The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals has overturned a lower court’s decision to dismiss Whitcliffe McLeod’s post-conviction petition. The appellate court found that the trial court abused its discretion by summarily dismissing the petition, which alleged ineffective assistance of counsel. The case is now being sent back to the lower…
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School’s Punishment for Racially Charged Social Media Post Reversed by Appeals Court
The Second Circuit Court of Appeals has overturned a lower court’s decision, ruling that a New York school district violated a high school student’s First Amendment rights when it disciplined him for an off-campus social media post. The case, *Leroy v. Livingston Manor Central School District*, centers on a photo…
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Louisiana Supreme Court Rules on State’s Right to Appeal Juvenile Homicide Resentencing
The Louisiana Supreme Court has made a significant ruling regarding the state’s ability to appeal trial court decisions on the resentencing of juvenile homicide offenders. In a case involving Dale Dwayne Craig, who was originally sentenced to death in 1994 for the murder of Kipp Gullet, the court decided that…
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Texas Court Grapples with Overbroad Law and Its Impact on a Conviction
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is wrestling with the fallout from a previous ruling that declared a state law unconstitutional due to overbreadth. The case, *Ex parte Eric Todd Williams*, centers on whether a conviction under that now-defunct law should stand. The court, in a concurring and dissenting opinion…
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Oregon Supreme Court Says Grand Jury, Not Defendant, Decides Witness Testimony Mode
The Oregon Supreme Court has dismissed a petition for a writ of mandamus filed by Austin Adrian Wall, a defendant in a criminal case. The case centered around a dispute over whether Wall could testify before the grand jury in person or if he was required to appear via videoconference.…
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Quantico Homeowner’s Takings Claim Against the U.S. Government Dismissed
The United States Court of Federal Claims has sided with the government in a case brought by Jennifer A. Nikolaisen, a homeowner in Quantico, Virginia, who claimed that Marine Corps access control policies effectively “took” her property by limiting access to her short-term rental. Judge Elaine D. Kaplan granted the…
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Texas Court of Appeals Affirms Murder Conviction in Beaumont Shooting
The Ninth District Court of Appeals in Texas has upheld the conviction of Renaldo Earnest Dotson for the murder of Isaiah Wagner. Dotson was found guilty of first-degree murder by a jury and sentenced to 65 years in prison. The court’s decision, delivered in a memorandum opinion, addressed Dotson’s challenge…
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Court Rules in Patent Case, Vacates Decision Due to Insufficient Evidence Review
The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has overturned a decision by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) in a patent dispute between Centripetal Networks, LLC (Centripetal) and Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (Palo Alto Networks), Cisco Systems, Inc., and Keysight Technologies, Inc. The court found that…
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Indiana Supreme Court Weighs in on Insurer’s Duty in Multi-Claimant Accidents
In a recent decision, the Indiana Supreme Court addressed a complex issue facing insurance companies: what to do when multiple people are injured in an accident, and the available insurance money isn’t enough to cover all the claims. The court clarified an insurer’s responsibilities in these situations, providing guidance on…
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Court Dismisses Case Involving Alleged Kidnapping and Conspiracy
The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has dismissed a case brought by Guangli Zhang, Chengshuo Zhang, and Shanshuo Zhang against 30 defendants, including government officials, hospitals, and state agencies. The plaintiffs, who are representing themselves (pro se), alleged that their child was kidnapped by the Administration for…