Verdict . News

Jan 9, 2026•4 min read

•Eighth Circuit reverses district court ruling that favored Liberian citizen's immigration case

8th Circuit Reverses Immigration Ruling, Strips Court Jurisdiction

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a district court ruling that favored a Liberian citizen's immigration case, determining the lower court lacked jurisdiction to review the Department of Homeland Security's denial of his green card application. The appeals court ruled in *Abrahim Mohamed Fofana v. Kristi Noem* that federal courts cannot review certain immigration decisions.

•Appeals court rules federal courts lack jurisdiction to review certain DHS immigration decisions

Jan 8, 2026•4 min read

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

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.

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

Jan 8, 2026•4 min read

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

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.

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

Jan 7, 2026•4 min read

•Eighth Circuit reversed federal district court's 151-month sentence for felon in possession offirearm

8th Circuit Reverses Federal Gun Sentence Over State Prison Credit

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit reversed a federal firearms conviction, ruling that the district court failed to properly credit time already served in state custody. Timothy Kavanagh successfully challenged his 151-month federal sentence for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

•District court failed to credit time already served in state custody against federal sentence

Jan 7, 2026•2 min read

•Class action involves 14 named plaintiffs representing potentially hundreds of civilly committed individuals in Minnesota

8th Circuit Reviews Minnesota Sex Offender Civil Commitment Lawsuit

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit is hearing a major class action lawsuit challenging Minnesota's civil commitment program for sex offenders. Fourteen plaintiffs representing a broader class are suing state officials for alleged constitutional violations.

•Defendants include high-ranking state officials sued in both personal and official capacities

•Benjamin was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment in 2008 for crack cocaine distribution and conspiracy

8th Circuit Affirms Life Sentence Denial Under First Step Act

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed a district court's denial of a sentence reduction motion filed under the First Step Act of 2018. Zechariah Benjamin, serving a mandatory life sentence for crack cocaine distribution, was deemed eligible for resentencing but unsuccessful in obtaining relief.

•His sentence was enhanced due to at least two prior cocaine delivery convictions in Illinois

•Eighth Circuit reversed district court's Armed Career Criminal Act enhancement determination

8th Circuit Reverses Armed Career Criminal Act Enhancement for Ferguson

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit vacated the sentence of Darrick Ferguson, who was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm, after determining the district court incorrectly applied an Armed Career Criminal Act enhancement. The appeals court remanded the case for resentencing.

•Ferguson was convicted of felon in possession of firearm under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)

•Eighth Circuit upheld Board of Immigration Appeals' denial of asylum for Guatemalan mother and child

8th Circuit Upholds Denial of Asylum for Guatemalan Mother, Child

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit denied a petition for review from Rusby Dionisia Aguilar-Hernandez and her minor son, upholding the Board of Immigration Appeals' decision to reject their asylum applications. The court found substantial evidence supported the immigration board's denial of asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture.

•Court found substantial evidence supported rejection of asylum, withholding of removal, and Convention Against Torture claims

•Jordan Payne told mental health provider he wouldn't kill himself in jail but couldn't guarantee his actions after release

8th Circuit Reviews Mental Health Provider Liability in Jail Suicide Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit is reviewing a case where parents are suing a mental health services provider after their son Jordan Payne committed suicide in the Madison County Jail in Iowa. The case centers on whether Eyerly-Ball Community Mental Health Services and its employee adequately responded to clear signs of mental health crisis during a meeting with Payne on the day he took his own life.

•Provider failed to fully communicate Jordan's concerning statements to jail staff, leading to inadequate suicide prevention measures