2d Circuit Case Commentaries

Butts v. Kelch: Plausibility Pleading, Non‑Cognizability of § 1983 Disability Retaliation, and the Inapplicability of LMRA and Individual ADA Retaliation Liability in Public‑School Employment Disputes

Date: Nov 20, 2025

Butts v. Kelch: Plausibility Pleading, Non‑Cognizability of § 1983 Disability Retaliation, and the Inapplicability of LMRA and Individual ADA Retaliation Liability in Public‑School Employment...

Dual Criminality, Probable Cause, and the Limits of Habeas Review in U.S.–Japan Extradition: Commentary on Kanayama v. Kowal (2d Cir. 2025)

Date: Nov 20, 2025

Dual Criminality, Probable Cause, and the Limits of Habeas Review in U.S.–Japan Extradition: Commentary on Kanayama v. Kowal (2d Cir. 2025) I. Introduction The Second Circuit’s summary order in...

Murphy v. Onondaga County: Causation, Official-Duty Speech, and Procedural Waiver in Public-Employee First Amendment Retaliation Claims

Date: Nov 20, 2025

Murphy v. Onondaga County: Causation, Official-Duty Speech, and Procedural Waiver in Public-Employee First Amendment Retaliation Claims Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit...

Reaffirming the Limits on Waiving Exhaustion in Social Security Cases: Commentary on Shackleford v. Bisignano

Date: Nov 20, 2025

Reaffirming the Limits on Waiving Exhaustion in Social Security Cases: Commentary on Shackleford v. Bisignano I. Introduction The Second Circuit’s summary order in Shackleford v. Bisignano, No....

Sentencing Disparities, Cooperation, and Harsh Confinement: Commentary on United States v. Samia (2d Cir. 2025)

Date: Nov 20, 2025

Sentencing Disparities, Cooperation, and Harsh Confinement: A Detailed Commentary on United States v. Samia (2d Cir. 2025) I. Introduction The Second Circuit’s summary order in United States v....

SEC v. Ahmed (2d Cir. 2025): Tightening Asset-Freeze Relief, Permitting Counsel Withdrawal, Declining Federal Interference with State Tax Levies under the Tax Injunction Act

Date: Nov 19, 2025

SEC v. Ahmed (2d Cir. 2025): Tightening Asset-Freeze Relief, Permitting Counsel Withdrawal, Declining Federal Interference with State Tax Levies under the Tax Injunction Act Introduction In a...

Tinoco v. Bondi (2d Cir. 2025): Reaffirmation that Pending Collateral Attacks Do Not Undermine Conviction Finality; Abandonment and Internal Relocation as Dispositive Bars to Withholding; No Automatic Stay of Removal After BIA Decision

Date: Nov 19, 2025

Tinoco v. Bondi (2d Cir. 2025): Reaffirmation that Pending Collateral Attacks Do Not Undermine Conviction Finality; Abandonment and Internal Relocation as Dispositive Bars to Withholding; No...

Nonfunctional Serialization Requirements and “Common Use”: The Second Circuit Upholds 18 U.S.C. § 922(k) Under Bruen in United States v. Gomez

Date: Nov 19, 2025

Nonfunctional Serialization Requirements and “Common Use”: The Second Circuit Upholds 18 U.S.C. § 922(k) Under Bruen in United States v. Gomez Introduction In United States v. Gomez, No. 24-1943-cr...

Abandonment, Exhaustion, and Financial Motive: Second Circuit Reaffirms Nexus Requirements in Gang-Related Asylum Claims

Date: Nov 16, 2025

Abandonment, Exhaustion, and Financial Motive: Second Circuit Reaffirms Nexus Requirements in Gang-Related Asylum Claims Introduction In Chucuri-Carguachi v. Bondi (2d Cir. Nov. 14, 2025), a...

Victim’s Signed Complaint Can Supply Probable Cause for Any Offense; Pretrial Food-Deprivation Claims Fail Absent Harm or Deliberate Indifference

Date: Nov 16, 2025

Victim’s Signed Complaint Can Supply Probable Cause for Any Offense; Pretrial Food-Deprivation Claims Fail Absent Harm or Deliberate Indifference Introduction In Peterkin v. Carr, No. 24-1148-cv (2d...

