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Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

5th Circuit Affirms Qualified Immunity for Dallas Jail Officer in Inmate Death

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld qualified immunity for Dallas County Jail Officer Annette Grant in an excessive force case brought by the mother of Shamond Lewis, who died during pretrial detention. The court found that any constitutional violation was not clearly established at the time of the incident.

•Fifth Circuit affirmed qualified immunity for Dallas County Jail Officer Annette Grant

•Shamond Lewis died during pretrial detention following disputed use of force incident

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

3rd Circuit Upholds Immigration Denial in Sexual Assault Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed an immigration judge's denial of permanent residency to a Mexican national who overstayed his visa, after finding his denials of sexual assault allegations lacked credibility. The court rejected constitutional challenges to the immigration proceedings.

•Mexican national who overstayed 2003 tourist visa denied permanent residency after sexual assault allegations

•Immigration judge found petitioner's denials not credible based on inconsistent testimony and Facebook messages

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

3rd Circuit Revives Job Discrimination Case Over Truck Driver's Past Conviction

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a lower court's dismissal of a discrimination case involving a truck driver who was rejected for employment after voluntarily disclosing a 15-year-old armed robbery conviction. The court ruled that Pennsylvania's fair hiring laws apply even when an applicant self-reports their criminal history.

•Third Circuit reversed district court dismissal of employment discrimination case involving criminal history

•Pennsylvania fair hiring law applies even when applicant voluntarily discloses criminal record

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

4th Circuit Affirms Ruling Against Former Montgomery County Employee

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed a district court ruling in favor of Montgomery County Public Schools in an employment dispute with former employee Kimberly Ann Polk. The published decision issued January 28, 2026, upheld dismissal of claims against the school system and board members.

•Fourth Circuit affirmed district court dismissal of employment lawsuit against Montgomery County Public Schools

•Case involved former employee Kimberly Ann Polk suing school system and eight board members in individual and official capacities

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

3w ago•5 min read

4th Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Age Discrimination Suit Against VA Town

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed a lower court's dismissal of an age discrimination lawsuit filed by Jeffrey Turner against the Town of Narrows, Virginia. Turner alleged the town discriminated against him based on his age when it hired a candidate in his early twenties for a parks director position instead of him.

•Fourth Circuit affirmed dismissal of age discrimination lawsuit filed by 60-year-old Jeffrey Turner against Town of Narrows, Virginia

•Turner was rejected for Parks and Recreation Director position in favor of candidate in his early twenties

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment Against Legally Blind Inmate's ADA Claims

The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's summary judgment ruling against Kevin Lewis, a legally blind plaintiff who sued Georgia county sheriffs for allegedly denying disability accommodations during his jail detention.

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment against legally blind inmate Kevin Lewis who sued Georgia county sheriffs for ADA violations

•Lewis was denied accommodations for reading documents, navigation, and accessing jail services during detentions lasting less than 48 hours and 16 days

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Upholds 156-Month Fentanyl Distribution Sentence

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit rejected Stephen Jerome Brinson's appeal of his 156-month prison sentence for fentanyl distribution. Brinson had argued the sentence was substantively unreasonable because the district court failed to consider mitigating factors including his age, health, remorse, and time already served.

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed 156-month sentence for Stephen Jerome Brinson's fentanyl distribution conviction

•Brinson argued the upward variance was unreasonable due to unconsidered mitigating factors including age, health, and remorse

State Court

•Corwyn Brown received mandatory life sentence in 1995 under habitual criminal law after third Class X felony conviction

Illinois Supreme Court

Illinois Supreme Court Weighs Retroactive Juvenile Sentencing Reforms

The Illinois Supreme Court issued an opinion in People v. Brown addressing whether 2021 legislative reforms limiting life sentences for habitual criminals can apply retroactively to defendants whose first qualifying felony occurred as juveniles. The case involves Corwyn Brown, who received a mandatory life sentence in 1995 after his third Class X felony conviction.

•Brown's first qualifying felony occurred when he was 17 years old

State Court

•Illinois Supreme Court reversed appellate court decision that had vacated defendant's domestic violence convictions

Illinois Supreme Court

Illinois Supreme Court Rules on Evidence Standards in Domestic Violence Case

The Illinois Supreme Court issued a ruling in People v. Heintz addressing whether evidence of an alleged victim's violent conduct after charged offenses can be admitted under state evidence rules. The court also considered whether trial courts can exclude evidence of a defendant's acquittal on related domestic violence charges.

•Court addressed admissibility of alleged victim's violent conduct that occurred after the charged offenses under Evidence Rule 405(b)(2)