Verdict . News

•Travis Smith's murder conviction and life sentence affirmed by Georgia Supreme Court

Georgia Supreme Court Upholds Life Sentence in 2014 Murder Case

The Georgia Supreme Court affirmed the murder conviction of Travis Smith in the 2014 shooting death of Cortez Dowell. Smith challenged evidence admission and claimed ineffective counsel but the state's highest court rejected his appeal.

•Smith was convicted in 2014 shooting death of Cortez Dowell and sentenced to life without parole

•Christopher Sellers' life sentence without parole affirmed for 2019 murder of Thedarious Mitchell

Georgia Supreme Court Upholds Life Sentence in Sellers Murder Case

The Georgia Supreme Court affirmed the murder conviction of Christopher Sellers, who was sentenced to life without parole for the 2019 shooting death of Thedarious Mitchell in DeKalb County. The court rejected Sellers' arguments challenging the sufficiency of evidence and jury instructions.

•Georgia Supreme Court rejected challenges to evidence sufficiency and jury instructions

•Georgia Supreme Court rejected second voluntary discipline petition from attorney Stephanie Dianne Woodard

Georgia Supreme Court Again Rejects Attorney Discipline Petition

The Georgia Supreme Court has rejected a second disciplinary petition from attorney Stephanie Dianne Woodard, finding that her proposed public reprimand remains insufficient punishment for violating professional conduct rules involving moral turpitude and dishonesty.

•Court found proposed public reprimand insufficient for violations involving moral turpitude and dishonesty

•Georgia Supreme Court affirmed habeas relief for Tamara Nicole Weaver, convicted in 2014 of child abuse charges

Georgia Supreme Court Upholds Habeas Relief for Child Abuse Conviction

The Georgia Supreme Court affirmed a habeas corpus grant for Tamara Nicole Weaver, who was convicted in 2014 of child abuse charges. The court found her trial attorney provided ineffective assistance due to a conflict of interest from representing her co-defendant husband in the same case.

•Trial attorney's conflict of interest from representing co-defendant husband constituted ineffective assistance

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

5th Circuit Denies Asylum Appeal Under New AG Bondi

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals denied an asylum petition by Luz Ilvea Garcia-Manzanares, a Salvadoran national, in one of the first immigration cases filed under newly confirmed Attorney General Pamela Bondi. The court upheld the Board of Immigration Appeals' dismissal of her claims for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture.

•Fifth Circuit denied asylum petition by Salvadoran national Luz Ilvea Garcia-Manzanares

•Case represents early immigration decision under newly confirmed Attorney General Pamela Bondi

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

Fifth Circuit Hears Appeal in New Orleans Archdiocese Bankruptcy Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is hearing an appeal from Richard C. Trahant challenging decisions in the Roman Catholic Church of the Archdiocese of New Orleans bankruptcy case. The appeal involves disputes over confidential information regarding sexual abuse allegations and represents a significant development in one of the most closely watched Catholic Church bankruptcy proceedings.

•Richard C. Trahant filed an appeal with the Fifth Circuit challenging decisions in the New Orleans Archdiocese bankruptcy case

•The dispute involves confidential information about sexual abuse allegations that Trahant obtained while representing alleged victims

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 2, 2026•2 min read

9th Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Prisoner's First Step Act Challenge

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed a lower court's dismissal of federal prisoner Julian Walker's habeas corpus petition challenging the Bureau of Prisons' implementation of earned time credits under the First Step Act. Walker, representing himself pro se, argued the BOP violated the 2018 law by restricting credits to low-risk inmates and improperly banking his credits.

•Federal prisoner Julian Walker lost his pro se appeal challenging BOP's earned time credit policies under the First Step Act

•Ninth Circuit affirmed district court dismissal, finding the First Step Act limits earned time credits to specific prisoner categories

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Driver's License Due Process Claims

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed a district court's dismissal of a pro se civil rights lawsuit filed by Kenneth R. Parson, Jr. against Florida Department of Revenue official Ann Coffin. Parson alleged his due process rights were violated when his driver's license was suspended without proper notice or hearing.

•Pro se plaintiff alleged his driver's license was taken without due process by Florida Department of Revenue official

•District court dismissed Section 1983 civil rights claims without allowing amendment

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Upholds 271-Month Sentence for Child Enticement

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed a 271-month federal prison sentence for Chad Allen Pease, who was convicted of attempted enticement of a minor and commission of a felony offense involving a minor by a registered sex offender. The appeals court rejected Pease's challenge to the district court's denial of a sentence reduction for acceptance of responsibility.

•Chad Allen Pease received a 271-month federal sentence for attempted child enticement and related charges as a registered sex offender

•The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals rejected his challenge to the district court's denial of a sentence reduction for acceptance of responsibility