Verdict . News

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

6th Circuit Upholds Denial of Federal Sentence Reduction Motion

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed a district court's denial of Shane E. Bowlin's motion to reduce his 195-month federal sentence, despite retroactive amendments to federal sentencing guidelines that would have lowered his applicable sentencing range.

•Sixth Circuit affirmed denial of sentence reduction despite favorable guideline amendments

•Shane Bowlin's 195-month sentence upheld after retroactive Sentencing Guidelines changes

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

3rd Circuit Upholds Deportation for Mexican Couple Over Hardship Standard

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit denied a petition for review from David Camargo Gomez and Edith Ponce Cordero, affirming immigration courts' determination that the Mexican couple failed to prove their removal would cause exceptional hardship to their U.S.-citizen children.

•Third Circuit affirmed deportation order for Mexican couple with U.S.-citizen children

•Court rejected arguments that immigration courts failed to properly analyze hardship factors

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

Fifth Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment in Mortgage Trust Dispute

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's grant of summary judgment in favor of Wilmington Savings Fund Society, acting as trustee for a mortgage-backed securities trust, against pro se plaintiff Phyllis June Burris. The court also upheld a prefiling injunction after deeming Burris a vexatious litigant.

•Fifth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for Wilmington Savings Fund Society as mortgage trust trustee

•Court upheld prefiling injunction against pro se plaintiff deemed vexatious litigant

State Court

•Parris was sentenced to life plus 185 years for selling fentanyl and methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a church during a police sting

Arkansas Supreme Court

Arkansas High Court Upholds Life Sentence for Church Zone Drug Dealer

The Arkansas Supreme Court affirmed most convictions against Kent Parris, who received life imprisonment plus 185 years for selling fentanyl and methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a church during a police sting operation. The court reversed only one firearms-related conviction due to insufficient evidence.

•Arkansas Supreme Court affirmed six of seven convictions while reversing theft-by-receiving charge due to insufficient evidence about stolen firearm

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

Fifth Circuit Upholds Felon-in-Possession Gun Conviction Despite Constitutional Challenge

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed Terry Glenn Evans' conviction for illegal firearm possession by a convicted felon, rejecting his constitutional challenges under the Commerce Clause and Second Amendment. Evans had argued the federal gun law violated his rights following the Supreme Court's decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen.

•Terry Glenn Evans' conviction for illegal firearm possession as a convicted felon was upheld by the Fifth Circuit

•Evans challenged the federal gun law under both the Commerce Clause and Second Amendment following the Supreme Court's Bruen decision

Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals

3w ago•5 min read

8th Circuit Reverses Contract Dispute Over 'Termination' Definition

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit reversed a district court's dismissal of a contract dispute between Reinhardt Enterprises and Kaseya U.S., finding that the term 'termination' was ambiguous in their business agreement. The case centers on whether letting a contract expire constitutes 'termination' triggering buyout fee obligations.

•Eighth Circuit reversed district court dismissal, finding 'termination' language ambiguous

•Case involves dispute over whether non-renewal of contract constitutes 'termination'

State Court

•Nevada Supreme Court denied Gregory Burns' petition to unmask anonymous sexual assault plaintiff

Nevada Supreme Court

Nevada Supreme Court Denies Petition to Unmask Anonymous Sexual Assault Plaintiff

The Nevada Supreme Court denied Gregory Burns' petition seeking to compel disclosure of a sexual assault plaintiff's identity. The court upheld a district court's decision allowing 'Jane Doe' to proceed anonymously in her tort action against Burns.

•District court's decision to allow 'Jane Doe' pseudonym in civil tort case was upheld

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

Ninth Circuit Denies Mexican National's Immigration Appeal

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review filed by Maria Arriaga-Gutierrez, a Mexican national challenging an immigration judge's denial of her applications for withholding of removal and protection under the Convention Against Torture.

•Ninth Circuit denied petition by Mexican national challenging denial of withholding of removal and CAT protection

•Court applied deferential substantial evidence standard of review to immigration judge's factual findings

Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals

Tenth Circuit Reviews Kansas Highway Patrol Traffic Stop Challenge

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit heard arguments in a civil rights case challenging Kansas Highway Patrol traffic stop practices. Five plaintiffs sued Superintendent Erik Smith in his official capacity, with prominent constitutional law scholars filing amicus briefs.

•Five plaintiffs sued Kansas Highway Patrol Superintendent Erik Smith over traffic stop practices

•Prominent constitutional law scholars filed amicus brief supporting the civil rights claims