enhancement in Hezbollah Training Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the conviction and 10-year sentence of Alexei Saab for receiving military training from Hezbollah between 1996 and 2005. The court applied federal terrorism sentencing enhancements despite timing issues with the underlying statute.

•Alexei Saab was convicted in 2022 of receiving military training from Hezbollah from 1996 to 2005

•The Second Circuit affirmed his 10-year sentence and application of federal terrorism sentencing enhancements

State Court

•Wyoming Supreme Court affirmed district court's denial of additional retroactive child support claim

Wyoming Supreme Court

Wyoming Supreme Court Denies Mother's Retroactive Child Support Claim

The Wyoming Supreme Court affirmed a district court's denial of a mother's petition seeking additional retroactive child support covering an eight-month period. The court ruled that the doctrine of res judicata barred the mother from relitigating child support issues already decided in a previous proceeding.

•Court ruled that res judicata doctrine barred mother from relitigating already-decided support issues

State Court

Supreme Court of South Dakota

South Dakota Supreme Court Rules on Estate Dispute Between Widow, Family

The South Dakota Supreme Court issued a ruling January 14 in an estate dispute involving Martin Allen Webb, who died eight years after marrying Stephanie Eagleberger following a prenuptial agreement signed the day before their 2013 wedding. The case involves competing claims between the widow and family member Dee Haugen.

•Martin Allen Webb married Stephanie Eagleberger in 2013 after she signed a prenuptial agreement waiving estate rights the day before their wedding

•Stephanie Webb challenged the prenuptial agreement after her husband's death, seeking an elective share and family allowance from his estate

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

5th Circuit Reviews Venezuelan Sisters' Asylum Cases vs Trump Officials

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is reviewing consolidated immigration cases filed by two Venezuelan sisters against newly appointed Trump administration officials, including Attorney General Pamela Bondi and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. The cases challenge denials of affirmative asylum applications and involve complex questions about Temporary Protected Status.

•Two Venezuelan sisters appeal denied asylum applications against Trump administration officials in Fifth Circuit

•Cases challenge interaction between Temporary Protected Status and asylum renewal opportunities

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

Third Circuit Affirms Drug Conviction Despite Witness Challenges

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed the conviction and sentence of Diego Castillo-Pedraza for methamphetamine possession with intent to distribute. Castillo-Pedraza had challenged the admission of cooperating witness testimony and his below-Guidelines sentence, but the appellate court rejected both arguments in a non-precedential opinion filed January 14, 2026.

•Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed conviction for methamphetamine possession with intent to distribute

•Defendant challenged admission of cooperating witness testimony at trial

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

6th Circuit Denies Qualified Immunity to Detroit Police in Wrongful Conviction Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed a lower court's denial of qualified immunity to Detroit police officers accused of misconduct that led to Lacino Hamilton's wrongful murder conviction. Hamilton served 26 years in prison before his conviction was vacated by Wayne County's Conviction Integrity Unit.

•Sixth Circuit affirmed denial of qualified immunity to two Detroit police officers in wrongful conviction case

•Lacino Hamilton served 26 years for murder before Wayne County Conviction Integrity Unit vacated his conviction

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

3rd Circuit Upholds Fentanyl Distribution Conviction for Pennsylvania Man

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed the conviction of Leroy Irvin, who pleaded guilty to federal fentanyl distribution charges. The non-precedential opinion rejected Irvin's appeals challenging evidence obtained through search warrants and his 120-month prison sentence.

•Leroy Irvin's conditional guilty plea to federal fentanyl distribution charges was upheld by the Third Circuit

•The case began with ShotSpotter detection of gunfire at a Pittsburgh housing complex, leading to search warrants

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 14, 2026•5 min read

3rd Circuit Reverses Conviction Over Defective Plea in Procurement Case

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals reversed Nicole Schuster's conviction, ruling that her plea agreement lacked a sufficient factual basis under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11(b)(3). The court emphasized courts must carefully scrutinize plea agreements to ensure defendants don't plead guilty to conduct that fails to satisfy offense elements.

•Third Circuit reverses conviction due to insufficient factual basis for plea agreement

•Court emphasizes Federal Rule 11(b)(3) requires careful judicial scrutiny of plea deals

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

6th Circuit Reverses Summary Judgment in Legal Malpractice Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit issued a precedent-setting decision in Stacy Cales v. Theisen Brock LPA, reversing a district court's grant of summary judgment that had dismissed legal malpractice claims on statute of limitations grounds. The ruling, recommended for publication, establishes important precedent for legal malpractice cases in federal court.

•Sixth Circuit reversed district court's grant of summary judgment dismissing legal malpractice claims on statute of limitations grounds

•Decision recommended for publication, establishing precedent for future legal malpractice cases in the circuit