Puerto Rico Case Commentaries

In re Detsoi — Discretion to Deny Masters and Discipline Willful, Patterned Legal Error

Date: Jul 13, 2026

New Mexico Judicial Discipline: The Judicial Standards Commission May Investigate and Adjudicate Without Masters Absent Unconstitutional Bias, and Repeated, Defiant Legal Error Can Constitute Willful...

Sanctionable Misconduct for “Hallucinated” Authorities in Appellate Briefing: Striking Defective Citations, Awarding Fees, and Referring Counsel for Discipline

Date: Jul 13, 2026

Sanctionable Misconduct for “Hallucinated” Authorities in Appellate Briefing: Striking Defective Citations, Awarding Fees, and Referring Counsel for Discipline 1. Introduction In Marion Parnell, Jr....

Consciousness of Guilt Is Not Deliberation: Limits on Proof of Deliberate-Intent First-Degree Murder and the Binding Force of UJI Use Notes (State v. Trujillo)

Date: Jul 13, 2026

Consciousness of Guilt Is Not Deliberation: Limits on Proof of Deliberate-Intent First-Degree Murder and the Binding Force of UJI Use Notes (State v. Trujillo) 1. Introduction State v. Trujillo (N.M....

Saliba Fee-Shifting Limited: No Attorneys’ Fees for a Standalone Honesty (“Candor”) Breach Yielding Only Nominal Damages

Date: Jul 11, 2026

Saliba Fee-Shifting Limited: No Attorneys’ Fees for a Standalone Honesty (“Candor”) Breach Yielding Only Nominal Damages Case: Leo Investments Hong Kong Limited v. Tomales Bay Capital Anduril III,...

Operational Negligence Exception to Sovereign Immunity for Juvenile Ejections: Statutory Notice-and-Release Violations as Prima Facie Negligence

Date: Jul 11, 2026

Operational Negligence Exception to Sovereign Immunity for Juvenile Ejections: Statutory Notice-and-Release Violations as Prima Facie Negligence I. Introduction In Andrew Joseph, Jr. v. Hillsborough...

Operational Negligence in Juvenile Ejections: No Sovereign Immunity for Violating Florida’s Parental-Notice and Release-to-Adult Duties

Date: Jul 11, 2026

Operational Negligence in Juvenile Ejections: No Sovereign Immunity for Violating Florida’s Parental-Notice and Release-to-Adult Duties Case: Andrew Joseph, Jr. v. Hillsborough County Sheriff (11th...

Allen Charges: Omission of the “Honest Belief” Admonition as Plain Error Requiring New Trial

Date: Jul 11, 2026

Allen Charges: Omission of the “Honest Belief” Admonition as Plain Error Requiring New Trial 1. Introduction In United States v. Rolex Bryan Bruno (11th Cir. July 10, 2026) (unpublished), the...

Gender-Neutral Bullying Is Not Actionable as Title VII Harassment Without Evidence of Sex-Based Motivation: Thurman v. State of Kansas

Date: Jul 11, 2026

Gender-Neutral Bullying Is Not Actionable as Title VII Harassment Without Evidence of Sex-Based Motivation: Thurman v. State of Kansas Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit Date: July 9,...

State v. Schuster: No “Offsetting” Governmental Delay Under Barker—Bureaucratic Indifference and Systemic Prosecutorial Practices Can Make the First Three Factors Dispositive Without Prejudice

Date: Jul 11, 2026

State v. Schuster: No “Offsetting” Governmental Delay Under Barker—Bureaucratic Indifference and Systemic Prosecutorial Practices Can Make the First Three Factors Dispositive Without Prejudice...

Sixth Circuit Endorses Upward Variances Based on Undisputed Presentence Detention Misconduct and a Court’s Discretion to Deem Resulting National Disparities “Warranted”

Date: Jul 11, 2026

Sixth Circuit Endorses Upward Variances Based on Undisputed Presentence Detention Misconduct and a Court’s Discretion to Deem Resulting National Disparities “Warranted” 1. Introduction United States...

