Saraliene's Recent Cases on Appeal: 
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UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT REVERSES 11TH CIRCUIT IN COMPUTER FRAUD AND ABUSE ACT CASE -- JUNE 2021

The United States Supreme Court heard the case of United States v. Van Buren in November 2020.  Saraliene represented Mr. Van Buren in the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and is on the brief in the Supreme Court case. 

On June 3, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Mr. Van Buren's favor and vacated his conviction under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.  Read the opinion here. 

Click here to read the petition for certiorari.
Click here to hear the oral argument in the case. 
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HONEST SERVICES FRAUD CONVICTION REVERSED AFTER ARGUMENT BEFORE THE 11TH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS -- October 2019​

Saraliene argued United States v. Van Buren before the federal appeals court on July 25, 2019.  After the argument, the court reversed the client's federal honest services fraud conviction and ordered a new trial. 
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​Click here for audio of the argument.

MOTION FOR NEW TRIAL GRANTED IN HENRY COUNTY CASE -- May 2018

Saraliene's client was granted a new trial in a felony false statement case after she filed a brief explaining that the indictment in the case had been legally insufficient.  The client was able to close the case immediately with a misdemeanor. 
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FEDERAL DISTRIBUTION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CONVICTION REVERSED AFTER ARGUMENT BEFORE THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS -- March 2018

The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals held oral argument in the case of United States v. Carroll.  Saraliene argued that the government failed to make a sufficient showing at trial that her client knowingly intended to distribute child pornography.  The appellate court agreed and reversed the client's conviction as to the distribution charge.  
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​Click here for the audio from the case. 

TWO CONSECUTIVE LIFE SENTENCES VACATED -- September 2017

Based on a motion for new trial filed by Saraliene, a Fulton County Superior Court judge vacated a client's convictions and his two consecutive life sentences.  The court found that a juror with a clear bias in sexual assault cases should have been removed from the jury panel for cause before the parties began selecting the jury that would ultimately hear the case.  Based on this finding, the court granted the client's request for a new trial. 
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GEORGIA SUPREME COURT ARGUMENT IN WILLIAMS v. STATE -- March 2017

Saraliene argued that her client should get a new trial in his murder case because his attorney provided ineffective assistance. 

Click here for Supreme Court video.
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GEORGIA SUPREME COURT ARGUMENT IN GATES v. STATE -- September 2015 

On September 14, 2015, Saraliene Durrett argued Gates v. State before the Georgia Supreme Court. In this appeal from a murder conviction, Saraliene argued that the State improperly admitted evidence of alleged possession of unrelated firearms by her client. 

Click here for the Supreme Court oral argument video.