Supreme Court Bars Sentencing Reform and Innocence Claims From Compassionate ReleaseJune 9, 2026Legal NewsThe Supreme Court's twin 6-3 rulings in Rutherford and Fernandez shut two of the most commonly used pathways to federal compassionate release, reshaping defense strategy nationwide.
Supreme Court DIGs Hamm v. Smith, Leaving Capital Habeas Law UnresolvedMay 29, 2026Legal NewsThe Supreme Court dismissed Hamm v. Smith as improvidently granted on May 21, 2026, leaving AEDPA habeas standards in capital cases unresolved and no precedent set.
Supreme Court Reverses Fifth Circuit on Batson Waiver in Death CaseMay 29, 2026Legal NewsThe Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that Mississippi unreasonably applied Batson when it found a death row inmate waived his right to rebut race-neutral jury-strike justifications.
Supreme Court Bars Wrongful-Conviction Claims as Grounds for Compassionate ReleaseMay 29, 2026Legal NewsThe Supreme Court ruled 8-1 in Fernandez v. United States that wrongful-conviction claims belong in habeas proceedings, not compassionate release motions, leaving AEDPA-barred prisoners without recourse.
Supreme Court Vacates Mississippi Death Sentence Over Batson Jury-Selection FailureMay 29, 2026Legal NewsThe Supreme Court, 5-4, vacated a Mississippi death sentence after finding the trial court skipped a mandatory step in the Batson racial-bias jury-selection inquiry.
Third Circuit En Banc Denies Khalil Rehearing; ACLU Seeks Supreme Court ReviewMay 28, 2026Legal NewsThe Third Circuit's 6-5 en banc denial in Mahmoud Khalil's deportation case sends the First Amendment immigration dispute toward the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court Dismisses Hamm v. Smith, Leaving Atkins IQ Standards UnresolvedMay 27, 2026Legal NewsThe Supreme Court dismissed Hamm v. Smith as improvidently granted, leaving federal courts without guidance on how to weigh cumulative IQ scores in Atkins capital cases.
Third Circuit Strips Federal Court Access for Mahmoud Khalil’s Deportation FightMay 21, 2026Legal NewsThe Third Circuit ruled 2-1 that Mahmoud Khalil must exhaust immigration court remedies before accessing federal court, setting circuit precedent on habeas access.
Lawfare Database Catalogs 400-Plus Immigration Habeas Noncompliance CasesMay 19, 2026Legal NewsLawfare's new searchable database catalogs 400-plus federal immigration habeas cases flagging government noncompliance with court orders, offering a critical tool for contempt and oversight proceedings.
First Circuit Joins Circuit Split Over Mandatory Immigration DetentionMay 15, 2026Legal NewsThe First Circuit grilled DOJ over mandatory immigration detention without bond hearings, deepening a circuit split that may reach the Supreme Court by October 2026.