Verdict . News

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

9th Circuit Affirms Death Sentence Despite Competency Claims

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed a district court's denial of habeas corpus relief for death row inmate Rodney Gene Beeler, rejecting his challenges to his California murder conviction and death sentence based on mental competency issues. The court applied the highly deferential standard required under federal habeas review.

•Ninth Circuit affirmed denial of habeas corpus petition for death row inmate Rodney Gene Beeler

•Court rejected competency-related challenges to his first-degree murder conviction and death sentence

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

Third Circuit Denies Guatemalan's Asylum Appeal in Immigration Case

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals denied Huber Adelmar Camaja-Ceballos's petition for review of a Board of Immigration Appeals removal order. The court upheld the BIA's denial of his applications for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture.

•Third Circuit denied Guatemalan national's asylum petition for review

•Petitioner claimed persecution by gang members but provided inconsistent testimony

•Over 30 hotel workers sued Highgate Hotels and Cove Haven Inc. over allegedly improperly retained gratuity fees collected from guests

CA3

3rd Circuit Rules on Hotel Workers' Gratuity Fee Class Action Suit

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals has issued a ruling in a class action lawsuit where hotel workers claimed their employers failed to share gratuity fees collected from guests. The case involves over 30 workers against Highgate Hotels and Cove Haven Inc., with the district court having previously denied summary judgment on unjust enrichment claims.

•The Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on cross-appeals from both workers and hotel operators after district court denied summary judgment

Second Circuit Court of Appeals

2nd Circuit Affirms Conviction, Remands Noah Kitchens Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued a mixed ruling Thursday in United States v. Noah Kitchens, affirming the defendant's criminal conviction while ordering the trial court to strike a risk-notification condition from his supervised release terms.

•Second Circuit affirmed Kitchens' criminal conviction but vacated problematic supervised release condition

•Court ordered district court to strike risk-notification requirement from supervised release terms

Second Circuit Court of Appeals

2nd Circuit Reverses District Court in Brinkmann Property Dispute

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reversed a district court ruling in favor of the Brinkmann family and their company in a property dispute against the Town of Southold, New York. The three-judge panel issued a summary order on Jan. 23, 2026, overturning the lower court's September 2024 decision.

•Second Circuit reversed district court ruling in favor of Brinkmann family against Town of Southold

•Three-judge panel issued summary order on Jan. 23, 2026, overturning Sept. 30, 2024 decision

•First Circuit reversed district court's denial of preliminary injunction for Nashua citizens

1st Circuit: Nashua Violated First Amendment in Flag Pole Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit ruled December 22 that the City of Nashua, New Hampshire violated the First Amendment by denying citizens Stephen and Bethany Scaer access to fly flags on a designated 'Citizen Flag Pole' at City Hall Plaza. The court found the city engaged in impermissible viewpoint discrimination.

•City conceded viewpoint discrimination if flagpole use wasn't government speech

•First Circuit denied Guatemalan family's appeal of asylum, withholding, and CAT protection denials

First Circuit Denies Family's Immigration Appeal Under Bondi

The First Circuit Court of Appeals denied a petition from a Guatemalan family seeking asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture. The court upheld the Board of Immigration Appeals' December 2024 decision in one of the first major immigration cases under Attorney General Pamela Bondi's tenure.

•Court ruled BIA decision was supported by substantial evidence with no legal error

•First Circuit addressed when second-in-time habeas petitions trigger federal gatekeeping requirements under 28 U.S.C. § 2244(b)

First Circuit Rules on Habeas Corpus 'Gatekeeping' Requirements

The First Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision in *Donovan v. Massachusetts Parole Board* addressing whether a petitioner's second habeas corpus application must meet stringent federal 'gatekeeping' requirements. The court examined the critical legal distinction between what constitutes a 'second or successive' habeas application versus a second-in-time petition.

•Court relied on Supreme Court's Rivers v. Guerrero ruling that 'second or successive' applications don't include all chronologically second filings

•22 states led by Massachusetts filed consolidated appeals challenging NIH under new leadership

22 States, Major Universities Sue NIH Under Kennedy-Bhattacharya Leadership

Twenty-two states led by Massachusetts and major medical organizations filed consolidated appeals in the First Circuit Court of Appeals challenging the National Institutes of Health under newly appointed Director Jay Bhattacharya and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The cases represent the first major legal confrontation over federal health policy under the new Trump administration officials.

•Major medical organizations and prestigious universities joined separate but related cases