Verdict . News

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Upholds 24-Month Sentence for Illegal Reentry

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed a 24-month prison sentence for Gabriel Rojas-Lopez, who was convicted of unlawfully being present in the United States after previous removal. The defendant, also known as Francisco Reyes, had challenged the district court's upward variance from sentencing guidelines.

•Gabriel Rojas-Lopez received 24-month sentence for illegal reentry under 18 U.S.C. § 1326(a)

•Eleventh Circuit rejected appellant's challenge to upward sentencing variance

•Delaware Supreme Court unanimously reversed murder conviction in restaurant double homicide case

Delaware Supreme Court

Delaware Supreme Court Reverses Murder Conviction in Restaurant Shooting

The Delaware Supreme Court reversed the murder conviction of Yony Morales-Garcia in connection with a January 2022 restaurant shooting that killed two people. The court's unanimous decision, issued Feb. 3, 2026, remands the case back to the Superior Court for further proceedings.

•Case involves January 2022 armed robbery at Sussex County restaurant where two masked men killed two patrons

•Georgia Supreme Court considering Paul Jason York's petition to voluntarily surrender his law license

Georgia Supreme Court

Georgia Supreme Court Reviews Attorney York's License Surrender Petition

The Georgia Supreme Court is considering attorney Paul Jason York's petition to voluntarily surrender his law license, marking the second time his disciplinary matter has reached the state's highest court. York seeks to surrender his license after admitting to multiple professional conduct violations in connection with a criminal matter.

•Second time York's disciplinary matter has reached the state's highest court after 2024 rejection

Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals

2w ago•2 min read

7th Circuit Grants Father's Request for Interim Visitation Rights During Hague Convention Appeal

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit reversed a lower court's denial and granted Norwegian father Yves Aubert's emergency request to reinstate regular visitation with his two daughters while his Hague Convention child abduction case remains on appeal. The court ruled on February 3, 2026, in a dispute involving international custody rights.

•Norwegian father granted interim visitation rights with daughters during Hague Convention appeal

•Seventh Circuit reversed district court's denial of visitation request

Second Circuit Court of Appeals

Second Circuit Issues Summary Order in Alarcon v. Bondi Immigration Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued a summary order on February 3, 2026, in the immigration case *Alarcon v. Bondi*, involving petitioners challenging a Board of Immigration Appeals decision. The non-precedential ruling was decided by a three-judge panel.

•Second Circuit issued non-precedential summary order in immigration case against Attorney General Bondi

•Case involved multiple petitioners challenging Board of Immigration Appeals decision under Immigration Judge Sponzo

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Upholds Sentence for Dominican National in Illegal Reentry Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the sentence of Jarle Del Rosario Medina, a Dominican Republic citizen who challenged his nine-month prison term for illegal reentry after deportation. The appeals court rejected his argument that the sentence was unreasonable.

•Jarle Del Rosario Medina lost his appeal challenging a 9-month sentence for illegal reentry after deportation

•The 11th Circuit affirmed the district court's decision to exceed the joint recommendation of 5 months imprisonment

•Travis Graham appeals felony murder conviction for 2020 shooting death of Jeffrey Franklin

Georgia Supreme Court

Georgia Supreme Court Reviews Murder Conviction Appeal in Graham Case

The Georgia Supreme Court issued a decision February 3, 2026, in *Graham v. State*, addressing Travis Santel Graham's appeal of his felony murder conviction. Graham challenges his life sentence, claiming ineffective assistance of counsel regarding jury instruction requests.

•Claims ineffective assistance regarding jury instruction requests on property defense and character evidence

•Georgia Supreme Court denied habeas petition from Alexandro Huitron, convicted of felony murder in his 3-year-old daughter's death

Georgia Supreme Court

Georgia Supreme Court Denies Habeas Petition in Child Death Case

The Georgia Supreme Court has denied a habeas corpus petition from Alexandro Huitron, who was convicted of felony murder and other crimes in connection with the 2010 death of his three-year-old daughter, Esmerelda Gomez. Huitron's appeal centered on claims that his appellate counsel provided ineffective assistance due to a conflict of interest.

•Huitron claimed his appellate counsel had a conflict of interest warranting a new appeal with different representation

Regulatory

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas

CFTC Orders Texas Trader to Pay $14M for Information Theft, Kickbacks

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission secured a $14.2 million settlement against Houston resident Matthew Clark for misappropriating confidential information and participating in illegal kickback schemes that defrauded his employer. The consent order permanently bans Clark from trading and CFTC registration.

•Matthew Clark must pay $14.2 million total: $7.7 million in restitution and $6.5 million in disgorgement

•Clark permanently banned from trading and CFTC registration for kickback schemes and information misappropriation