LATEST SUMMARIES

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW, CRIMINAL LAW & PROCEDURE
• US v. May

CRIMINAL LAW & PROCEDURE, EVIDENCE
• US v. Blaylock

CRIMINAL LAW & PROCEDURE, SENTENCING
• US v. Hayes

LATEST SUMMARIES

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW, CRIMINAL LAW & PROCEDURE
US v. May, No. 07-3515
Denial of defendant's motion to dismiss an indictment charging him with failure to register as a sex offender is affirmed where: 1) contrary to defendant's claim, the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) applies to him; 2) prosecuting defendant under SORNA is not retrospective and does not violate the ex post facto clause; 3) he lacked standing to raise a challenge regarding the non-delegation doctrine; 4) defendant's due process rights were not violated; and 5) SORNA does not violate the commerce clause. Read more...

CRIMINAL LAW & PROCEDURE, EVIDENCE
US v. Blaylock, No. 07-2608
A conviction for possessing a firearm and ammunition after being convicted of a felony and of distributing crack cocaine is affirmed over claims of error regarding: 1) a denial of a motion to suppress evidence obtained during a warrantless search of a car; 2) denial of a motion to suppress evidence obtained pursuant to the search warrant issued for an address; 3) the sufficiency of the superseding indictment; and 4) the admission of testimony and photographic evidence related to items destroyed prior to trial. Read more...

CRIMINAL LAW & PROCEDURE, SENTENCING
US v. Hayes, No. 07-3516
A sentence for receipt of one or more firearms while under indictment is affirmed over claims that: 1) the district court failed to adequately consider the 18 U.S.C. section 3553(a) factors; and 2) the district court failed to recognize its authority to order defendant's sentence to commence immediately upon sentencing and to run concurrent with subsequently imposed state sentences. Read more...