11th Circuit Case Commentaries

Independent Investigation Breaks the Cat’s Paw: Eleventh Circuit Reaffirms Limits on Mixed‑Motive Title VII Claims in Police Use‑of‑Force Terminations

Date: Sep 4, 2025

Independent Investigation Breaks the Cat’s Paw: Eleventh Circuit Reaffirms Limits on Mixed‑Motive Title VII Claims in Police Use‑of‑Force Terminations Case: Roger Williams v. Unified Government of...

Harmless-Error Review Governs Early Denials of Compassionate Release Without a Reply; § 3553(a) Discretion Alone Can Sustain Denial

Date: Sep 4, 2025

Harmless-Error Review Governs Early Denials of Compassionate Release Without a Reply; § 3553(a) Discretion Alone Can Sustain Denial Introduction In United States v. Fednert Orisnord, No. 24-12776...

Flexible Daubert Gatekeeping and Circumstantial Proof of “Death Results” under § 841: United States v. Jackasal (11th Cir. 2025)

Date: Sep 4, 2025

Flexible Daubert Gatekeeping and Circumstantial Proof of “Death Results” under § 841: United States v. Jackasal (11th Cir. 2025) Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (Non-Argument...

Danger Finding Alone Bars Compassionate Release, Despite First Step Act Anti‑Stacking and Concepcion: Eleventh Circuit’s Decision in United States v. Harrell

Date: Sep 4, 2025

Danger Finding Alone Bars Compassionate Release, Despite First Step Act Anti‑Stacking and Concepcion: Eleventh Circuit’s Decision in United States v. Harrell Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the...

“More Than Minimal Planning” Includes Coordinated Travel and Instrument Procurement; Upward Variance for “Terroristic” Violence Affirmed — Commentary on United States v. Ruark (11th Cir. 2025)

Date: Sep 4, 2025

“More Than Minimal Planning” Includes Coordinated Travel and Instrument Procurement; Upward Variance for “Terroristic” Violence Affirmed Commentary on United States v. Shawn Ruark, No. 24-11672 (11th...

Eleventh Circuit Upholds ACCA’s Reliance on State Sentencing Maxima Against Fifth Amendment Equal‑Protection Challenge

Date: Sep 4, 2025

Eleventh Circuit Upholds ACCA’s Reliance on State Sentencing Maxima Against Fifth Amendment Equal‑Protection Challenge Case: United States v. Nikequis Lachristopher Green, No. 24-11526 (11th Cir....

No FDIC, No Federal Forum: Eleventh Circuit Reaffirms Counterclaims Cannot Support Removal and FIRREA’s 90-Day Window Runs Only for the FDIC

Date: Sep 2, 2025

No FDIC, No Federal Forum: Eleventh Circuit Reaffirms Counterclaims Cannot Support Removal and FIRREA’s 90-Day Window Runs Only for the FDIC Introduction In Deutsche Bank National Trust Company v....

No Reset of the Reopening Clock After Withdrawal: IJ’s Decision Is the Final Administrative Order for the 90‑Day Motion-to-Reopen Deadline under 8 C.F.R. § 1003.4

Date: Sep 2, 2025

No Reset of the Reopening Clock After Withdrawal: IJ’s Decision Is the Final Administrative Order for the 90‑Day Motion-to-Reopen Deadline under 8 C.F.R. § 1003.4 Case: Julio Connor-Molina v. U.S....

Reaffirming Subjective Recklessness and Pleading Specificity in Prisoner Suits: Beaubrun v. Dodge State Prison

Date: Sep 2, 2025

Reaffirming Subjective Recklessness and Pleading Specificity in Prisoner Suits: Beaubrun v. Dodge State Prison Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (Non-Argument Calendar,...

Eleventh Circuit Upholds 125% Upward Variance for Illegal Reentry Where Guidelines Understate Recidivism and Public Danger

Date: Sep 2, 2025

Eleventh Circuit Upholds 125% Upward Variance for Illegal Reentry Where Guidelines Understate Recidivism and Public Danger Introduction In United States v. Arael Martinez Perez, the U.S. Court of...

