US Courts

Sacaza v. City of New York - Qualified Immunity Ruling

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a district court's denial of summary judgment for a New York City detective in a false arrest and malicious prosecution case. The court found that arguable probable cause existed, granting the detective qualified immunity on federal claims.

Jin v. City of New York - Qualified Immunity for False Arrest Claim

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a district court's denial of qualified immunity to NYPD officers in a false arrest case. The court found that officers had arguable probable cause to arrest Guo Hua Jin, overturning the district court's decision and granting immunity.

Court of Appeals Decision on Asylum and CAT Claim

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals granted in part a petition for review concerning asylum and Convention Against Torture (CAT) claims. The court remanded the case to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) to determine eligibility for asylum and withholding of removal, excluding the material support bar. The petition for review of the CAT claim was denied.

US v. Aryeetey - Affirmation of Conviction and Sentence

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction and sentence of Ivanjoel Aryeetey for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The court found no abuse of discretion in the admission of DNA evidence and deemed the sentence substantively reasonable.

Kellogg v. Nichols - Judicial Immunity in Firearms Licensing

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals amended its opinion in Kellogg v. Nichols, affirming the dismissal of a lawsuit challenging New York's firearms licensing laws. The court held that state court judges are absolutely immune from individual-capacity suits and that federal jurisdiction is barred by Article III's case-or-controversy requirement for official-capacity claims.

Order Grants Hearing Continuance for Melthon James Branch Jr.

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued an order granting a stipulation to continue a hearing for Melthon James Branch Jr. in criminal case 3:21-cr-00218-CRB-1. The order was signed by Magistrate Judge Lisa J. Cisneros.

People v. Elhaddad (Ali) - Criminal Conviction Affirmation

The New York Appellate Term affirmed a conviction for third-degree sexual abuse against Ali Elhaddad. The court found the accusatory instrument to be jurisdictionally valid, establishing all elements of the offense and the defendant's commission thereof. The decision was rendered on March 13, 2026.

Colorado Capital Invs. v. Taveras - Legal Opinion

The Appellate Term of the Supreme Court of New York reversed a lower court's denial of a motion to vacate a default judgment. The court ordered a traverse hearing to determine if the defendant was properly served with the legal documents.

People v. Scarborough - Criminal Case Affirmation

The New York Supreme Court, Appellate Term, First Department, affirmed a judgment of conviction for petit larceny against Odell Scarborough. The court found the accusatory instrument was not jurisdictionally defective and that the identification of the defendant was based on personal observation.

People v. Abreu (Ernesto) - DWI Conviction Affirmation

The Appellate Term of the Supreme Court of New York affirmed a judgment of conviction for driving while intoxicated against Ernesto Abreu. The court found the accusatory instrument to be jurisdictionally valid and upheld the conviction based on the evidence presented.