3d Circuit Case Commentaries

O'Bryant v. DCPP: Child-Welfare Caseworkers May Not Coerce Warrantless Home Entry Absent Exigency; Temporary Child Removal Without Pre-Removal Judicial Authorization Violates Procedural Due Process Absent Imminent Harm (Though Not Clearly Established in 2017)

Date: Sep 20, 2026

O'Bryant v. DCPP: Child-Welfare Caseworkers May Not Coerce Warrantless Home Entry Absent Exigency; Temporary Child Removal Without Pre-Removal Judicial Authorization Violates Procedural Due Process...

Discretion to Hear Untimely Criminal Appeals When the Government Does Not Object (and Reaffirmation of “Intent + Substantial Step” for Attempt)

Date: Sep 19, 2026

Discretion to Hear Untimely Criminal Appeals When the Government Does Not Object (and Reaffirmation of “Intent + Substantial Step” for Attempt) Case: United States v. Shaquile Newson (consolidated...

United States v. Malave: Broad Digital-Warrant Searches, “Teaching Expert” Testimony, and Substantial-Step Attempt Liability in RICO/Sex-Trafficking Prosecutions

Date: Sep 19, 2026

United States v. Malave: Broad Digital-Warrant Searches, “Teaching Expert” Testimony, and Substantial-Step Attempt Liability in RICO/Sex-Trafficking Prosecutions Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the...

Reaffirming Broad Digital-Warrant Searches, Rule 702 “Teaching Experts,” and Harmless-Guidelines Review in a RICO Sex-Trafficking Prosecution

Date: Sep 18, 2026

Reaffirming Broad Digital-Warrant Searches, Rule 702 “Teaching Experts,” and Harmless-Guidelines Review in a RICO Sex-Trafficking Prosecution Introduction In United States v. James Goode (3d Cir....

Third Circuit Reinforces Deference in Multi-Defendant RICO/Sex-Trafficking Trials: Joint-Trial Preference, “Teaching Expert” Fit, Broad Digital Warrants, and Attempt as “Substantial Step”

Date: Sep 18, 2026

Third Circuit Reinforces Deference in Multi-Defendant RICO/Sex-Trafficking Trials: Joint-Trial Preference, “Teaching Expert” Fit, Broad Digital Warrants, and Attempt as “Substantial Step” Case:...

United States v. Chan-Guillen — Adequate Anders Brief Permits Limited Independent Review and Summary Affirmance Absent Nonfrivolous Issues

Date: Sep 18, 2026

Adequate Anders Brief Permits Limited Independent Review and Summary Affirmance Absent Nonfrivolous Issues Introduction In United States v. Vincent Chan-Guillen (3d Cir. Sept. 14, 2026)...

Claim Preclusion Bars Repeat Federal Land-Use/Takings Suits Against Municipal Actors and Their Privies; Later-Arising Zoning Claims Must Still Be Plausibly Pleaded

Date: Sep 15, 2026

Claim Preclusion Bars Repeat Federal Land-Use/Takings Suits Against Municipal Actors and Their Privies; Later-Arising Zoning Claims Must Still Be Plausibly Pleaded Thomas Gage v. Borough of...

Pleading a Prison-Job Retaliation Claim: Alleged Termination Must Be Credited as “Adverse Action” at the Motion-to-Dismiss Stage

Date: Sep 12, 2026

Pleading a Prison-Job Retaliation Claim: Alleged Termination Must Be Credited as “Adverse Action” at the Motion-to-Dismiss Stage 1. Introduction In Brian Thompson v. Mohamed Safa, Sergeant (3d Cir....

Third Circuit Requires § 401 Certifications to Resolve Material Monitoring/Adaptive-Management Terms or Condition Dredging on Agency Approval

Date: Sep 12, 2026

Third Circuit Requires § 401 Certifications to Resolve Material Monitoring/Adaptive-Management Terms or Condition Dredging on Agency Approval I. Introduction In Natural Resources Defense Council Inc...

