7th Circuit Case Commentaries

“Isolated Attorney Endorsements” and Strickland Prejudice: Seventh Circuit Clarifies Ineffective-Assistance Analysis under AEDPA

Date: Aug 6, 2025

“Isolated Attorney Endorsements” and Strickland Prejudice: Seventh Circuit Clarifies Ineffective-Assistance Analysis under AEDPA Introduction In Eric Benson Skeens v. Ron Neal, the United States...

Forfeiture at the Hearing: Cain v. Bisignano Solidifies the Seventh Circuit Rule on Vocational-Expert Objections and Reaffirms the “Minimal Articulation” Standard

Date: Aug 6, 2025

Forfeiture at the Hearing: Cain v. Bisignano Solidifies the Seventh Circuit Rule on Vocational-Expert Objections and Reaffirms the “Minimal Articulation” Standard Introduction In Jonathan D. Cain v....

Seventh Circuit Tightens the Nexus and Relocation Requirements in Cartel-Violence Claims: P.A-V. v. Bondi (2025)

Date: Aug 6, 2025

Seventh Circuit Tightens the Nexus and Relocation Requirements in Cartel-Violence Claims: Commentary on P. A.-V. v. Bondi, 21-2737 (7th Cir. 2025) 1. Introduction P. A.-V. v. Bondi is the latest in a...

The “Otherwise-Applicable Guideline Range” Doctrine: Seventh Circuit Re-Affirms Deference to Commentary When Calculating Career-Offender Sentences under § 4B1.1(c)(2)

Date: Aug 6, 2025

The “Otherwise-Applicable Guideline Range” Doctrine: United States v. Daniel Stewart (7th Cir. 2025) Introduction In United States v. Daniel Stewart, the Seventh Circuit tackled a thorny question in...

Extending the Williamson-County “Finality” Requirement to ADA and Rehabilitation Act Zoning Claims – A Commentary on Chosen Consulting, LLC v. Town Council of Highland, Indiana

Date: Aug 5, 2025

Extending the Williamson-County “Finality” Requirement to ADA and Rehabilitation Act Zoning Claims A Comprehensive Commentary on Chosen Consulting, LLC v. Town Council of Highland, Indiana, 7th Cir.,...

Padua v. Bisignano: Seventh Circuit Clarifies How ALJs Must Evaluate Fibromyalgia Claims Filed Before 2017 Under the Treating-Physician Rule

Date: Aug 5, 2025

Padua v. Bisignano: Seventh Circuit Clarifies How ALJs Must Evaluate Fibromyalgia Claims Filed Before 2017 Under the Treating-Physician Rule 1. Introduction In Jada M. Padua v. Frank Bisignano,...

The Arrington Doctrine: Seventh Circuit Confirms Joint-Enterprise Imputed Negligence Applies to Criminal Ventures and Limits the Reach of State Dead-Man Statutes in Mixed Federal–State Actions

Date: Aug 5, 2025

The Arrington Doctrine Seventh Circuit Confirms Joint-Enterprise Imputed Negligence Applies to Criminal Ventures and Limits the Reach of State Dead-Man Statutes in Mixed Federal–State Actions 1....

Arrington v. City of Chicago (7th Cir. 2025): Joint-Enterprise Negligence Extends to Criminal Ventures & Limits on Illinois Dead Man’s Act in Mixed Federal–State Claims

Date: Aug 5, 2025

Seventh Circuit Commentary: Arrington v. City of Chicago – Joint Enterprise Doctrine Embraces Criminal Ventures & Rule 601 Trumps Illinois Dead Man’s Act in Mixed Claims 1. Introduction The...

Seventh Circuit Clarifies that Public-University Social-Media Comment Threads Are “Limited Public Forums” Subject to Viewpoint-Neutral Moderation

Date: Aug 5, 2025

Seventh Circuit Clarifies that Public-University Social-Media Comment Threads Are “Limited Public Forums” Subject to Viewpoint-Neutral Moderation Introduction In Madeline Krasno v. Jennifer Mnookin,...

Seventh Circuit Clarifies Joint-Enterprise Contributory Negligence in Criminal Ventures and Narrows Illinois Dead-Man’s Act in Mixed Federal / State Actions

Date: Aug 5, 2025

Seventh Circuit Clarifies Joint-Enterprise Contributory Negligence in Criminal Ventures and Narrows Illinois Dead-Man’s Act in Mixed Federal / State Actions Introduction In Michael Cokes v. City of...

