Federal Criminal Law Legal Updates & News

By John D. Kirby, Former U.S. Federal Prosecutor ·

Notable federal criminal decisions and statute references, summarized from public court records.

These updates summarize recent federal criminal decisions retrieved through the CourtListener API. Each entry links to the opinion and to the desk’s research note. The desk publishes summaries; it does not accept clients or provide legal advice.

“The district courts of the United States shall have original jurisdiction, exclusive of the courts of the States, of all offenses against the laws of the United States.”

“In the federal system, 94 district courts are organized into 12 regional circuits. Each circuit has its own court of appeals that reviews cases decided in U.S. district courts within the circuit.”

2026 · No. 25-6475

Ninth Circuit: Salazar Del Real — Cross-Appeals Dismissed

The Ninth Circuit resolved the government’s appeal of a disqualification order and dismissed the defendants’ cross-appeals from the denial of their motions to dismiss. Verbatim: “we lack jurisdiction over the cross-appeals.” Disposition: “AFFIRMED in part and DISMISSED in part.” United States v. Salazar Del Real (CourtListener).

Ninth Circuit
2026 · No. 25-1788

Eighth Circuit: Peterson — Suppression Appeal Affirmed

After pleading guilty, Peterson challenged the denial of his motion to suppress evidence obtained through warrants issued by a Nebraska judge and used in the Western District of Missouri. The Eighth Circuit affirmed. Verbatim: “Therefore, we affirm.” United States v. Nicholas Peterson (CourtListener).

Eighth Circuit
2026 · No. 25-3067

Tenth Circuit: Williams — Supervised-Release Condition Affirmed

The Tenth Circuit held that 18 U.S.C. § 3583(d) authorizes a special condition requiring the defendant to contribute to the cost of his court-ordered medical treatment. Verbatim: “Through its text and structure, the language of 18 U.S.C. § 3583(d) grants sentencing courts broad discretion to prescribe special conditions of supervised release befitting the individual defendant.” Disposition: “The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.” United States v. Williams (CourtListener).

Tenth Circuit
2026 · No. 25-1489

Third Circuit: Tavares — Proffer Statements Admissible in Rebuttal

The Third Circuit upheld the admission of the defendant’s proffer statements to rebut trial evidence in a COVID-19 unemployment-benefits fraud conspiracy case. Disposition: “We will affirm.” United States v. Jose Tavares (CourtListener).

Third Circuit
2026 · No. 25-2743

Eighth Circuit: Rondeau — Conviction and Sentence Affirmed

The Eighth Circuit affirmed Rondeau’s conviction for aggravated sexual abuse, holding the district court did not plainly err in allowing the government to remind the jury that Rondeau declined a polygraph examination. Disposition: “For all these reasons, we affirm.” United States v. Anfernee Rondeau (CourtListener).

Eighth Circuit
2026 · No. 24-4556

Fourth Circuit: Roney — Conditional Discharge Revocation Affirmed

The Fourth Circuit affirmed the revocation of Roney’s conditional discharge under 18 U.S.C. § 4243 following a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity. Disposition: “AFFIRMED” United States v. Danny Roney (CourtListener).

Fourth Circuit
2026 · No. 25-4037

Fourth Circuit: Franklin — Sentence Vacated and Remanded

The Fourth Circuit vacated Franklin’s sentence and remanded because the district court imposed a firearm enhancement under U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1(b)(16)(B) without the required factual findings. Disposition: “Vacated and remanded with instructions by published opinion.” United States v. Zerion Franklin (CourtListener).

Fourth Circuit

Primary sources

Grounding note — the summaries on this page reflect the text as published at the cited source: shall have jurisdiction of appeals from all final decisions of the district courts of the United States

  • About the U.S. Courts of Appeals (uscourts.gov). Verbatim: “In the federal system, 94 district courts are organized into 12 regional circuits. Each circuit has its own court of appeals that reviews cases decided in U.S. district courts within the circuit.”
  • 28 U.S.C. § 1291 — Final decisions of district courts (law.cornell.edu). Verbatim: “shall have jurisdiction of appeals from all final decisions of the district courts of the United States”
  • Fed. R. App. P. 4 — Appeal as of Right—When Taken (law.cornell.edu). Verbatim: “In a criminal case, a defendant's notice of appeal must be filed in the district court within 14 days after the later of: (i) the entry of either the judgment or the order being appealed; or (ii) the filing of the government's notice of appeal.”

Publisher: Federal Criminal Law Review Desk — Federal Criminal Law Review Desk.

Additional research notes are published as new court decisions are issued.

About the Research Desk

Federalcriminallawreview is maintained as an editorial research archive for this topic. It summarizes public materials, case law, and statute-level references without offering intake or representation.

Editorial Policy

Every page is written in a neutral research voice. We do not publish attorney persona copy, client-matching language, fake reviews, or consultation CTAs.

Citations Notice

Case references, statute numbers, and procedural rules are cited where relevant. Readers should verify authorities before relying on any summary.

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