DeAndrea Gist Benjamin

She requires an adequately explained trial-court rationale before applying deferential review, especially when a sentencing enhancement depends on disputed facts.

“if the district court fails to explain its rationale, then the clearly erroneous standard does not guide our review on appeal.”

She applies state-law territorial limits independently from a contract's choice-of-law clause and declines to expand state statutes without supporting authority.

“Again, we decline to expand the reach of Maryland law”

A law violates equal protection when its operative enactment was motivated by racial discrimination and continues to have that discriminatory effect.

“Because the Challenged Statute’s relevant ‘enactment was motivated by a desire to discriminate against [Black North Carolinians] on account of race and . . . continues to this day to have that effect[,] . . . it violates equal protection under Arlington Heights.’”

A claimant has no protected property interest in a local board seat when the city retains broad discretion over selection, appointment, and compensation.

“The discretion afforded to the City is dispositive here.”

The federal tort inquiry is limited to how private parties in like circumstances would fare under state law, even when that comparison benefits the government.

“the FTCA requires us to ask only ‘how private parties in like circumstances would be treated under state law,’”