1st Circuit Case Commentaries

Legislative Policy and Parental Rights: Shaping Gender Identity Practices in Public Schools

Date: Feb 21, 2025

Legislative Policy and Parental Rights: Shaping Gender Identity Practices in Public Schools Introduction This commentary explores a recent United States Court of Appeals decision involving Stephen...

Non‐Physical Sexual Harassment and Equal Protection: New Precedents on Qualified Immunity and School Liability

Date: Feb 21, 2025

Non‐Physical Sexual Harassment and Equal Protection: New Precedents on Qualified Immunity and School Liability Introduction The case of Adrianna Wadsworth v. Chuck Nguyen, MSAD 40/RSU 40, and Andrew...

Clarifying the Definition of “Motor Vehicle Records” Under the New Hampshire Driver Privacy Act

Date: Feb 19, 2025

Clarifying the Definition of “Motor Vehicle Records” Under the New Hampshire Driver Privacy Act Introduction In this consolidated appeal before the United States Court of Appeals for the First...

Clarifying the Scope of § 3B1.4: Personal Use of Minors in RICO Conspiracies

Date: Feb 17, 2025

Clarifying the Scope of § 3B1.4: Personal Use of Minors in RICO Conspiracies Introduction In the case of United States of America v. Henri Salvador-Gutierrez, the United States Court of Appeals for...

Affirmation of Section 5 Violations for Unregistered Penny Stock Transactions and Clarification on Remedies: SEC v. Sargent

Date: Feb 17, 2025

Affirmation of Section 5 Violations for Unregistered Penny Stock Transactions and Clarification on Remedies: SEC v. Sargent Introduction In the landmark case of U.S. Securities and Exchange...

First Circuit Establishes Distinction Between 'Brandishing' and 'Otherwise Using' a Knife in Sentencing Enhancements

Date: Feb 12, 2025

First Circuit Establishes Distinction Between 'Brandishing' and 'Otherwise Using' a Knife in Sentencing Enhancements Introduction In the case of United States of America v. Jesus Abdiel...

First Circuit Denies Petition for Sua Sponte Reopening in Removal Proceedings Despite Vacated Convictions

Date: Feb 12, 2025

First Circuit Denies Petition for Sua Sponte Reopening in Removal Proceedings Despite Vacated Convictions Introduction In the case of Sine Phimmady v. Pamela Bondi, Attorney General, the United...

Application of Pullman Abstention in Land Use Disputes: The Greenwood v. City of Newton Case

Date: Feb 7, 2025

Application of Pullman Abstention in Land Use Disputes: The Greenwood v. City of Newton Case Introduction Greenwood, LLC v. City of Newton is a landmark case adjudinated by the United States Court of...

Undue Hardship Upholds COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate in Religious Exemption Case: Melino v. Boston Medical Center

Date: Feb 2, 2025

Undue Hardship Upholds COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate in Religious Exemption Case: Melino v. Boston Medical Center Introduction The case of Alexandra E. Melino v. Boston Medical Center (BMC) presents a...

Federal Diversity Jurisdiction Upheld Over State Exclusive Jurisdiction in Mortgage Foreclosure

Date: Feb 2, 2025

Federal Diversity Jurisdiction Upheld Over State Exclusive Jurisdiction in Mortgage Foreclosure Introduction The case of Emigrant Mortgage Company, Inc.; Retained Realty, Inc. v. Doneyn Bourke;...

Enforceability of Appellate Waivers in Plea Agreements: Insights from United States v. Perez-Segura

Date: Feb 2, 2025

Enforceability of Appellate Waivers in Plea Agreements: Insights from United States v. Perez-Segura Introduction In the appellate case of United States of America v. Anlert Perez-Segura, the United...

First Circuit Upholds Prosecutorial Good Faith in Plea Agreements: United States v. Castillo

Date: Feb 2, 2025

First Circuit Upholds Prosecutorial Good Faith in Plea Agreements: United States v. Castillo Introduction In the case of United States of America v. Mario Rafael Castillo, the United States Court of...

Affirmation of Healthcare Professional Immunity under Puerto Rico Law in Summary Judgment: Rodríguez v. Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of San Juan

Date: Jan 29, 2025

Affirmation of Healthcare Professional Immunity under Puerto Rico Law in Summary Judgment: Rodríguez v. Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of San Juan Introduction In the appellate case...

Eleventh Amendment Bar in Retrospective Relief: Insights from Cotto v. Campbell

Date: Jan 24, 2025

Eleventh Amendment Bar in Retrospective Relief: Insights from Cotto v. Campbell Introduction Cotto v. Campbell is a pivotal case adjudicated by the United States Court of Appeals for the First...

Clarifying Federal Programs Bribery and Honest Services Fraud: Analysis of United States v. Sean O'Donovan

Date: Jan 22, 2025

Clarifying Federal Programs Bribery and Honest Services Fraud: Analysis of United States v. Sean O'Donovan Introduction In the landmark case of United States of America v. Sean O'Donovan, the United...

Emergency Aid Exception Requires Objective Reasonableness: Giambro v. United States

Date: Jan 20, 2025

Emergency Aid Exception Requires Objective Reasonableness: Giambro v. United States Introduction In United States of America v. Dario Giambro, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit...

First Circuit Upholds Employer's Reliance on Objective Medical Evidence in Religious Exemption Vaccine Dispute

Date: Jan 20, 2025

First Circuit Upholds Employer's Reliance on Objective Medical Evidence in Religious Exemption Vaccine Dispute Introduction The case of George Rodrique, II v. Hearst Communications, Inc. presents a...

Sutherland v. Peterson's Oil Service, Inc.: Expanding ADA Protections for Temporary Disabilities

Date: Jan 20, 2025

Expansion of ADA Protections: Sutherland v. Peterson's Oil Service, Inc. Sets New Precedent Introduction In the landmark case Sutherland v. Peterson's Oil Service, Inc., decided by the United States...

Good Faith Exception Affirmed in First Circuit for Procedural Warrant Defects

Date: Jan 20, 2025

Good Faith Exception Affirmed in First Circuit for Procedural Warrant Defects Introduction In the case of United States of America v. Edgar Medina, Andres Garay, and Ronald Hall, the United States...

Revisiting Religious Accommodations in Employment: Insights from Thornton v. Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals

Date: Jan 20, 2025

Revisiting Religious Accommodations in Employment: Insights from Thornton v. Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals Introduction The case of Regina M. Thornton v. Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. represents a...