No Manifest Necessity Without a Real Rule: The Seventh Circuit Clarifies §2241 Double-Jeopardy Relief in Mitchell Green v. Milwaukee County Circuit Court (2025)

Date: Aug 5, 2025

No Manifest Necessity Without a Real Rule: The Seventh Circuit Clarifies §2241 Double-Jeopardy Relief in Mitchell Green v. Milwaukee County Circuit Court (2025) 1. Introduction This commentary...

United States v. Stafford: Prior-Day Evidence as “Intrinsic” to Charged Conduct and the Knowledge Threshold for §2K2.1(b)(5)

Date: Aug 5, 2025

United States v. Stafford: Prior-Day Evidence as “Intrinsic” to Charged Conduct and the Knowledge Threshold for §2K2.1(b)(5) 1. Introduction On 1 August 2025 the United States Court of Appeals for...

“Translator-Conspirator”: Seventh Circuit Clarifies the Buyer-Seller Limitation and the Scope of Criminal Liability for Non-Traditional Roles in Drug Conspiracies

Date: Aug 5, 2025

“Translator-Conspirator”: Seventh Circuit Clarifies the Buyer-Seller Limitation and the Scope of Criminal Liability for Non-Traditional Roles in Drug Conspiracies Introduction United States v....

“Equal in the Venture” – Seventh Circuit Clarifies Translator-Participation Liability, Buyer–Seller Instructions, and Minor-Role Reductions in United States v. Sheldon Morales

Date: Aug 5, 2025

“Equal in the Venture” – Seventh Circuit Clarifies Translator-Participation Liability, Buyer–Seller Instructions, and Minor-Role Reductions in United States v. Sheldon Morales 1. Introduction The...

Reinforcing the Contingency-Agreement “Polestar”: Arnold v. Bisignano and the Duty to Explain Reductions of § 406(b) Social-Security Attorney’s Fees

Date: Aug 1, 2025

Reinforcing the Contingency-Agreement “Polestar”: Christian Arnold v. Frank Bisignano (7th Cir. 2025) Introduction Christian Arnold v. Frank Bisignano, decided by the United States Court of Appeals...

United States v. Edwards: Seventh Circuit Re-Defines the Boundaries of Appeal-Waiver Exceptions

Date: Aug 1, 2025

United States v. Edwards: Seventh Circuit Re-Defines the Boundaries of Appeal-Waiver Exceptions 1. Introduction On 31 July 2025 the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit decided...

The Edwards Rule: Appeal Waivers Bar Sixth-Amendment and Breach Claims Unrelated to Plea Validity

Date: Aug 1, 2025

The Edwards Rule: Appeal Waivers Bar Sixth-Amendment and Breach Claims Unrelated to Plea Validity 1. Introduction United States v. Kenin Edwards, Nos. 24-2355 & 24-2401, decided July 31 2025 by the...

The Strict Forfeiture Rule for Vocational-Expert Testimony: Commentary on Thorpe v. Bisignano (7th Cir. 2025)

Date: Aug 1, 2025

The Strict Forfeiture Rule for Vocational-Expert Testimony: Commentary on Thorpe v. Bisignano (7th Cir. 2025) 1. Introduction Thorpe v. Bisignano, No. 24-2214, decided by the United States Court of...

“Modify or Terminate” Letters as Effective CBA-Termination Notices: Central States Pension Fund v. Univar Solutions (7th Cir. 2025)

Date: Aug 1, 2025

“Modify or Terminate” Letters as Effective CBA-Termination Notices: Central States Pension Fund v. Univar Solutions (7th Cir. 2025) Introduction The Seventh Circuit’s decision in Central States,...

“No Policy, No Problem” – Schneiter v. Carr and the Seventh Circuit’s Expansion of Public-Employer Latitude over Employee Social-Media Speech

Date: Aug 1, 2025

“No Policy, No Problem” – Schneiter v. Carr and the Seventh Circuit’s Expansion of Public-Employer Latitude over Employee Social-Media Speech 1. Introduction Richard S. Schneiter, a 40-year veteran...