Tag Archives: Abuse of Discretion

Deep Into the Standard-of-Appellate-Review Weeds, Seventh Circuit Holds That Abuse-of-Discretion Review Applies to a District Court’s Finding About Whether Grounds Were Properly Preserved in a Fed. R. Civ. P. 50(a) Motion

In Ziccarelli v. Dart, No. 24-2377 (7th Cir. June 30, 2025), addressing an issue of first impression for the circuit, the Seventh Circuit holds that a district court’s finding whether or not a party preserved grounds in a pre-verdict Fed. R. Civ. P. 50(a) motion – thus permitting a post-trial Rule 50(b) motion – is subjectContinue reading “Deep Into the Standard-of-Appellate-Review Weeds, Seventh Circuit Holds That Abuse-of-Discretion Review Applies to a District Court’s Finding About Whether Grounds Were Properly Preserved in a Fed. R. Civ. P. 50(a) Motion”

Second Circuit Vacates Conviction Because the District Court Did Not Permit Adequate Inquiry Into Juror Anti-Gang Bias

In United States v. Nieves, No. 21-1901 (2d Cir. Jan. 26, 2023), the Second Circuit took the rare step of tossing a criminal conviction because “the district court abused its discretion by failing to take any of several possible steps that could have effectively screened prospective jurors for [anti-gang] bias.” Defendant Nieves was charged withContinue reading “Second Circuit Vacates Conviction Because the District Court Did Not Permit Adequate Inquiry Into Juror Anti-Gang Bias”

District Court Judge Who Promised to “Crush” the Plaintiff’s Attorney Is Assigned Off of Case by Fifth Circuit

In Miller v. Sam Houston State Univ., No. 19-20752 (5th Cir. Jan. 29, 2021), the panel holds that a district court judge’s behavior in a pair of cases fell so far below the standard of fundamental fairness that it had no choice but to reverse, remand and reassign the matters to a different judge. TheContinue reading “District Court Judge Who Promised to “Crush” the Plaintiff’s Attorney Is Assigned Off of Case by Fifth Circuit”