Verdict . News

•Justice Jackson questioned whether excluding discriminatory Black Codes undermines the Bruen historical test for gun regulations

Supreme Court

Justice Jackson Challenges Gun Rights Historical Test in Hawaii Case

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson questioned whether the Supreme Court's historical approach to gun regulations adequately accounts for discriminatory laws like post-Civil War Black Codes during oral arguments in Wolford v. Lopez. The case challenges Hawaii's law requiring property owner consent for licensed gun carry in public establishments.

•Hawaii's law requires property owner consent for licensed gun carry in public establishments

•Fifth Circuit judges appeared divided on Trump policy denying bond hearings to immigrants who entered without lawful admission

Fifth Circuit

Fifth Circuit Split on Trump Immigration Detention Policy at Oral Arguments

A three-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals appeared divided during oral arguments over a Trump administration policy that denies bond hearings to all noncitizens in deportation proceedings who entered the U.S. without lawful admission. The case centers on conflicting interpretations of federal immigration statutes governing detention.

•Case involves interpretation of competing federal statutes § 1225 and § 1226 with different detention requirements

California's Second Appellate District

2w ago•5 min read

Rebecca Grossman Appeals Murder Conviction in Fatal DUI Crash

Rebecca Grossman, serving 15 years for killing two young boys while driving drunk at 73 mph, appealed her second-degree murder conviction Tuesday. Her defense attorney argued that jury instructions on 'implied malice' were inadequate, contending the case should have been manslaughter rather than murder.

•Grossman was convicted of second-degree murder for hitting and killing two boys while driving 73 mph through a residential crosswalk after drinking

•Defense argues jury instructions on 'implied malice' standard were insufficient and unclear

•Judge Richard Leon appeared likely to side with Senator Kelly in challenging his potential demotion

U.S. District Court

Judge Questions Pentagon's Authority to Silence Retired Military Critics

A federal judge expressed strong skepticism toward the Pentagon's effort to demote retired Navy Captain and Senator Mark Kelly for urging military members to reject illegal orders. Senior U.S. District Judge Richard Leon questioned whether speech restrictions should extend to retired service members.

•Justice Department argued retired service members should face same speech restrictions as active-duty personnel

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

Fourth Circuit Affirms Drug, Firearms Convictions for Jones

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed the drug and firearms convictions of Lawrence Levon Jones, rejecting his challenges to evidentiary rulings, motion denials, and sentencing enhancements. Jones received a 480-month prison sentence for his role in a drug-trafficking operation.

•Fourth Circuit affirmed Lawrence Levon Jones's drug and firearms convictions and 480-month sentence

•Jones challenged evidentiary rulings, motion denials, and sentencing enhancements on appeal

Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals

2w ago•5 min read

8th Circuit Denies Asylum for Guatemalan Indigenous Family

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals denied a petition for review from Guatemalan mother Petrona Sebastian Diego and her minor children, who sought asylum based on persecution of their indigenous Chuj tribal identity. The court affirmed lower immigration court rulings that rejected the family's claims for asylum, withholding of removal, and Convention Against Torture protection.

•Eighth Circuit affirmed denial of asylum for Guatemalan mother and children claiming indigenous Chuj persecution

•Immigration judge found family credible but failed to prove persecution was tied to their group membership

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

5th Circuit Affirms District Court in Insurance Arbitration Dispute

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court ruling in Apex Hospitality Group v. Independent Specialty Insurance Company, rejecting an attempt to compel arbitration under international convention for a domestic surplus line insurance dispute involving Louisiana property.

•Fifth Circuit affirmed district court decision rejecting international arbitration in domestic insurance dispute

•Court relied on recent Town of Vinton precedent involving similar surplus line insurance policy

Second Circuit Court of Appeals

2nd Circuit Affirms Guilty Plea Despite Defendant's Medication Use

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a district court properly handled a guilty plea from a defendant who had taken medications for bipolar disorder and sleep issues before the proceeding. The court rejected Steve Boria's argument that Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11 required more extensive inquiry into his medication use.

•Second Circuit affirmed guilty plea despite defendant's use of psychiatric medications before court hearing

•Court ruled district judge's follow-up questions about mental clarity satisfied Rule 11 requirements

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

3rd Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment in FBI Disability Case

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's summary judgment ruling favoring the federal government in a disability discrimination case brought by former FBI forensic accountant Allepichian Aldrich. The non-precedential decision upheld the lower court's dismissal of claims under the Rehabilitation Act and Americans With Disabilities Act.

•Third Circuit affirmed summary judgment for federal government in FBI employee disability case

•Former forensic accountant Allepichian Aldrich alleged discrimination, failure to accommodate, and hostile work environment