The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has affirmed the denial of a death row inmate’s petition for a writ of habeas corpus, concluding that the state court’s ruling regarding ineffective assistance of counsel was not an unreasonable application of federal law. The appeal centered on several…
-
-
Seventh Circuit Upholds Detention of Repeat Crosser with Serious Criminal History
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit has affirmed a district court’s decision to detain Alfredo Juarez-Perez pending trial on a new charge of illegal reentry, ruling that an existing immigration detainer does not automatically eliminate the risk of flight under the Bail Reform Act. The court found…
-
Death Penalty Bar Upheld: Court Finds Sufficient Evidence of Intellectual Disability in Miami-Dade Murder Case
The Third District Court of Appeal in Florida has affirmed a lower court’s decision declaring Reginald Jackson intellectually disabled, a finding that legally bars the imposition of the death penalty in his pending murder case. The State of Florida had challenged the ruling, arguing the trial court relied on insufficient…
-
Court Says “Successful Completion” of Probation Means More Than Just Expiration
The Arizona Court of Appeals has clarified a critical distinction in state law concerning sex offender registration requirements, ruling that simply reaching the end date of probation is not enough for a defendant to qualify for removal from the registry. The court determined that “successful completion” of probation, as required…
-
Supreme Court Nullifies Contempt Finding Over Lack of Counsel
The Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands has vacated a lower court’s order finding Guy R. Macaranas in criminal contempt and sentencing him to jail time, primarily because he was denied his constitutional right to counsel during a critical hearing. The ruling, issued late last month,…
-
Appeals Court Upholds Murder Conviction, Dismissing Challenges to Cell Phone Data and Autopsy Photo
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed Christopher T. Tandy’s convictions for murder and auto theft, rejecting his arguments that the trial court improperly admitted complex cell site location information (CSLI) testimony and a graphic autopsy photograph. The majority opinion found that Tandy had waived certain objections, that the CSLI evidence…
-
Court Upholds Decision to Keep Jury Panel After Juror’s Law Enforcement Comments
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed the conviction of Travis Thomas, ruling that the district court acted within its discretion both when it refused to question the entire jury pool after a prospective juror made comments suggesting deference to law enforcement charging decisions, and when it allowed the…
-
Former Housing Authority Leaders Lose Bank Fraud Convictions in Kickback Scheme Appeal
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit has partially overturned the convictions of two former Housing Authority of South Bend (HASB) leaders, Tonya Robinson and Albert Smith, who were found guilty of orchestrating a multi-million dollar kickback scheme. While the court upheld their wire fraud convictions, it reversed…
-
Ninth Circuit: Ordering Fine Due Immediately *and* Setting Payment Plan Doesn’t Violate Statute
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has affirmed a district court’s decision to make a criminal fine and special assessment due immediately while simultaneously establishing a payment schedule for an indigent defendant. The ruling clarifies a point of contention under 18 U.S.C. § 3572(d)(1), confirming that these…
-
Federal Court Upholds Gun Conviction But Orders New Sentencing Based on Prior Manslaughter Charge
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed Jackie Edwards’s conviction for possessing a firearm as a felon, but it has overturned his sentence, sending the case back to the district court for resentencing. The appellate court ruled that Edwards’s 1982 Illinois voluntary manslaughter conviction qualifies as a predicate “violent…