Using Real Identities to Overcome Due Diligence Is “At the Crux” Under § 1028A: The Second Circuit’s Application of Dubin in United States v. Colello

Date: Nov 16, 2025

Using Real Identities to Overcome Due Diligence Is “At the Crux” Under § 1028A: The Second Circuit’s Application of Dubin in United States v. Colello Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second...

Exhaustion, Heavy-Burden Remands, and Unfulfilled Threats: The Second Circuit’s Summary Order in Reyes‑Chavarria v. Bondi

Date: Nov 16, 2025

Exhaustion, Heavy-Burden Remands, and Unfulfilled Threats: The Second Circuit’s Summary Order in Reyes‑Chavarria v. Bondi Introduction In Reyes‑Chavarria v. Bondi, No. 24-1315 (2d Cir. Nov. 13, 2025)...

No PSG Defined by Harm; Exhaustion Required: Second Circuit in Rojas-Toledo and the 2025 AG Reset of Domestic-Violence Asylum Law

Date: Nov 16, 2025

No PSG Defined by Harm; Exhaustion Required: Second Circuit in Rojas-Toledo and the 2025 AG Reset of Domestic-Violence Asylum Law Introduction In Rojas-Toledo v. Bondi, No. 24-500 (2d Cir. Nov. 13,...

EFTA’s Bona Fide Error Defense Reaches Factual Investigation Errors and Shields § 1693f/§ 1693g Claims Brought via § 1693m (Second Circuit Summary Order)

Date: Nov 16, 2025

EFTA’s Bona Fide Error Defense Reaches Factual Investigation Errors and Shields § 1693f/§ 1693g Claims Brought via § 1693m (Second Circuit Summary Order) Case: Sari E. Newman v. JPMorgan Chase Bank,...

United States v. Langhorne (2d Cir. 2025): Summary Order Reaffirming Sufficiency Standards, Harmless-Error Disposition of Unpreserved Rule 702 Challenge, Confrontation Clause Limits on Cross-Examination, and Strickland Prejudice; Sentencing Appeal Moot After Release

Date: Nov 16, 2025

United States v. Langhorne (2d Cir. 2025): Summary Order Reaffirming Sufficiency Standards, Harmless-Error Disposition of Unpreserved Rule 702 Challenge, Confrontation Clause Limits on...

PSR Notice and “Self‑Evident” Rationales Sustain Discretionary Supervised‑Release Conditions on Plain‑Error Review: Commentary on United States v. Oliva (2d Cir. 2025)

Date: Nov 16, 2025

PSR Notice and “Self‑Evident” Rationales Sustain Discretionary Supervised‑Release Conditions on Plain‑Error Review: Commentary on United States v. Oliva (2d Cir. 2025) Introduction In United States...

Materialized Risks Must Be Disclosed—Second Circuit Vacates Dismissal of Securities Act Claims and Confirms Rule 8 Pleading for Negligence-Based Section 11/12 Claims (Van v. Bright Health Group, Inc.)

Date: Nov 16, 2025

Materialized Risks Must Be Disclosed—Second Circuit Vacates Dismissal of Securities Act Claims and Confirms Rule 8 Pleading for Negligence-Based Section 11/12 Claims (Van v. Bright Health Group,...

Marketing-Triggered Age Restrictions on Dietary Supplements Survive Central Hudson and Avoid FDCA Preemption: Second Circuit Affirms Denial of Preliminary Injunction in CRN v. James

Date: Nov 16, 2025

Marketing-Triggered Age Restrictions on Dietary Supplements Survive Central Hudson and Avoid FDCA Preemption: Second Circuit Affirms Denial of Preliminary Injunction in CRN v. James Introduction This...

NYCHRL Disparate Impact after Allen v. City of New York: “Significant Business Objective” Defense Prevails Absent Substantial Evidence of Less Discriminatory Alternatives

Date: Nov 16, 2025

NYCHRL Disparate Impact after Allen v. City of New York: “Significant Business Objective” Defense Prevails Absent Substantial Evidence of Less Discriminatory Alternatives Court: U.S. Court of Appeals...

Strict Enforcement of Rule 72(b) Waiver and the No-Reliance/No-Duty Triad: Second Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Landlords’ Claims Against Airbnb

Date: Nov 16, 2025

Strict Enforcement of Rule 72(b) Waiver and the No-Reliance/No-Duty Triad: Second Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Landlords’ Claims Against Airbnb Case: Baldeo v. Airbnb, No. 24-1238-cv (2d Cir. Nov....