federal Case Commentaries

Decoupling Possessory Delay from Subsequent Searches: The Fourth Circuit’s “Wrong-Sovereign” Principle in United States v. Krueger

Date: Jul 30, 2025

Decoupling Possessory Delay from Subsequent Searches: The Fourth Circuit’s “Wrong-Sovereign” Principle in United States v. Krueger Introduction United States v. Andrew David Krueger, No. 24-4328 (4th...

“No Court Before Completion” – The Fourth Circuit’s Robust Re-statement of the Complete Arbitration Rule in Wheeling Power Co.-Mitchell Plant v. Local 492, UWUA (AFL-CIO)

Date: Jul 30, 2025

“No Court Before Completion”: The Fourth Circuit’s Robust Re-statement of the Complete Arbitration Rule Introduction In Wheeling Power Company – Mitchell Plant v. Local 492, Utility Workers Union of...

Fourth Circuit Limits the “Intervening-Event” Defense in FSMA Whistle-blower Litigation

Date: Jul 30, 2025

Fourth Circuit Limits the “Intervening-Event” Defense in FSMA Whistle-blower Litigation Introduction In Wilbert Finley v. Kraft Heinz Inc., the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit...

The Turner Rule: Tenth Circuit Bars Post-Discovery Pivot—Plaintiffs Must Amend Pleadings to Rely on New Factual Theories

Date: Jul 30, 2025

The Turner Rule: Tenth Circuit Bars Post-Discovery Pivot—Plaintiffs Must Amend Pleadings to Rely on New Factual Theories 1. Introduction Shyers v. Metropolitan Property & Casualty Insurance Co.,...

Rooker-Feldman Reaffirmed: Federal Courts Have No Jurisdiction to Undo Colorado Rule 120 Foreclosure Orders

Date: Jul 30, 2025

Rooker-Feldman Reaffirmed: Federal Courts Have No Jurisdiction to Undo Colorado Rule 120 Foreclosure Orders 1. Introduction Case: Viegas v. Kane, United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit,...

Reaffirming Rooker-Feldman Boundaries: Viegas v. Owens and the Non-Reviewability of Colorado Rule 120 Foreclosure Orders in Federal Court

Date: Jul 30, 2025

Reaffirming Rooker-Feldman Boundaries: Viegas v. Owens and the Non-Reviewability of Colorado Rule 120 Foreclosure Orders in Federal Court 1. Introduction In Viegas v. Owens, the United States Court...

“From Silence to Liability” – The First Circuit’s Expansion of Affirmative-Act Liability under the State-Created Danger Doctrine in Doe v. City of Boston

Date: Jul 30, 2025

“From Silence to Liability” – The First Circuit’s Expansion of Affirmative-Act Liability under the State-Created Danger Doctrine in Doe v. City of Boston 1. Introduction In Doe v. City of Boston, the...

“More Than Awkward”: The First Circuit Elevates the Threshold for University Disciplinary Action Under Tinker

Date: Jul 30, 2025

“More Than Awkward”: The First Circuit Elevates the Threshold for University Disciplinary Action Under Tinker Introduction Doe v. University of Massachusetts, No. 24-1458 (1st Cir. July 25, 2025) is...

Circumstantial Knowledge Suffices: The First Circuit’s Refined Test for Aiding-and-Abetting Carjacking in United States v. Hernández-Carrasquillo

Date: Jul 30, 2025

Circumstantial Knowledge Suffices: The First Circuit’s Refined Test for Aiding-and-Abetting Carjacking in United States v. Hernández-Carrasquillo 1. Introduction On 25 July 2025 the U.S. Court of...

The “Fingerprint-Plus” Doctrine: First Circuit Clarifies Sufficiency of Circumstantial Evidence in Mail-Based Drug Conspiracies – Commentary on United States v. Reyes-Ballista (2025)

Date: Jul 30, 2025

The “Fingerprint-Plus” Doctrine: First Circuit Clarifies Sufficiency of Circumstantial Evidence in Mail-Based Drug Conspiracies – Commentary on United States v. Reyes-Ballista (1st Cir. 2025) 1....