“Groupthink Is Not Actual Malice”: Eleventh Circuit Clarifies the Evidentiary Threshold for Public-Figure Defamation in Dershowitz v. CNN

Date: Sep 2, 2025

“Groupthink Is Not Actual Malice”: Eleventh Circuit Clarifies the Evidentiary Threshold for Public-Figure Defamation in Dershowitz v. CNN Introduction In Alan M. Dershowitz v. Cable News Network,...

No Personal Jurisdiction from Plaintiff’s Forum-Based Counsel or Virtual Data-Room Access: Eleventh Circuit Clarifies Purposeful-Availment Limits Under Florida’s Long-Arm Statute

Date: Aug 31, 2025

No Personal Jurisdiction from Plaintiff’s Forum-Based Counsel or Virtual Data-Room Access: Eleventh Circuit Clarifies Purposeful-Availment Limits Under Florida’s Long-Arm Statute Introduction In ECB...

CDIU Reports as Reliable Hearsay and a Basis to Discount Medical Opinions under Post‑2017 SSA Rules: Eleventh Circuit Clarifies in Gonzalez Castillo v. Commissioner

Date: Aug 31, 2025

CDIU Reports as Reliable Hearsay and a Basis to Discount Medical Opinions under Post‑2017 SSA Rules Commentary on: Marta Gonzalez Castillo v. Commissioner of Social Security (11th Cir. Aug. 27, 2025)...

Unchallenged Vocational Expert Testimony Suffices at Step Five; No Sua Sponte Duty to Verify Job Numbers: Eleventh Circuit in Screen v. Acting Commissioner of Social Security

Date: Aug 31, 2025

Unchallenged Vocational Expert Testimony Suffices at Step Five; No Sua Sponte Duty to Verify Job Numbers: Eleventh Circuit in Screen v. Acting Commissioner of Social Security Court: U.S. Court of...

Experience-Based Premium Rates and Private Fee Awards: Eleventh Circuit Affirms Lodestar Flexibility and Rejects Excessive Fines Challenge in Sanctions-Fee Case

Date: Aug 31, 2025

Experience-Based Premium Rates and Private Fee Awards: Eleventh Circuit Affirms Lodestar Flexibility and Rejects Excessive Fines Challenge in Sanctions-Fee Case Introduction In Spencer Sheehan v. Big...

Seriousness Over Statistical Averages: Eleventh Circuit Affirms Broad District Court Discretion Under § 3553(a) in Child‑Pornography Sentencing

Date: Aug 31, 2025

Seriousness Over Statistical Averages: Eleventh Circuit Affirms Broad District Court Discretion Under § 3553(a) in Child‑Pornography Sentencing Case: United States v. Jonathon Fernandez‑Herak, Nos....

Eleventh Circuit reaffirms discretion to prioritize offense seriousness over national sentencing averages under § 3553(a), upholding a below‑Guidelines sentence for child‑pornography distribution

Date: Aug 31, 2025

Eleventh Circuit reaffirms discretion to prioritize offense seriousness over national sentencing averages under § 3553(a), upholding a below‑Guidelines sentence for child‑pornography distribution...

No Safe Harbor in Broad, Circular “Professional” Groups: Eleventh Circuit Affirms Non‑Cognizability of Gang‑Targeted Professionals and Reiterates that Credibility Alone Does Not Compel Asylum

Date: Aug 31, 2025

No Safe Harbor in Broad, Circular “Professional” Groups: Eleventh Circuit Affirms Non‑Cognizability of Gang‑Targeted Professionals and Reiterates that Credibility Alone Does Not Compel Asylum Case:...

Brief-Detention Exception Clarified: Eleventh Circuit Allows Consideration of Uncommunicated Officer Knowledge to Uphold Warrant-Based Seizures for Qualified Immunity

Date: Aug 31, 2025

Brief-Detention Exception Clarified: Eleventh Circuit Allows Consideration of Uncommunicated Officer Knowledge to Uphold Warrant-Based Seizures for Qualified Immunity Case: Brandon Joseph Phillips v....

Implicit Waiver of Counsel and the IJ’s Record-Development Duty: Eleventh Circuit Clarifies Due Process Baselines in Pro Se Removal Proceedings

Date: Aug 31, 2025

Implicit Waiver of Counsel and the IJ’s Record-Development Duty: Eleventh Circuit Clarifies Due Process Baselines in Pro Se Removal Proceedings Introduction In Keriekan Palmer v. U.S. Attorney...