2d Circuit Case Commentaries

“Grave Doubt” in Coram Nobis: Johnson v. United States and the Second Circuit’s Refined Harmless-Error Framework after Ciminelli

Date: Jul 22, 2025

“Grave Doubt” in Coram Nobis: Johnson v. United States and the Second Circuit’s Refined Harmless-Error Framework after Ciminelli Introduction Johnson v. United States, No. 24-1221 (2d Cir. July 17,...

Qualified Immunity for Indirect Regulatory Coercion of Non-Expressive Conduct: A Commentary on Nat’l Rifle Ass’n of Am. v. Vullo (2d Cir. 2025)

Date: Jul 22, 2025

Qualified Immunity for Indirect Regulatory Coercion of Non-Expressive Conduct: A Commentary on Nat’l Rifle Ass’n of Am. v. Vullo (2d Cir. 2025) 1. Introduction On 17 July 2025 the United States Court...

“Contingent GDP-Linked Payments Are Not ‘Principal or Interest’” – Commentary on Argentine GDP-Linked Securities Litigation (2d Cir. 2025)

Date: Jul 22, 2025

“Contingent GDP-Linked Payments Are Not ‘Principal or Interest’” Commentary on the Second Circuit’s Argentine GDP-Linked Securities Litigation Summary Order (2025) 1. Introduction The Second...

Re-affirming the “Central Reason” Nexus Standard in Mixed-Motive Asylum Cases: A Commentary on Figueroa-Serrano v. Bondi (2d Cir. 2025)

Date: Jul 22, 2025

Re-affirming the “Central Reason” Nexus Standard in Mixed-Motive Asylum Cases: A Commentary on Figueroa-Serrano v. Bondi (2d Cir. 2025) 1. Introduction In Figueroa-Serrano v. Bondi, the United States...

Fredricks v. Shaheen: The Second Circuit Re-emphasizes the Courts’ Dual Duty to Furnish Rule 56 Notice and Verify Service on Pro Se Litigants

Date: Jul 22, 2025

Fredricks v. Shaheen: The Second Circuit Re-emphasizes the Courts’ Dual Duty to Furnish Rule 56 Notice and Verify Service on Pro Se Litigants Introduction Fredricks v. Shaheen, No. 22-2480 (2d Cir....

Clarifying the Dual Reasonableness Requirement in Visual Body-Cavity Searches – A Commentary on Hester v. Kelly (2d Cir. 2025)

Date: Jul 22, 2025

Clarifying the Dual Reasonableness Requirement in Visual Body-Cavity Searches: A Comprehensive Commentary on Hester v. Kelly (2d Cir. 2025) I. Introduction On 16 July 2025 the United States Court of...

Plotch v. U.S. Bank: Potential Re-Foreclosure Alone Cannot Bar Quiet Title & Condo-Lien Purchasers Are Not in Privity with the Association

Date: Jul 22, 2025

Plotch v. U.S. Bank: Potential Re-Foreclosure Alone Cannot Bar Quiet Title & Condo-Lien Purchasers Are Not in Privity with the Association Introduction Plotch v. U.S. Bank National Association, No....

Salinas Orellana v. Bondi: Re-defining “Intent” in CAT Prison-Condition Claims and Clarifying the “Likely to Alter the Result” Standard for Motions to Reopen

Date: Jul 22, 2025

Salinas Orellana v. Bondi: Re-defining “Intent” in CAT Prison-Condition Claims and Clarifying the “Likely to Alter the Result” Standard for Motions to Reopen 1. Introduction In its July 16, 2025...

Second Circuit Reaffirms Limited Duty to Reconcile Minor Statistical Sentencing Gaps and Upholds Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy as a Special Condition of Supervised Release – Commentary on United States v. Ramos-Acevedo

Date: Jul 22, 2025

Second Circuit Reaffirms Limited Duty to Reconcile Minor Statistical Sentencing Gaps and Upholds Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy as a Special Condition of Supervised Release – Commentary on United...

Clarifying the Burden of Proving Trademark-Use Authorization in Gray-Market Goods: A Commentary on AL Infinity LLC v. Spalter (2d Cir. 2025)

Date: Jul 22, 2025

Clarifying the Burden of Proving Trademark-Use Authorization in Gray-Market Goods: A Commentary on AL Infinity LLC v. Spalter (2d Cir. 2025) 1. Introduction The Second Circuit’s summary order in AL...

