Puerto Rico Case Commentaries

State v. Cherry (2026 N.H. 22): Firearms as “Tools of the Drug Trade” Require a Case-Specific Nexus; Joinder’s “Best Interests of Justice” Must Be Charge-Specific

Date: Jun 3, 2026

State v. Cherry (2026 N.H. 22): Firearms as “Tools of the Drug Trade” Require a Case-Specific Nexus; Joinder’s “Best Interests of Justice” Must Be Charge-Specific 1. Introduction In State v. Cherry,...

Mandatory County-Jail Detention at Age Eighteen for Direct-File Detainees Under § 19-2.5-305(4)(g)

Date: Jun 3, 2026

Mandatory County-Jail Detention at Age Eighteen for Direct-File Detainees Under § 19-2.5-305(4)(g) Case: In re: People v. Lawrence, Issac Citation: 2026 CO 39 (Colo. June 1, 2026) Court: Colorado...

People v. Baker: Furtive Movements + Recent POWPO Arrest Justify Protective Sweep; Gun Discovery Supplies Automobile-Exception Probable Cause

Date: Jun 3, 2026

People v. Baker (2026 CO 41): Furtive Movements and a Recent POWPO Arrest Support a Vehicle Protective Sweep; Gun Discovery Establishes Automobile-Exception Probable Cause Court: Colorado Supreme...

UM Insurer Participation Requires Specific, Timely Pleading of Legitimate Defenses; C.R.C.P. 9(b) Applies Only to Fraud or Mistake

Date: Jun 3, 2026

UM Insurer Participation Requires Specific, Timely Pleading of Legitimate Defenses; C.R.C.P. 9(b) Applies Only to Fraud or Mistake Case: Progressive Direct Ins. v. Ortiz, Andrew, 2026 CO 40 (Colo....

Colorado Habeas Petitions Are Exempt from Inmate Civil-Action Filing-Fee Restrictions Under § 13-17.5-103

Date: Jun 3, 2026

Colorado Habeas Petitions Are Exempt from Inmate Civil-Action Filing-Fee Restrictions Under § 13-17.5-103 I. Introduction In Gottorff, David v. Lengerich, Jason, 2026 CO 37, the Colorado Supreme...

Post-Appeal Rule 60(a) Amendments Are Nullities Absent Appellate Leave; Ministerial Omissions Do Not Defeat Finality

Date: Jun 3, 2026

Post-Appeal Rule 60(a) Amendments Are Nullities Absent Appellate Leave; Ministerial Omissions Do Not Defeat Finality Case: United States v. Davison (10th Cir. June 2, 2026) (Order and Judgment;...

Actual-Innocence Gateway Requires “Newly Presented” Evidence—Trial-Evidence Excerpts (e.g., Screenshots) Do Not Excuse AEDPA Untimeliness

Date: Jun 3, 2026

Actual-Innocence Gateway Requires “Newly Presented” Evidence—Trial-Evidence Excerpts (e.g., Screenshots) Do Not Excuse AEDPA Untimeliness Introduction Johnson v. Rankins (10th Cir. June 2, 2026) is...

United States v. Bailey: Mootness of Early-Termination Appeals After Revocation or Expiration of Supervised Release

Date: Jun 3, 2026

United States v. Bailey: Mootness of Early-Termination Appeals After Revocation or Expiration of Supervised Release 1. Introduction In United States v. Bailey (10th Cir. June 2, 2026), the Tenth...

Procedural Revocation-Sentencing Challenges Are Waived Without a Plain-Error Argument; General Advocacy for a Shorter Term Preserves Substantive Review

Date: Jun 3, 2026

Procedural Revocation-Sentencing Challenges Are Waived Without a Plain-Error Argument; General Advocacy for a Shorter Term Preserves Substantive Review I. Introduction United States v. Sletten (10th...

Unconditional Guilty Pleas Waive Grand-Jury Misconduct Claims and Unpreserved Procedural Sentencing Errors in the First Circuit (United States v. Maldonado)

Date: Jun 3, 2026

Unconditional Guilty Pleas Waive Grand-Jury Misconduct Claims and Unpreserved Procedural Sentencing Errors in the First Circuit Case: United States v. Maldonado (1st Cir. June 2, 2026) Court: United...

