Verdict . News

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Upholds 16-Year Sentence for Shooting at Federal Officer

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed a 192-month prison sentence for Keith Pharms, who was convicted on five criminal charges related to shooting at a federal officer following a car theft. Pharms unsuccessfully challenged his sentence on constitutional grounds.

•Keith Pharms received a 192-month federal sentence for shooting at a federal officer during a car theft operation

•The 11th Circuit rejected his Fifth and Sixth Amendment constitutional challenges on appeal

•Steven Valdez was convicted of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and aggravated fleeing from law enforcement

New Mexico Supreme Court

New Mexico High Court Affirms Murder Conviction in Valdez Case

The New Mexico Supreme Court affirmed Steven Valdez's convictions for first-degree murder and related charges, rejecting his claims that the trial court improperly admitted evidence of prior bad acts against victim Brittney Skaggs. The court also upheld the denial of Valdez's motions to substitute appointed counsel.

•The New Mexico Supreme Court rejected Valdez's claim that prior bad acts evidence was improperly admitted at trial

•Ninth Circuit denied Indonesian citizen Hendra Ko's petition to reopen asylum case after Christian conversion

9th Circuit Denies Indonesian Christian Convert's Asylum Petition

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals denied a petition from Hendra Ko, an Indonesian citizen who converted to Christianity after his initial asylum application was rejected. Ko argued that changed country conditions in Indonesia justified reopening his immigration case based on fears of religious persecution.

•Ko argued changed country conditions in Indonesia created new grounds for religious persecution claims

•Ninth Circuit denied petition for review, upholding asylum denial for Salvadoran citizen

9th Circuit Denies Asylum for Salvadoran Citing Lack of Evidence

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has denied a petition for review from Jose Amilcar Ortega-Alvarez, a Salvadoran citizen seeking asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture. The February 5, 2026 decision upholds lower court findings that rejected his claims for protection.

•Court applied substantial evidence standard to review immigration judge and BIA findings

•Ninth Circuit denied asylum appeal by El Salvador native Josue Antonio Chicas-Lemos

9th Circuit Denies Asylum Appeal for El Salvador Native

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review filed by Josue Antonio Chicas-Lemos, a native and citizen of El Salvador, challenging the Board of Immigration Appeals' dismissal of his asylum application. The court upheld previous denials of his requests for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture.

•Court found he failed to apply for asylum within reasonable time of changed circumstances

•Ninth Circuit grants partial relief to Colombian family challenging removal proceedings

9th Circuit Grants Partial Relief to Colombian Family in Immigration Case

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals granted partial relief to a Colombian family challenging their removal from the United States, remanding the case for further proceedings after the Board of Immigration Appeals dismissed their asylum claims.

•Court remands case to immigration authorities after BIA dismissed asylum claims

•Nevada Supreme Court affirmed Isaiha Duckket's conviction for second-degree murder and other serious felonies

Nevada Supreme Court

Nevada Supreme Court Affirms Murder Conviction Despite Self-Representation

The Nevada Supreme Court affirmed the conviction of Isaiha Duckket, who represented himself during his trial for second-degree murder with use of a deadly weapon and other serious felonies. The court rejected Duckket's appeal claiming he was not competent to represent himself due to mental illness.

•Court rejected Duckket's claim that he was mentally incompetent to represent himself during trial

•Cash convicted of capital murder for fatally running over Pea Ridge Police Officer Kevin Apple in 2021

Arkansas Supreme Court

Arkansas Supreme Court Affirms Life Sentence for Officer's Killer

The Arkansas Supreme Court has affirmed the life sentence of Shawna Cash, who was convicted of capital murder for running over and killing Pea Ridge Police Officer Kevin Apple. Cash's appeal challenging evidence admission and prosecutorial conduct was unanimously rejected.

•Arkansas Supreme Court unanimously affirmed her life imprisonment sentence on February 5, 2026

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

Maine Supreme Court Dismisses DNA Cold Case Appeal as Premature

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court dismissed Jason J. Follette's appeal challenging the prosecution of 1996 sexual assault and burglary charges. The court ruled the appeal was interlocutory and did not meet exceptions to the final judgment rule.

•Court dismissed appeal as interlocutory, ruling Follette must wait until after final judgment to challenge prosecution

•State filed DNA 'John Doe' charges in 2002, just days before statute of limitations expired on 1996 crimes