Alsol v. Mukasey, No. 07-2068-ag (2d Cir. November 14, 2008) (Calabresi, Straub, Raggi, CJJ) This decision, although an immigration case, clarifies an important legal issue that also arises in criminal cases. Here, each petitioner had been convicted of two New York State drug misdemeanors involving simple possession of a controlled substance. The immigration courts, relying … Read more
United States v. Figueroa, No. 06-1595-cr (2d Cir. November 18, 2008) (Kearse, Sack, Hall, CJJ) In an interesting companion to Brinson v. Walker [blogged below under the title “Confrontation Claws”], the court treated a highly similar issue, this time under both the Confrontation Clause and the federal rules of evidence. At Edwin Figueroa’s gun possession … Read more
This week there were three interesting summary orders: In United States v. Solano, No. 07-1656-cr (2d Cir. November 14, 2008), the government repeatedly insisted before trial that a detective had not taken notes when he interviewed the defendant. Mid-trial, the government did an about-face and disclosed that the notes had once existed but had been … Read more
Brinson v. Walker, No. 06-0618-cr (2d Cir. November 13, 2008) (Kearse, Leval, Sack, CJJ) In this state prisoner’s habeas corpus case, the circuit affirmed the grant of the writ because the state court’s refusal to permit the defense to cross-examine a supposed robbery victim about his racial bias violated the confrontation clause. Brinson, the petitioner, … Read more
United States v. Lopez, No. 081269-cr (2d Cir. November 13, 2008) (McLaughlin, Leval, Pooler, CJJ) Albert Lopez violated his supervised release by failing a drug test, and marshals went to his house to arrest him. After he was cuffed, the marshals took his girlfriend upstairs to get clothes for him. Once there, they asked the … Read more
United States v. Buie, 07-0258-cr (2d Cir. November 13, 2008) (McLaughlin, Leval, Pooler, CJJ) For a drug conviction to be an ACCA predicate, it must be of an offense “for which a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years or more is prescribed by law.” 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(2)(A)(ii). David Buie pled guilty to a … Read more
United States v. Lopez, No. 06-3730-cr (2d Cir. November 10, 2008) (Kearse, Leval, Cabranes, CJJ) Police officers arrested Lopez for drunk driving. He has a gun in his pocket. Meanwhile, other officers, while looking for Lopez’ girlfriend’s identification, found cocaine in her purse. Both were arrested and the car was brought to the 41st Precinct, … Read more
Things have been eerily quiet in the circuit – no published decision in a criminal case in nearly two weeks. But there have been a few summary orders of note. First, in United States v. Dean, No. 07-3015-cr (November 7, 2008), the court vacated an above-guideline sentence because, although the district court indicated that it … Read more
United States v. Zedner, No. 07-1049 (2d Cir. October 28, 2008) (Kearse, Pooler, CJJ, Cote, DJ) While on supervised release, and with his appeal pending, Jacob Zedner received his probation officer’s permission to go to Israel for two weeks to attend his brother’s funeral. While there, he was arrested and was told to remain in … Read more
United States v. Oberoi, No. 04-4545-cr (2d Cir. October 23, 2008) (Jacobs, Kearse, Katzmann, CJJ) Tejbir Oberoi, proceeding pro se, claimed on appeal that he was denied a speedy trial. He lost the case, but it took the circuit about fifty pages to sort things out. Background Oberoi was a dentist who defrauded insurance companies … Read more