Verdict . News

3w ago•4 min read

•Fourth Circuit affirmed lower court ruling in 2-1 decision favoring federal defendants

4th Circuit Affirms Lower Court in Immigration Rights Challenge

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a federal district court ruling in a case brought by ten immigrant advocacy organizations challenging policies under Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

•Ten immigrant advocacy organizations challenged DHS and USCIS policies under current leadership

3w ago•4 min read

•Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of treasure hunters Frederick Allen and Nautilus Productions against North Carolina state officials

4th Circuit Rules for Treasure Hunters vs. North Carolina Officials

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issued a published opinion favoring Frederick Allen and Nautilus Productions in their legal battle against North Carolina Governor Joshua Stein and multiple officials from the state's Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The case involves disputes over maritime archaeology and underwater treasure hunting rights.

•Case involved disputes over underwater archaeology and cultural resource protection with multiple Department of Natural and Cultural Resources officials as defendants

•Fourth Circuit affirmed drug trafficking and firearm conviction in unpublished per curiam opinion

Fourth Circuit Affirms Drug Trafficking Conviction in NC Case

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the criminal conviction of Jonathan Craig Otuel on drug trafficking and firearm charges in an unpublished per curiam opinion issued Jan. 21, 2026. The three-judge panel rejected Otuel's challenge to his conviction from the Western District of North Carolina.

•Otuel was convicted of conspiracy, methamphetamine possession, and firearm charges in 2023

•Fourth Circuit affirmed methamphetamine conviction after rejecting suppression motion challenge

4th Circuit Affirms Drug Conviction After Suppression Motion Denied

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed the conviction of Jack F. Gibbins III for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The appeals court rejected Gibbins' challenge to the denial of his motion to suppress drug evidence found during his hospital treatment.

•Drug evidence found in defendant's hospital clothing deemed admissible under inevitable discovery doctrine

•Fourth Circuit affirmed convictions of four co-defendants in consolidated federal appeals

4th Circuit Affirms Convictions of Four Co-Defendants in Federal Case

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the federal convictions of four co-defendants in a consolidated appeal from the Eastern District of Virginia. Nelson Evans, Kalub Shipman, Jaquate Simpson, and Landis Jackson all challenged their convictions from a 2020 criminal case.

•All defendants were originally convicted in Norfolk federal court under the same 2020 criminal case

Jan 21, 2026•2 min read

•Fourth Circuit partially reversed district court's dismissal of federal firearms charges against James William Jacobs

4th Circuit Partially Reverses Gun Crime Conviction in Constitutional Challenge

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issued a mixed ruling in United States v. James William Jacobs, partially reversing a district court decision that had dismissed federal gun charges on constitutional grounds. The published opinion addresses Second Amendment challenges to federal firearms statutes following recent Supreme Court precedent.

•Case involved constitutional challenges to statutes prohibiting gun possession by felons and domestic violence offenders

•Fourth Circuit affirmed convictions of four defendants from same Norfolk federal case

4th Circuit Affirms Convictions in Multi-Defendant Norfolk Case

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed convictions of four defendants in a consolidated criminal case from Norfolk federal court. The appeals court upheld the decisions of Senior District Judge John A. Gibney, Jr. in cases involving Nelson Evans, Kalub Shipman, Jaquate Simpson, and Landis Jackson.

•Published opinion by Judge Heytens establishes precedential value for future cases

Jan 21, 2026•1 min read

•Fourth Circuit affirmed convictions of all four defendants in consolidated appeals

Fourth Circuit Affirms Convictions in Multi-Defendant Federal Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed the convictions of four defendants in a federal criminal case from the Eastern District of Virginia. Nelson Evans, Kalub Shipman, Jaquate Simpson, and Landis Jackson all lost their appeals in the consolidated cases decided January 21, 2026.

•Cases originated from 2020 federal criminal prosecution in Eastern District of Virginia

•Fourth Circuit reversed $266,906.03 jury verdict in favor of car accident plaintiff

Fourth Circuit Reverses $266,906 Car Accident Verdict in Virginia Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has reversed a $266,906.03 jury verdict awarded to plaintiff Kaitlin Vasterling in her personal injury lawsuit against defendant Alison Dirle stemming from a severe car accident on Independence Boulevard in Virginia Beach. The federal appeals court remanded the case back to the district court with instructions to enter final judgment in favor of Dirle.

•Appeals court ordered district court to enter final judgment for defendant Alison Dirle