10th Circuit Case Commentaries

Limits on Explanatory Requirements for § 3582(c)(2) Sentence Reductions: United States v. McDonald

Date: Apr 16, 2025

Limits on Explanatory Requirements for § 3582(c)(2) Sentence Reductions: United States v. McDonald Introduction United States v. McDonald, No. 24-7038 (10th Cir. Apr. 15, 2025), examines the scope of...

Barragan-Gutierrez v. United States: Limits on Retroactive Second Amendment Challenges Under §2255(f)(3)

Date: Apr 16, 2025

Barragan-Gutierrez v. United States: Limits on Retroactive Second Amendment Challenges Under §2255(f)(3) Introduction In United States v. Barragan-Gutierrez, 10th Cir. No. 23-8032 (Apr. 15, 2025),...

Clarifying §2255(f)(3)’s “New Right” Exception: Bruen and Rahimi Do Not Provide Retroactive Second Amendment Relief for Felons

Date: Apr 16, 2025

Clarifying §2255(f)(3)’s “New Right” Exception: Bruen and Rahimi Do Not Provide Retroactive Second Amendment Relief for Felons Introduction United States v. Barragan-Gutierrez (10th Cir. Apr. 15,...

Direct Physical Control as Sufficient for Actual Possession: Clarifying the Standard in 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) Offenses

Date: Apr 16, 2025

Direct Physical Control as Sufficient for Actual Possession: Clarifying the Standard in 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) Offenses Introduction The case of United States v. Thompson reached the Tenth Circuit on...

Hearsay Standards for §2K2.1(b)(6)(B) Enhancements and Bar on Collateral Attacks Post-McGirt

Date: Apr 16, 2025

Hearsay Standards for §2K2.1(b)(6)(B) Enhancements and Bar on Collateral Attacks Post-McGirt Introduction United States v. Stapp is a published decision of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, handed...

Coulter v. United States: Affirmation of But-For Causation and Discretionary Restitution Framework under the TVPRA

Date: Apr 16, 2025

Coulter v. United States: Affirmation of But-For Causation and Discretionary Restitution Framework under the TVPRA Introduction In United States v. Coulter, No. 24-6026 (10th Cir. Apr. 15, 2025), the...

Discretion and Sufficiency of Explanation in § 3582(c)(2) Sentence Reductions Post-Amendment 821

Date: Apr 16, 2025

Discretion and Sufficiency of Explanation in § 3582(c)(2) Sentence Reductions Post-Amendment 821 Introduction This commentary examines the Tenth Circuit’s decision in United States v. McDonald,...

Martinez v. Quick: AEDPA Deference to Strategic Mitigation Choices and the “Fundamental Fairness” Standard for Admitted Slurs

Date: Apr 15, 2025

Martinez v. Quick: AEDPA Deference to Strategic Mitigation Choices and the “Fundamental Fairness” Standard for Admitted Slurs 1. Introduction This commentary examines the United States Court of...

Hernandez-Romero v. Garland: Nexus and Evidence Standards for Withholding of Removal and CAT Relief in Gang-Related Persecution

Date: Apr 15, 2025

Hernandez-Romero v. Garland: Nexus and Evidence Standards for Withholding of Removal and CAT Relief in Gang-Related Persecution Introduction In Hernandez-Romero v. Garland (10th Cir. Apr. 14, 2025),...

Strategic Mitigation Decisions and Fundamental Fairness in Capital Habeas Review: Martinez v. Quick

Date: Apr 15, 2025

Strategic Mitigation Decisions and Fundamental Fairness in Capital Habeas Review: Martinez v. Quick Introduction Martinez v. Quick, 10th Cir. No. 23-6001 (Apr. 14, 2025), presents a federal habeas...

Clarifying the Nexus Requirement in Withholding of Removal: Economic Motive Versus Protected Grounds

Date: Apr 15, 2025

Clarifying the Nexus Requirement in Withholding of Removal: Economic Motive Versus Protected Grounds Introduction Hernandez-Romero v. Garland (10th Cir. Apr. 14, 2025) addresses the evidentiary...

Scope of Due Process under Rule 60(b)(4): Notice and Opportunity to Respond

Date: Apr 12, 2025

Scope of Due Process under Rule 60(b)(4): Notice and Opportunity to Respond Introduction United States v. Teague, decided April 11, 2025 by the Tenth Circuit, addresses the narrow circumstances in...

United States v. Poutre: Reinforcing Burden of Proof and Discretion in Compassionate Release under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A)

Date: Apr 12, 2025

United States v. Poutre: Reinforcing Burden of Proof and Discretion in Compassionate Release under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A) Introduction In United States v. Poutre, No. 24-8047 (10th Cir. Apr. 11,...

Establishing the “Extraordinary and Compelling” Threshold for Compassionate Release under § 3582(c)(1)(A): United States v. Poutre

Date: Apr 12, 2025

Establishing the “Extraordinary and Compelling” Threshold for Compassionate Release under § 3582(c)(1)(A): United States v. Poutre Introduction In United States v. Poutre, No. 24-8047 (10th Cir. Apr....

Refining Notice Requirements in Habeas Corpus Reviews: Express Invitation to Reply Not Constitutionally Required

Date: Apr 12, 2025

Refining Notice Requirements in Habeas Corpus Reviews: Express Invitation to Reply Not Constitutionally Required Introduction This commentary examines the Court of Appeals’ decision in United States...

Judicial Discretion and Community Safety in §3582(c)(1)(A) Compassionate Release Motions: United States v. Sali

Date: Apr 12, 2025

Judicial Discretion and Community Safety in §3582(c)(1)(A) Compassionate Release Motions: United States v. Sali Introduction United States v. Sali, decided April 11, 2025 by the Tenth Circuit Court...

Mandatory Nature and Tolling Limits of the 30-Day Petition Deadline under INA § 1252(b)(1)

Date: Apr 12, 2025

Mandatory Nature and Tolling Limits of the 30-Day Petition Deadline under INA § 1252(b)(1) Introduction The case Nava-Capilla v. Bondi arose when Antonio Nava-Capilla, a Mexican national subject to...

Mandatory and Non-Tollable 30-Day Deadline for Petitions of Review under 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(1)

Date: Apr 12, 2025

Mandatory and Non-Tollable 30-Day Deadline for Petitions of Review under 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(1) Introduction In Nava-Capilla v. Bondi, the Tenth Circuit addressed whether an alien’s petition for...

Immediate §1983 Takings Claims for State Unclaimed Property Schemes

Date: Apr 12, 2025

Immediate §1983 Takings Claims for State Unclaimed Property Schemes Introduction In Knellinger v. Young (10th Cir. Apr. 11, 2025), the Tenth Circuit addressed whether owners of property taken under...

Immediate Federal Takings Claims upon State Seizure of Unclaimed Property under RUUPA

Date: Apr 12, 2025

Immediate Federal Takings Claims upon State Seizure of Unclaimed Property under RUUPA Introduction This commentary examines the Tenth Circuit’s decision in Knellinger v. Young, 23-1018 (10th Cir....