Section 401 Certifications Must Not Defer Material Compliance Terms Without Pre-Construction Agency Approval

Date: Sep 12, 2026

Section 401 Certifications Must Not Defer Material Compliance Terms Without Pre-Construction Agency Approval I. Introduction In NY/NJ Baykeeper v. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection...

Younger Abstention Requires Party Identity: Associations Need Not Abstain Based on Member’s Pending State Enforcement Action Absent Control or Management

Date: Sep 12, 2026

Younger Abstention Requires Party Identity: Associations Need Not Abstain Based on Member’s Pending State Enforcement Action Absent Control or Management 1. Introduction Case: National Shooting...

Third Circuit Reaffirms That Conclusory Comparator Lists and Attenuated Timing Do Not Plausibly Plead Discrimination or Retaliation in Failure-to-Promote/Termination Claims

Date: Sep 12, 2026

Third Circuit Reaffirms That Conclusory Comparator Lists and Attenuated Timing Do Not Plausibly Plead Discrimination or Retaliation in Failure-to-Promote/Termination Claims Introduction In Solomon...

Procedural Forfeiture and Docket-Management Deference in Consolidated Federal Actions Challenging State Criminal Proceedings

Date: Sep 5, 2026

Procedural Forfeiture and Docket-Management Deference in Consolidated Federal Actions Challenging State Criminal Proceedings 1. Introduction In Urve Maggitti v. John Capuzzi, Sr. (3d Cir. Sept. 4,...

Harmless Error in CAT Review When Likelihood-of-Torture Fails at Myrie Step One

Date: Sep 5, 2026

Harmless Error in CAT Review When Likelihood-of-Torture Fails at Myrie Step One 1. Introduction In Rafael Aguilar-Ayala v. Attorney General United States of America (3d Cir. Sept. 4, 2026) (not...

Defective Service Under Pa. R. Civ. P. 400.1(a) Excuses Unserved Defendants from Removal Unanimity; Judicial Immunity Bars § 1983 Attacks on State-Court Trial Rulings

Date: Sep 3, 2026

Defective Service Under Pa. R. Civ. P. 400.1(a) Excuses Unserved Defendants from Removal Unanimity; Judicial Immunity Bars § 1983 Attacks on State-Court Trial Rulings 1. Introduction David Hatchigian...

Preliminary Injunctions in Constitutional Challenges: Preserving the Status Quo to Keep Cases Alive

Date: Sep 3, 2026

Preliminary Injunctions in Constitutional Challenges: Preserving the Status Quo to Keep Cases Alive I. Introduction Americans for Prosperity Foundation v. Anthony Albence (3d Cir. Aug. 31, 2026)...

Section 3 Malfunction Theory Limited to Lost/Destroyed Products: No Inference of Defect When the Product Remains Available for Inspection

Date: Sep 3, 2026

Section 3 Malfunction Theory Limited to Lost/Destroyed Products: No Inference of Defect When the Product Remains Available for Inspection Case: Millentine Coates v. Ford Motor Company (3d Cir. Aug....

Historically Rooted Medical-Licensing Laws for Telemedicine Speech Survive Heightened First Amendment Review

Date: Sep 3, 2026

Historically Rooted Medical-Licensing Laws for Telemedicine Speech Survive Heightened First Amendment Review I. Introduction In Shannon MacDonald v. President NJ State Board of Medical Examiners (3d...

Third Circuit Limits § 1225(b)(2)(A) Mandatory Detention to Noncitizens Actively “Seeking Admission” and Requires Bond Hearings for Long-Resident EWI Detainees

Date: Sep 3, 2026

Third Circuit Limits § 1225(b)(2)(A) Mandatory Detention to Noncitizens Actively “Seeking Admission” and Requires Bond Hearings for Long-Resident EWI Detainees I. Introduction In Gabriel Buele...

IDEA Two-Year Limitations: Parents’ Knowledge Bars Later Adult Claims, and the Same Clock Governs Parallel ADA/§ 504 Education-Service Claims

Date: Sep 3, 2026

IDEA Two-Year Limitations: Parents’ Knowledge Bars Later Adult Claims, and the Same Clock Governs Parallel ADA/§ 504 Education-Service Claims 1. Introduction In L. W. v. Jersey City Board of...