Texas Home-Equity Loan Forfeiture Is Limited to Breaches of Article XVI, Section 50(a)(6) Constitutional Obligations

Date: Jun 3, 2026

Texas Home-Equity Loan Forfeiture Is Limited to Breaches of Article XVI, Section 50(a)(6) Constitutional Obligations I. Introduction Janice C. Staub and Parker D. Young v. BBVA USA is a Texas...

Mandatory County-Jail Detention at Age 18 for Direct-Filed Juvenile Defendants Under § 19-2.5-305(4)(g)

Date: Jun 3, 2026

Mandatory County-Jail Detention at Age 18 for Direct-Filed Juvenile Defendants Under § 19-2.5-305(4)(g) 1. Introduction People v. Lawrence, 2026 CO 39 is an original proceeding under C.A.R. 21 in...

People v. Baker (2026): Furtive Movements + POWPO History + High-Crime Area Justify Protective Sweep; Gun Discovery Supplies Automobile-Exception Probable Cause

Date: Jun 3, 2026

People v. Baker: Evolving-Traffic-Stop Doctrine—Furtive Movements, POWPO History, and a High-Crime Setting Support a Protective Vehicle Sweep, and the Gun Discovery Triggers Automobile-Exception...

Colorado’s Inmate Filing-Fee Restrictions in § 13-17.5-103 Do Not Apply to Habeas Corpus Petitions

Date: Jun 3, 2026

Colorado’s Inmate Filing-Fee Restrictions in § 13-17.5-103 Do Not Apply to Habeas Corpus Petitions I. Introduction In Gottorff v. Lengerich, 2026 CO 37, the Colorado Supreme Court (en banc, per...

Nonretroactive Guideline Amendments Cannot Supply the “Change in the Law” Needed for Compassionate Release Under U.S.S.G. § 1B1.13(b)(6)

Date: Jun 3, 2026

Nonretroactive Guideline Amendments Cannot Supply the “Change in the Law” Needed for Compassionate Release Under U.S.S.G. § 1B1.13(b)(6) 1. Introduction United States v. Terrence Smith (11th Cir....

Helt v. Guess (2026 MT 117): Child-Specific Findings Required to Restrict Parent-Child Contact in Orders of Protection

Date: Jun 3, 2026

Helt v. Guess (2026 MT 117): Child-Specific Findings Required to Restrict Parent-Child Contact in Orders of Protection 1. Introduction In Helt v. Guess, the Supreme Court of Montana reviewed a...

Reaffirming UCCJEA Limits on Relinquishment: A Pending Out-of-State Custody Proceeding Is Required, and Immaterial Inconvenient-Forum Factors Need Not Be Expressly Addressed

Date: Jun 3, 2026

Reaffirming UCCJEA Limits on Relinquishment: A Pending Out-of-State Custody Proceeding Is Required, and Immaterial Inconvenient-Forum Factors Need Not Be Expressly Addressed Introduction Marriage of...

CCYA Noncompliance as “Substantial Injustice”: Two-Year Remand for Rehabilitative Implementation and Meaningful Sentence Review

Date: Jun 3, 2026

CCYA Noncompliance as “Substantial Injustice”: Two-Year Remand for Rehabilitative Implementation and Meaningful Sentence Review 1. Introduction State v. I. Pehringer (2026 MT 115) addresses what...

Mailing (Not Actual Receipt) Satisfies Montana Notice of Foreign Judgment; Lis Pendens Is Not Stay Security; Unrelated Prior Firm Representation Does Not Require Disqualification

Date: Jun 3, 2026

Mailing (Not Actual Receipt) Satisfies Montana Notice of Foreign Judgment; Lis Pendens Is Not Stay Security; Unrelated Prior Firm Representation Does Not Require Disqualification Introduction In...

Montana Rule: A Buy-Sell + Seller-Financing Amendment Is Enforceable Despite Later “Mutually Agreed” Contract-for-Deed Terms; Added Public-Access Encumbrances Breach Condition-of-Title

Date: Jun 3, 2026

Montana Rule: A Buy-Sell + Seller-Financing Amendment Is Enforceable Despite Later “Mutually Agreed” Contract-for-Deed Terms; Added Public-Access Encumbrances Breach Condition-of-Title I....