

Third Circuit Upholds Hotel Room Drug-and-Gun Convictions Despite Improper Expert Testimony
United States v. Evans, No. 24-2156 (3d Cir. May 19, 2026) TL;DR The Third Circuit affirmed the convictions of a New Jersey man after police found guns, fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, marijuana, packaging materials, and cash inside his hotel room. Officers discovered additional drugs hidden above ceiling tiles during the execution of a search warrant. The Court held: Officers acted reasonably when they searched the hotel room ceiling after noticing signs that con
4 min read


When a Boxed-In Vehicle Is Still a Deadly Threat: Eleventh Circuit Upholds Deputy Shooting
Bolton v. Sheriff of Coweta County, Georgia, No. 23-12752 (11th Cir. May 21, 2026) TL;DR The Eleventh Circuit ruled that Georgia deputies did not use excessive force when one deputy shot a suspect who continued accelerating his SUV after a pursuit and collision with patrol cars. The court held the deputies were entitled to qualified immunity because the suspect’s vehicle still posed an immediate threat, even while partially boxed in. The court also found that the force used t
5 min read


