Criminal Law Wire
Daily summaries of newly decided U.S. criminal cases, organized by jurisdiction and topic.
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Recent Cases
Commonwealth v. Bukhari — Cross-county pursuits treated as separate criminal episodes
The Superior Court held that offenses arising after a police pursuit ended and a new pursuit began in another county were separate criminal episodes for compulsory-joinder purposes.
Commonwealth v. Dibert — DUI blood draw and investigation upheld
The Superior Court affirmed a DUI conviction, holding that the defendant voluntarily consented to a blood draw and failed to establish selective prosecution based on his status as…
Commonwealth v. Lewis — Revocation sentence vacated after court used incorrect guidelines
The Superior Court vacated a probation-revocation sentence because the court relied on obsolete and incorrectly calculated guidelines before imposing what it mistakenly believed was an aggravated-range term.
Commonwealth v. Parks — Missing defense-of-others instruction requires new murder trial
The Superior Court ordered a new murder trial because evidence supporting defense of others required a justification instruction and the charge omitted the Commonwealth’s burden to disprove justification.
Commonwealth v. Velez Vega — Standard probation conditions upheld after individualized review
The Superior Court upheld standard probation conditions, including a firearms prohibition and DNA collection, after examining their statutory basis and application to the defendant.
State v. Woolf — Court orders reinstatement of death sentence
The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals reversed an intellectual-disability ruling and directed reinstatement of Michael Woolf's death sentence while affirming denial of his cross-appeal.
Williams v. State — Child-sex convictions withstand evidentiary challenges
The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed Logan Williams's child-sex convictions and rejected challenges involving digital evidence, expert testimony, and disclosure.
McGowan v. State — Death sentence survives Atkins and Rule 32 review
The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed rejection of James McGowan's Rule 32 petition, including his claim that intellectual disability bars his execution under Atkins.
English v. Jones — 2023 parole amendment could not extend a 1995 sentence
The Indiana Court of Appeals held that a 2023 amendment stopping parole credit during incarceration could not be applied to a murder committed in 1995, making the later…
United States v. Lane — Fourth Circuit affirms denial of suppression and 78-month sentence
CaseUnited States of America v. Daquan Montreal Lane, a/k/a Da’Quan CourtU.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit JudgeNiemeyer, Circuit […]
Wilson v. Schlobohm — Fourth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Untimely Habeas Petition
CaseJonathan R. Wilson v. Warden K. Schlobohm CourtU.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit JudgeTHACKER; HARRIS; QUATTLEBAUM Date DecidedNovember […]
Lenuel Josia Velazquez v. State of Florida — Sixth District Affirms and Cites Phoenix v. State
CaseLenuel Josia Velazquez v. State of Florida CourtFlorida Sixth District Court of Appeal JudgePer Curiam Date DecidedNovember 6, 2026 Docket […]
Williams v. State of Florida — Florida appeals court affirms attempted-kidnapping conviction and rejects six-person-jury challenge
CaseJAMICHAEL WILLIAMS v. STATE OF FLORIDA CourtDistrict Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District JudgePER CURIAM; KELLY, MORRIS, and ATKINSON, […]
United States v. Burrell Jackson — Eighth Circuit Grants Counsel’s Motion to Withdraw and Affirms Within-Guidelines Drug Sentence
CaseUnited States of America v. Burrell Marquis Jackson CourtU.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit JudgeL.R. SMITH; BENTON; TRAYNOR […]
United States v. Brown — Eighth Circuit Affirms 84-Month Sentence for Felon in Possession
CaseUnited States of America v. Courtney Antron Brown, Jr. CourtUnited States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit JudgeKELLY; BENTON; […]
Peo v. Chavez-Diaz — Colorado Court of Appeals Affirms Sexual Assault Conviction, Orders Correction of Mittimus
CaseThe People of the State of Colorado v. Mario Chavez-Diaz CourtColorado Court of Appeals JudgeBrenton; Dunn; Schutz Date DecidedNovember 5, […]
Soria v. State — Texas appeals court affirms assault conviction despite victim’s courtroom presence
CaseJuan Soria, III v. The State of Texas CourtTexas Eleventh Court of Appeals JudgeBailey, C.J.; Trotter, J.; Williams, J. Date […]
Ramirez v. State — Ninth Court of Appeals dismisses aggravated-robbery appeal for lack of a valid right-of-appeal certification
CaseArmando Jesus Ramirez v. The State of Texas CourtCourt of Appeals, Ninth District of Texas at Beaumont JudgeGolemon, C.J.; Johnson; […]
Rogers v. State — Texas appeals court grants appellant’s voluntary motions and dismisses two criminal appeals
CaseBrytavion Rogers v. The State of Texas CourtCourt of Appeals, Tenth Appellate District of Texas JudgeChief Justice Johnson; Justice Harris; […]
Ex parte Hicks — Texas appeals court grants voluntary dismissal of pretrial bail appeal
CaseEx parte Dailon DeShawn Hicks CourtCourt of Appeals, Tenth Appellate District of Texas JudgeChief Justice Johnson; Justice Harris; Justice Westerfeld […]
Holloway v. State — Texas appeals court dismisses community-supervision revocation appeals after waiver of appellate rights
CaseRobert Brandon Holloway v. The State of Texas CourtCourt of Appeals, Tenth Appellate District of Texas JudgeChief Justice Johnson; Justice […]
United States v. Patrick Robinson — Eighth Circuit affirms 276-month sentence and rejects challenges to upward variance
CaseUnited States of America v. Patrick Earl Robinson CourtU.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit JudgeKELLY; BENTON; JUSTIN D. […]
People v. Vilchis — Illinois appellate court reverses attempted-murder and squad-car damage convictions, affirms aggravated assault
CaseThe People of the State of Illinois v. Pedro A. Vilchis CourtAppellate Court of Illinois, Second District JudgeJustice McLaren; Justice […]
Ramirez v. State — Appeal abated for oral pronouncement of sentence
CaseJenner Ramirez v. The State of Texas CourtTexas Court of Appeals, Third District, at Austin JudgeJustices Triana; Crump; Ellis Date […]