Elements-First, Facts-Second: The Fourth Circuit Enforces the Sequential Two-Step Test for the “Particularly Serious Crime” Bar

Date: Jul 11, 2026

Elements-First, Facts-Second: The Fourth Circuit Enforces the Sequential Two-Step Test for the “Particularly Serious Crime” Bar 1. Introduction In Warner Guevara Martinez v. Todd Blanche (4th Cir....

Rule 60(b) Relief Requires Fraud or Voidness Tied to the Federal Tribunal, Not Alleged Misconduct in State Proceedings

Date: Jul 11, 2026

Rule 60(b) Relief Requires Fraud or Voidness Tied to the Federal Tribunal, Not Alleged Misconduct in State Proceedings I. Introduction In VanHorn v. Salvation Army (10th Cir. July 9, 2026), the Tenth...

State v. Rodriguez (2026-Ohio-2573): “Discernible-Facts” Rule for Carbon-Copy Counts

Date: Jul 11, 2026

State v. Rodriguez (2026-Ohio-2573): The “Discernible-Facts” Rule for Carbon-Copy Counts of the Same Offense I. Introduction In State v. Rodriguez, Slip Opinion No. 2026-Ohio-2573 (decided July 9,...

Controlled Buys Immediately Outside a Residence Create a “Minimally Sufficient Nexus” for Leon Good-Faith Reliance on Search Warrants

Date: Jul 11, 2026

Controlled Buys Immediately Outside a Residence Create a “Minimally Sufficient Nexus” for Leon Good-Faith Reliance on Search Warrants 1. Introduction In United States v. Micah Courtney Gray (6th Cir....

Ends-of-Justice Continuances May Await Imminent En Banc Guidance When Reasons Are Clear from the Record — United States v. Willie David Lark (6th Cir. 2026)

Date: Jul 11, 2026

Ends-of-Justice Continuances May Await Imminent En Banc Guidance When Reasons Are Clear from the Record — United States v. Willie David Lark (6th Cir. 2026) I. Introduction In United States v. Willie...

Sixth Circuit: Upward Variance May Rest on Unobjected-to Pretrial Detention Discipline and a District Court May Deem Resulting National Disparity “Warranted”

Date: Jul 11, 2026

Sixth Circuit: Upward Variance May Rest on Unobjected-to Pretrial Detention Discipline and a District Court May Deem Resulting National Disparity “Warranted” 1. Introduction United States v. O'Shane...

Rule 4 Summary Dismissal Is Improper When Court-Generated Conflicting Notices Create a Plausible Equitable-Tolling Claim

Date: Jul 11, 2026

Rule 4 Summary Dismissal Is Improper When Court-Generated Conflicting Notices Create a Plausible Equitable-Tolling Claim 1. Introduction In Kyle Millis v. Randee Rewerts (Sixth Circuit, July 9,...

State v. R.F.P.: Chambers Stage-One In Camera Review Allowed on a Totality Showing; Victim Notice Required; No Affidavits Mandated

Date: Jul 11, 2026

State v. R.F.P.: Chambers Stage-One In Camera Review Permitted on a Totality Evidentiary Showing (with Mandatory Victim Notice and No Affidavit Requirement) I. Introduction State v. R.F.P. (N.J. Sup....

Diana v. LVNV Funding: CFLA “Void” Provision Creates No Implied Borrower Lawsuit to Invalidate a Loan

Date: Jul 11, 2026

Diana v. LVNV Funding: CFLA “Void” Provision Creates No Implied Borrower Lawsuit to Invalidate a Loan Court: Supreme Court of New Jersey Date: July 8, 2026 Case: Scott Diana v. LVNV Funding LLC 1....

State v. Roman: § 54-84 (b) Requires a No-Adverse-Inference Instruction in the Final Charge; Suplicki’s Automatic Reversal Rule Overruled

Date: Jul 11, 2026

State v. Roman: § 54-84 (b) Requires a No-Adverse-Inference Instruction in the Final Charge; Suplicki’s Automatic Reversal Rule Overruled 1. Introduction State v. Roman is a Supreme Court of...