“Composite-Evidentiary Conspiracy”: First Circuit Affirms Conviction on Interlocking Circumstantial Proof and Re-states the Limited Scope of Ineffective-Assistance Review on Direct Appeal – A Commentary on United States v. Reyes-Ballista (1st Cir. 2025)

Date: Jul 30, 2025

“Composite-Evidentiary Conspiracy”: First Circuit Affirms Conviction on Interlocking Circumstantial Proof and Re-states the Limited Scope of Ineffective-Assistance Review on Direct Appeal – A...

Circumstantial Knowledge Suffices: United States v. Rios-Alvarez and the First Circuit’s Clarification of Aiding-and-Abetting Liability in Federal Carjacking Cases

Date: Jul 30, 2025

Circumstantial Knowledge Suffices: United States v. Rios-Alvarez and the First Circuit’s Clarification of Aiding-and-Abetting Liability in Federal Carjacking Cases Introduction United States v....

United States v. Rivera-Rivera: Circumstantial Knowledge as a Sufficient Basis for Aiding-and-Abetting Liability in Federal Carjacking Cases

Date: Jul 30, 2025

United States v. Rivera-Rivera (1st Cir. 2025) Circumstantial Knowledge as a Sufficient Basis for Aiding-and-Abetting Liability in Federal Carjacking Cases 1. Introduction The consolidated appeal in...

“Explain or Err”: The First Circuit’s Strict Duty to Justify Non-Guidelines Sentences after United States v. Rodríguez-Bermúdez

Date: Jul 30, 2025

“Explain or Err”: The First Circuit’s Strict Duty to Justify Non-Guidelines Sentences Commentary on United States v. Rodríguez-Bermúdez, No. 23-1259 (1st Cir. July 25, 2025) Introduction United...

“Speculative Comparators Are Not Enough” – The First Circuit’s Clarification of Title VII Pleading Standards in Waleyko v. Del Toro (2025)

Date: Jul 30, 2025

“Speculative Comparators Are Not Enough” – The First Circuit’s Clarification of Title VII Pleading Standards in Waleyko v. Del Toro (2025) 1. Introduction In Waleyko v. Del Toro, No. 24-1310 (1st...

“No Resurrection by Silence” – Third Circuit Clarifies that a BIA Summary Affirmance Does Not Cure Failure to Exhaust

Date: Jul 30, 2025

“No Resurrection by Silence” – Third Circuit Clarifies that a BIA Summary Affirmance Does Not Cure Failure to Exhaust Introduction In A. G.-G. v. Attorney General United States of America, No....

Gentles v. Borough of Pottstown: Third Circuit Re-Affirms the Limits of Terry Stops Predicated on Anonymous Tips and Clarifies the Treatment of “Self-Serving” Affidavits at Summary Judgment

Date: Jul 30, 2025

Gentles v. Borough of Pottstown: Third Circuit Re-Affirms the Limits of Terry Stops Predicated on Anonymous Tips and Clarifies the Treatment of “Self-Serving” Affidavits at Summary Judgment...

Finality over Frustration: The Third Circuit’s Re-affirmation of Res Judicata and the Limits of Civil-Rights Liability for Private Attorneys

Date: Jul 30, 2025

Finality over Frustration: The Third Circuit’s Re-affirmation of Res Judicata and the Limits of Civil-Rights Liability for Private Attorneys Introduction Thomas I. Gage, a pro se litigant and...

Sentence-Reduction Denials Under § 3582(c)(2) Are Not “Upward Variances”: Commentary on United States v. Julio Suarez (3d Cir. 2025)

Date: Jul 30, 2025

Sentence-Reduction Denials Under § 3582(c)(2) Are Not “Upward Variances” A Comprehensive Commentary on United States v. Julio Suarez, 69 F.4th ___ (3d Cir. 2025) 1. Introduction In United States v....

“Personhood Without Piety” – The Third Circuit Affirms RFRA and Free-Exercise Protection for Non-Religious Entities in United States v. Safehouse

Date: Jul 30, 2025

“Personhood Without Piety” – The Third Circuit Affirms RFRA and Free-Exercise Protection for Non-Religious Entities in United States v. Safehouse Introduction United States v. Safehouse, No. 24-2027...

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