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Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

Sixth Circuit Affirms Corruption Conviction of Former County Prosecutor

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed the conviction of Ronnie Lee Goldy, a former county prosecutor found guilty of honest services wire fraud and Travel Act violations. The three-judge panel upheld the district court's ruling in a case involving public corruption charges.

•Former county prosecutor convicted of honest services wire fraud and Travel Act violations

•Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the district court conviction on appeal

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

6th Circuit Reviews Multi-Defendant Federal Criminal Appeals

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit issued a decision January 8, 2026, in United States v. Tomarcus Baskerville, involving three defendants who appealed their federal criminal convictions from the Western District of Tennessee. The case has been recommended for publication under Sixth Circuit rules.

•Three defendants appealed federal criminal convictions from Western District of Tennessee

•Sixth Circuit recommended the January 8, 2026 decision for publication under court rules

Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals

8th Circuit Vacates Qualified Immunity Denial for Arkansas Deputies

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit vacated a district court's denial of qualified immunity for two Faulkner County Sheriff's Office deputies accused of excessive force during a Christmas Day 2019 arrest. The appeals court remanded the case for reconsideration of the qualified immunity analysis.

•Eighth Circuit vacated district court's denial of qualified immunity for two Arkansas deputies in excessive force case

•Case involves Christmas Day 2019 arrest by Faulkner County Sheriff's Office deputies Chad Pruett and Terry Roper

Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals

8th Circuit Affirms Above-Guidelines Sentence in Child Exploitation Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed an above-Guidelines sentence imposed on Travis Lee Morgan after he pleaded guilty to attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. The court rejected Morgan's challenge to factual findings about computer ownership and found the sentence substantively reasonable.

•Eighth Circuit affirmed above-Guidelines sentence for attempted transfer of obscene material to minor

•Court rejected challenges to factual findings about computer ownership using clear error standard

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

6th Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Civil Rights Claims in Neighbor Dispute

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's dismissal of federal civil rights claims filed by Deborah Mulcahey against Township of Chocolay, Michigan, and several officials after stalking charges against her were dropped. The appeals court found Mulcahey failed to state plausible claims and forfeited review on some defendants.

•Sixth Circuit affirmed dismissal of federal civil rights claims against Michigan township and officials

•Case originated from neighbor stalking complaint that led to arrest warrant, but charges were later dropped

•Ninth Circuit affirmed district court approval of class action settlement against Hyundai and Kia over vehicle theft vulnerability

9th Circuit Affirms Class Action Settlement Over Hyundai-Kia Vehicle Theft

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's approval of a class action settlement between consumers and Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation over allegations that certain vehicles were defectively designed and vulnerable to theft. The court rejected an appeal by objector Ruth Rubin challenging the settlement's final approval.

•Appeals court rejected objector Ruth Rubin's challenge to the settlement's final approval

•Ninth Circuit certifies question to California Supreme Court on drug conviction requirements that could affect federal sentencing enhancements

9th Circuit Seeks California High Court Guidance on Drug Sentencing

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has certified a critical question to the California Supreme Court regarding whether prior convictions under California Health & Safety Code § 11378 qualify defendants for enhanced federal sentencing under career offender guidelines. The certification involves two cases challenging federal sentence enhancements based on California drug convictions.

•Two defendants challenge career offender classifications based on prior California Health & Safety Code § 11378 convictions

•Ninth Circuit affirmed denial of qualified immunity to Phoenix Police Department officers in death of Ramon Timothy Lopez

9th Circuit Denies Qualified Immunity in Phoenix Police Restraint Death

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court's decision denying qualified immunity to Phoenix Police Department officers in a lawsuit over the death of Ramon Timothy Lopez. The case involves officers' use of a RIPP hobble restraint that placed Lopez face down in a hogtied position.

•Officers used RIPP hobble restraint that placed Lopez face down in hogtied position, restricting his breathing

•Ninth Circuit affirmed district court's summary judgment for Apple in Sherman Act Section 2 monopolization case

9th Circuit Affirms Apple Win in AliveCor Heart Monitor Antitrust Case

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's summary judgment in favor of Apple Inc. in an antitrust lawsuit brought by medical technology company AliveCor. The case involved allegations that Apple monopolized the market by changing its Apple Watch heart rate algorithms to disable competing atrial fibrillation detection software.

•AliveCor's SmartRhythm feature detected atrial fibrillation using Apple Watch heart rate data in Workout Mode