US Courts

People v. Santillan - Criminal Appeal Opinion

The California Court of Appeal filed an opinion in the case of People v. Santillan. The court affirmed the conviction but directed the trial court to modify the judgment to reflect a corrected presentence custody credit calculation.

People v. Avalos - Criminal Threat Sentencing Appeal

The California Court of Appeal affirmed a defendant's upper-term sentence for making a criminal threat. The court found that despite potential trauma contributing to the offense, unchallenged aggravating circumstances supported the superior court's sentencing decision.

People v. Burnham - Criminal Appeal on Felony Murder Liability

The California Court of Appeal affirmed a trial court's decision denying a resentencing petition under Penal Code section 1172.6. The court found the defendant was a major participant in a murder who acted with reckless indifference to human life, thus remaining liable under current felony murder rules. The appeal also addressed the admissibility of a hearsay statement regarding the shooter's identity.

People v. Wandick - Criminal Case Appeal

The California Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District, filed a non-precedential opinion in the case of People v. Wandick. The court affirmed the trial court's judgment, finding no error in the denial of the defendant's request to represent himself.

People v. Martinez - Criminal Resentencing Appeal

The California Court of Appeal reversed a resentencing order for Santiago Martinez, Jr. The court found the trial court abused its discretion by denying a continuance to obtain necessary documents from the California Department of Corrections, prejudicing the defendant. The case is remanded for a new resentencing hearing.

In re O.F. - Juvenile Court Transfer Amenability

The California Court of Appeal reversed a juvenile court's order to transfer a minor to criminal court. The decision was based on subsequent retroactive changes in law, specifically AB 2361 and SB 545, which altered the burden of proof and mandatory factors for determining amenability to rehabilitation.

People v. Boswell - Criminal Appeal Dismissal

The California Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District, has filed a non-precedential opinion in the case of People v. Boswell. The court is dismissing the appeal because a certificate of probable cause was not obtained from the trial court. The court also directed the correction of a clerical error on the abstract of judgment.

Roe v. United States of America - Civil Rights Case Filing

A new civil rights case, Roe v. United States of America, was filed on March 13, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The case involves a complaint against the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Mendenhall v. State of Indiana - Criminal Appeal

The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction of Bruce Mendenhall for murder. The court found sufficient evidence to establish territorial jurisdiction and upheld the admission of evidence from a search conducted in Tennessee. The opinion was issued on March 12, 2026.

State v. Shannon L. Bone - Criminal Appeal

The Court of Appeals of South Carolina affirmed the conviction of Shannon L. Bone for armed robbery and her sentence of life without parole. The court held that the trial court did not err in admitting portions of Bone's interview where she offered to be a confidential informant and inquired about charge reduction, as these demonstrated consciousness of guilt.