Where the defendant told the police a backpack “was actually not his,” he lost any expectation of privacy and the subsequent search therefore did not violate his Fourth Amendment rights. In any event, the search of the backpack was a ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Criminal Judge William B. Traxler Jr.

Although Marriott franchises, licenses or manages 90 hotels in South Carolina, the injury did not arise out of those contacts so there was no specific jurisdiction, even considering Marriott’s interactive website. Background Bud Fidrych and his wife, both South Carolina ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge William B. Traxler Jr. Negligence

The administrative law judge’s conclusion a woman with physical and mental limitations could work as a sales attendant and order clerk was supported by her medical and psychological records. Background In 2013, Margaret Shinaberry applied for social security disability benefits. ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Administrative Judge William B. Traxler Jr.

Even though he appealed his termination from a state grievance process, a fired Virginia State Police special agent did not lose his right to sue in federal court for discrimination under federal law, a federal appeals court has ruled. The ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals News Employment Judge William B. Traxler Jr.

The district court did not err in sentencing the defendant to a longer term because of three prior convictions for criminal domestic violence, because those convictions categorically qualified as a “violent felony” under the Armed Career Criminal Act, or ACCA. ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Criminal Judge William B. Traxler Jr.

Where a defendant who was being held at a county jail admitted to distributing methamphetamine during questioning by his parole officer, it did not violate the Fifth Amendment to use that admission to prove that the defendant violated his supervised ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Criminal Judge William B. Traxler Jr.

By the unambiguous terms of a plea agreement, the government had discretion to determine whether the defendant had complied with his obligation under the agreement to give full and complete testimony when asked. Given this discretion, it was not required ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Contract Criminal Judge William B. Traxler Jr. Sentencing

Based on thorough analysis by Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality, the state Water Control Board had a sufficient basis to certify reasonable assurance that the Mountain Valley Pipeline Project – and the restrictions and protective measures it included – would ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Administrative Environmental Judge William B. Traxler Jr.

After the initial trial judge’s retirement, the re-assignment judge erred in reconsidering and effectively reversing a highly fact-dependent decision to recognize the defendants’ immunity from suit. The reconsideration exceeded the bounds of Rule 54. Background Defendants Jason Carpenter, Christopher Small, ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Civil Procedure Judge William B. Traxler Jr.

Because not all of the offenses encompassed under Maryland’s theft statute qualify as crimes involving moral turpitude, the Board of Immigration Appeals erred in concluding that the petitioner committed such crimes and was thus ineligible for cancellation of removal. Background ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Criminal Immigration Judge William B. Traxler Jr.