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Criminal – Probable cause includes dog’s positive alert for narcotics
Virginia circuit court affirms probable cause based on police dog Vudu’s positive narcotics alert during traffic stop in Cason case.
Criminal – Defendant granted resentencing for violation of supervised release
The 4th Circuit vacated and remanded the resentencing of Preston Mills Jr. for violation of supervised release in EDVA due to failure to consider credit for time served.
Criminal – Claimed sentencing error deemed harmless
The 4th Circuit affirmed sentencing for Xavier Holley in EDVA, ruling any claimed grouping error in his Hobbs Act robbery convictions was harmless.
Restitution can’t be ordered for pre-MVRA crime, SCOTUS rules
The Supreme Court ruled restitution under the MVRA is criminal punishment and cannot be imposed retroactively for crimes committed before the law took effect in 1996.
Supreme Court of Virginia backs judge on failure-to-accept-responsibility factor
The Virginia Supreme Court ruled that a judge may consider a defendant’s failure to accept responsibility in a probation revocation sentence without punishing a not-guilty plea.
Criminal: Cancer patient sentenced to 48 months’ imprisonment
Where the district court committed no clear error when it found that the Bureau of Prisons could provide the necessary care for the defendant’s cancer, its 48-month sentence was affirmed.
Criminal: Double life + 790 months’ sentence reduced to 35 years
Where a man sentenced to two life terms plus 790 months’ imprisonment for his convictions on multiple counts, including for his involvement in two killings, had his sentence reduced to 35 years, a divided court affirmed. The district court did not abuse its discretion in finding that sentence disparities between the defendant and others weighed in favor of granting relief.
Criminal: District court wrongly applied sentencing enhancements
Where the district court applied sentencing enhancements that penalized the defendant for unlawfully possessing firearms that played no role in the offense for which he was convicted, it erred.
Nexus Services exec sentenced to 6.5 years for employment tax fraud
An executive of Virginia-based bonding company Nexus Services was sentenced to 80 months in federal prison for employment tax fraud Thursday.
Criminal: Defendant’s attack on 63-month sentence fails
Where the district court adequately explained why it sentenced a man who pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon to 63 months’ imprisonment, the sentence was affirmed.
Criminal: Heroin conspiracy defendant’s compassionate release motion is granted
Where a defendant’s sentencing range today would be significantly shorter than the range at the time of his sentencing, his record of rehabilitation is a strong one and the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors were in his favor, his 196-month sentence was reduced to time served as of Nov. 17, 2025.
Criminal: Drug defendant’s challenge to sentence fails
Where the district court adequately explained why it sentenced a man who pleaded guilty to distributing cocaine base to 48 months’ imprisonment, its sentence was affirmed.
Legal Tech
- A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR : New dedicated coverage of tech challenges facing law firms and legal departments
- Gemini Legal launches DraftEngine for civil litigation forms
- Lawyers continue to grapple with AI ethical issues
Verdicts & Settlements
- Medical Malpractice – Death from cancer followed stomach pain misdiagnosis
- Workers’ Compensation – Seasonal worker paralyzed in tobacco baler accident
- Medical Malpractice – Jurors side with doctor in suit over rescue surgery
- Motor Vehicle Negligence – Unicycle rider dies after being hit by car
- Premises Liability – Delivery driver injured by porch decking collapse
Opinion Digests
- Prisons – Compassionate release denied despite end-stage renal disease
- Criminal – Allen charge wasn’t abuse of discretion
- Evidence – Expert’s exclusion from trial deemed harmless
- Parent and child – Mother held in contempt for violating visitation order
- Criminal – Court refuses to continue trial despite missing witness
- Criminal – Meth defendant wasn’t entitled to sentencing safety valve
- Tort – Comments about plaintiff were protected opinions
