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Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

5th Circuit Affirms Denial of Coram Nobis Petition in Wire Fraud Case

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of Eugene J. Lockhart Jr.'s petition for writ of coram nobis, an extraordinary legal remedy seeking to overturn his conviction for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. The brief ruling represents the latest development in a case that originated in 2009 in the Northern District of Texas.

•Fifth Circuit affirmed denial of coram nobis petition without detailed explanation

•Lockhart originally pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges involving wire fraud and bank fraud

State Court

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

Maine Supreme Court Affirms Theft and Forgery Convictions

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court affirmed the criminal convictions of Terri L. Moulton for theft and forgery, rejecting her claims of prosecutorial misconduct, judicial bias, and discovery violations. The court found that while some prosecutorial statements constituted error, they were harmless and did not deprive Moulton of a fair trial.

•Moulton embezzled $500,000 from Dewitt Machine and Fabrication over three years while working as bookkeeper

•Maine Supreme Judicial Court rejected all four appellate challenges including prosecutorial misconduct claims

State Court

West Virginia Supreme Court

West Virginia Supreme Court Upholds Parental Rights Termination

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court's decision to terminate the parental rights of an incarcerated father, rejecting his argument that less restrictive measures should have been considered. The case involved a father serving a prison sentence until 2028 who had no contact with his 14-year-old child for approximately 10 years.

•Father's parental rights terminated while serving prison sentence until June 2028

•Department of Health and Human Services cited unsafe housing and financial neglect

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Grants Qualified Immunity to Deputy in Fatal DUI Case

The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a district court ruling and granted qualified immunity to a sheriff's deputy who killed a man while driving drunk and fleeing the scene. The court held that despite the deputy's conduct, existing precedent did not clearly establish the unconstitutionality of his actions.

•Eleventh Circuit granted qualified immunity to deputy who killed man while driving drunk and fleeing scene

•Court ruled existing precedent didn't clearly establish deputy's conduct as unconstitutional

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

3w ago•2 min read

Fifth Circuit Reviews Sodium Cyanide Supply Dispute Between US, Mexican Firms

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals is examining a contract dispute between Cyanco International, a U.S. sodium cyanide producer, and Minerales de Occidente, a Mexican mining company, over breach of an annual chemical supply agreement. The case involves licensing requirements for the international transport and use of sodium cyanide in mining operations.

•Contract dispute involves annual sodium cyanide supply agreement between U.S. manufacturer Cyanco and Mexican mining company Minosa

•Case centers on licensing requirements for international transport and use of sodium cyanide in mining operations

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit: Attempted Violent Crimes Count for Enhanced Sentencing

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed that attempted crimes of violence qualify as crimes of violence under federal sentencing guidelines. The court ruled in United States v. Joseph Ott that a 2023 Sentencing Commission amendment definitively resolved the question of whether attempts count for enhanced sentencing purposes.

•The 11th Circuit affirmed that attempted crimes of violence qualify as crimes of violence under federal sentencing guidelines

•A 2023 Sentencing Commission amendment explicitly defined crimes of violence to include attempts, resolving prior legal uncertainty

State Court

•California Supreme Court unanimously ruled loose marijuana on vehicle floor does not violate open container law

California Supreme Court

California Supreme Court: Loose Marijuana in Car Not Open Container

The California Supreme Court ruled unanimously that loose marijuana scattered on a vehicle's rear floor does not constitute an 'open container' violation under state law. The court also held that police lacked probable cause to conduct a warrantless vehicle search based solely on the presence of loose marijuana.

•Court held police lacked probable cause for warrantless vehicle search based solely on presence of loose marijuana

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

Fifth Circuit Upholds Warrantless Vehicle Search in Gun Case

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court's denial of a motion to suppress evidence in *United States v. Davalos*, where a convicted felon challenged a warrantless search of his vehicle. The court ruled that exigent circumstances and probable cause justified the search that uncovered marijuana and a firearm.

•Fifth Circuit affirmed denial of suppression motion in felon firearm possession case

•Court found exigent circumstances and probable cause justified warrantless vehicle search

Federal Circuit Court of Appeals

Federal Circuit Affirms Hulu Victory in Sound View Patent Appeal

The Federal Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's summary judgment ruling that Hulu did not infringe Sound View Innovations' streaming technology patent. The court agreed that Hulu's accused products failed to meet key claim requirements regarding step sequencing and specialized buffer technology.

•Federal Circuit affirmed district court's summary judgment that Hulu did not infringe Sound View's streaming patent

•Court ruled Hulu's technology failed to perform patent claim steps in required sequence and lacked specialized buffer