Clarifying the Futility Exception: Mukhtorova v. Bondi and the “Unwilling-or-Unable” Test in U.S. Asylum Law

Date: Jul 22, 2025

Clarifying the Futility Exception: Mukhtorova v. Bondi and the “Unwilling-or-Unable” Test in U.S. Asylum Law 1. Introduction Mukhtorova v. Bondi, No. 24-279 (2d Cir. July 15, 2025) is a summary order...

Structural Error Limited to Constitutional Violations – A Commentary on United States v. Johnson (2025)

Date: Jul 15, 2025

Structural Error Limited to Constitutional Violations – A Commentary on United States v. Johnson (2d Cir. 2025) 1  Introduction On 14 July 2025 the United States Court of Appeals for the Second...

The Second Circuit’s Post-Morgan Waiver Doctrine: When Litigation Conduct Alone Extinguishes the Right to Arbitrate

Date: Jul 15, 2025

The Second Circuit’s Post-Morgan Waiver Doctrine: When Litigation Conduct Alone Extinguishes the Right to Arbitrate 1. Introduction Case: Doyle v. UBS Financial Services, Inc., No. 24-696-cv (2d Cir....

“Arising Out Of”: The Second Circuit’s Broad Construction of Employment-Related Practices Exclusions for Defamation Claims

Date: Jul 12, 2025

“Arising Out Of”: The Second Circuit’s Broad Construction of Employment-Related Practices Exclusions for Defamation Claims 1. Introduction In Alexanian v. Government Employees Insurance Co., No....

Passing Critique Is Not Argument: The Second Circuit’s Stringent Waiver-and-Lozada Reaffirmation in Gonzalez-Perez v. Bondi

Date: Jul 12, 2025

Passing Critique Is Not Argument: Gonzalez-Perez v. Bondi and the Second Circuit’s Rigorous Approach to Issue Abandonment, CAT Analysis, and Lozada Compliance 1. Introduction Gonzalez-Perez v. Bondi,...

Clarifying Objections to Magistrate Reports and Pleading Requirements under N.Y. GBL § 399-p: A Commentary on Oparaji v. Home Retention Corp. (2d Cir. 2025)

Date: Jul 12, 2025

Clarifying Objections to Magistrate Reports and Pleading Requirements under N.Y. GBL § 399-p: A Commentary on Oparaji v. Home Retention Corp., 24-1444-cv (2d Cir. July 10, 2025) I. Introduction...

Predicate Exception Re-Defined: Second Circuit Affirms State Gun-Specific Public Nuisance Statute under PLCAA — Comment on National Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc. v. James (2025)

Date: Jul 12, 2025

Predicate Exception Re-Defined: Second Circuit Affirms State Gun-Specific Public Nuisance Statute under PLCAA Commentary on National Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc. v. James, 90 F.4th ___ (2d Cir....

Second Circuit Clarifies the “Offense-Guideline Exception” to the Official-Victim Enhancement – Commentary on United States v. Cooke (2025)

Date: Jul 12, 2025

Second Circuit Clarifies the “Offense-Guideline Exception” to the Official-Victim Enhancement – Commentary on United States v. Cooke (2025) I. Introduction In United States v. Cooke, No. 24-1967 (2d...

United States v. Thompson: Clarifying the Individualized-Assessment Requirement and Affirming Broad Electronic-Search Conditions on Supervised Release

Date: Jul 12, 2025

United States v. Thompson: Clarifying the Individualized-Assessment Requirement and Affirming Broad Electronic-Search Conditions on Supervised Release 1. Introduction In United States v. Thompson,...

Shafer v. Morgan Stanley: No “Constructive Denial” Appeals from Orders Compelling Arbitration & The Narrow Path to Mandamus in ERISA Disputes

Date: Jul 11, 2025

Shafer v. Morgan Stanley: No “Constructive Denial” Appeals from Orders Compelling Arbitration & The Narrow Path to Mandamus in ERISA Disputes 1. Introduction Shafer v. Morgan Stanley, Nos....