Verdict . News

•Fourth Circuit unanimously vacated Al-Timimi's conviction based on First Amendment violations

4th Circuit Vacates Al-Timimi Conviction on First Amendment Grounds

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated Ali Al-Timimi's conviction, ruling that the government violated First Amendment protections by criminalizing speech that did not constitute incitement or criminal solicitation. The court held that inflammatory speech alone cannot justify criminal punishment without meeting narrow constitutional exceptions.

•Court ruled inflammatory speech alone cannot justify criminal punishment without meeting narrow constitutional exceptions

•Fourth Circuit affirmed district court's grant of summary judgment against former USPS employee Monica Andrews

Fourth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Postal Worker's Retaliation Claim

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed a lower court's dismissal of a Title VII retaliation claim brought by former postal worker Monica Andrews against Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and the U.S. Postal Service. The unpublished per curiam opinion rejected Andrews' allegations that her supervisor retaliated against her after she filed administrative complaints.

•Court found Andrews failed to establish prima facie case of Title VII retaliation against her supervisor

•Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals denied asylum petition in unpublished per curiam opinion

4th Circuit Denies Asylum Petition for Salvadoran National

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit denied Victor Manuel Cerritos Rivas's petition for review of an immigration court decision rejecting his asylum application. The January 9, 2026 ruling upholds the Board of Immigration Appeals' decision to deny the Salvadoran national's requests for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture.

•Case involves Salvadoran national whose father was murdered when he was an infant

•Fourth Circuit affirmed Fisher's machine gun possession conviction and 18-month sentence

4th Circuit Affirms Machine Gun Conviction in Fisher Appeal

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction and 18-month sentence of Isaiah Jaqjan Fisher for illegal possession of a machine gun under federal firearms laws. The court rejected Fisher's Second Amendment challenge to the federal machine gun prohibition.

•Court rejected Second Amendment challenge to federal machine gun prohibition statute

•Fourth Circuit affirmed Brandon Hayward's conviction for interstate threatening communications to credit union employees

4th Circuit Affirms Conviction for Interstate Threats in Hayward Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed Brandon Hayward's conviction for knowingly transmitting interstate threats to injure another person. The unpublished per curiam decision rejected Hayward's arguments about mental health testimony exclusion and jury instruction requests.

•Court rejected Hayward's argument that he should have been allowed to testify about his mental illness affecting his ability to recall making threats

•Fourth Circuit denied asylum petition for El Salvador mother and minor daughter

4th Circuit Denies Asylum Appeal for El Salvador Mother, Child

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit denied a petition for review from Ana Rafaela Marquez-Cruz, who sought asylum on behalf of herself and her minor daughter. The court upheld the Board of Immigration Appeals' dismissal of their asylum application in an unpublished opinion issued January 8, 2026.

•Case involved MS-13 gang harassment dating back to 2003 when petitioner was 12

•Fourth Circuit affirmed district court ruling in favor of Walter Davis in distribution territory dispute with Bimbo Foods

Fourth Circuit Affirms Ruling Against Bimbo Foods in Davis Distribution Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed a district court ruling in favor of Walter Davis in his contractual dispute with Bimbo Foods Bakeries Distribution, LLC. The January 8, 2026 decision centered on whether Davis's distribution agreement covered an automated fulfillment center within his territory.

•Case centered on whether Davis's distribution agreement covered an automated fulfillment center in his territory

•Fourth Circuit affirmed conviction for visa fraud and aggravated identity theft in 2-1 decision

4th Circuit Affirms Conviction in Immigration Visa Fraud Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed the conviction of Oluwatoyin Aborisade for visa fraud and aggravated identity theft in a 2-1 decision. The case involved fraudulent preparation of immigration visa self-petitions under the Violence Against Women Act.

•Case involved fraudulent VAWA immigration visa self-petitions with 57-month prison sentence

•Fourth Circuit affirmed felon-in-possession conviction despite Second Amendment challenge

4th Circuit Affirms Felon Firearm Conviction Despite Second Amendment Challenge

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction of Daniel Earl Logan for illegal firearm possession by a convicted felon, rejecting his constitutional challenge based on the Supreme Court's Bruen decision. The court issued an unpublished per curiam opinion on January 8, 2026.

•Logan unsuccessfully argued 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) violates Second Amendment under Bruen standard