Eaton v. Estabrook – When Disputed Facts Block the Shield: The Second Circuit Limits Summary-Judgment Qualified Immunity in Excessive-Force Cases Introduction In Eaton v. Estabrook, No. 23-151 (2d...
Temporal Limits of Compassionate Release: Second Circuit Confirms Ineligibility for Pre-SRA Offenses 1. Introduction United States v. Coonan (2d Cir. July 9 2025) addresses whether inmates convicted...
From Memes to Mens Rea: Second Circuit Tightens Proof Requirements for Online Conspiracy under 18 U.S.C. § 241 – A Commentary on United States v. MacKey (2025) 1. Introduction The U.S. Court of...
United States v. Runner: Second Circuit’s Post-Kousisis Endorsement of the Fraudulent-Inducement Theory Introduction United States v. Runner, No. 24-1040 (2d Cir. July 9 2025), is the Second...
Affirmation of New York City’s Post-“60/40” Zoning Regime: Second Circuit Re-validates Content-Neutral Regulation of Adult Businesses Introduction The case of 59 Murray Enterprises, Inc. v. City of...
Reaffirming the Absence of a Private Right of Action under the ACAA and Clarifying Post-Pandemic Mootness: Commentary on Abadi v. Fauci, 24-2365-cv (2d Cir. 2025) Introduction Abadi v. Fauci is a pro...
Angarita v. Bondi: Second Circuit Reaffirms the Departure Bar’s Jurisdictional Force and Strict Exhaustion in Motions to Reopen Introduction On 8 July 2025, the United States Court of Appeals for the...
Reaffirming the Limits of Copyright Protection and the Absence of a Private Right of Action under Federal Criminal-Copyright Provisions: Lessons from Jones v. Atlantic Recording Corp. (2d Cir. 2025)...
Strategic Settlements in Federal Equity Receiverships: Second Circuit Affirms Expansive District-Court Discretion Introduction In Stadtmauer v. Court-Appointed Receiver, Nos. 24-1973-cv(L);...
United States v. Acosta: Post-Bruen Endorsement of Felon-in-Possession Prohibitions and Plain-Error Review of Gang-Association Conditions Introduction United States v. Acosta, No. 24-965 (2d Cir....
Reaffirming the Breadth of § 371: United States v. Lingat and the Continued Vitality of the Klein Conspiracy Doctrine 1. Introduction United States v. Lingat, No. 24-2328-cr (2d Cir. Jul. 8, 2025),...
From Jurisdictional Bar to Waivable Deadline: The Second Circuit Embraces Riley and Declares 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(1)’s 30-Day Limit a Non-Jurisdictional Claim-Processing Rule 1. Introduction...
Johnston v. Court-Appointed Receiver (2d Cir. 2025): Automatic Chapter 15 Stay Does Not Shield a Debtor’s Own Affirmative Claims in a U.S. Equity Receivership 1. Introduction John Johnston and Edward...
The Right-to-Collect Doctrine: Second Circuit Affirms § 664 Liability for Conversion of Contractual Benefit-Fund Claims 1. Introduction United States v. O’Sullivan (23-7076-cr, decided 2 July 2025)...
United States v. Salim: Reaffirming the Government’s Unilateral Authority under Rule 48(a) and Limiting Coram Nobis Relief Following Non-Prejudicial Dismissals 1. Introduction Mamdouh Mahmud Salim –...
“Solvent Traps” as Silencers & the Post-Zherka Constitutionality of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) A Structured Commentary on United States v. Sternquist, 24-2135-cr (2d Cir. July 2 2025) (Summary Order)...
Second Circuit Re-Affirms Constitutionality of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) Against Post-Bruen Challenges, Even by “Non-Violent” Felons Introduction United States v. Williams, No. 23-6840-cr (2d Cir. July...
“The Flinton Rule” – A Second-Circuit Mandate for Reassignment to a New ALJ After Any Unremedied Appointments-Clause Violation 1. Introduction Flinton v. Commissioner of Social Security, Docket No....
“A Tale of Two Plaintiffs” – The Second Circuit’s Dual-Track Standard for Assessing Sincerity of Religious Beliefs at Summary Judgment (Gardner-Alfred v. Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 23-7544, 2d...
“No Vacatur Outside the Seat”: Second Circuit Rules U.S. Courts Lack Subject-Matter Jurisdiction to Set Aside Foreign Arbitral Awards under FAA § 203 1. Introduction Molecular Dynamics, Ltd. v....