ATLANTA, GA – The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction of Jordan Patrick Leahy, who was found guilty of violating federal civil rights law after using his vehicle to terrorize a Black family on a Pinellas County road in 2021.
According to court records, Leahy, a white man, repeatedly tried to run a car off the road while yelling racial slurs and making gun gestures at the driver, his girlfriend, and his four-year-old daughter. At a red light, Leahy exited his vehicle and attempted to attack the driver, who subdued him until police arrived. Officers reported that Leahy made additional racist remarks at the scene, stating, “[T]hese guys [Black people] are animals, you know what I’m saying? Y’all have to maintain these people, keep them in their—in their areas”.
Leahy challenged his conviction on multiple grounds, arguing that the statute used against him — 18 U.S.C. § 245(b)(2)(B), which criminalizes racially motivated interference with access to public facilities — exceeded Congress’s power under the Thirteenth Amendment. The appellate panel rejected this argument, ruling that Congress acted within its authority to legislate against the “badges and incidents of slavery,” which include racially motivated violence interfering with the use of public roads.
The court also rejected Leahy’s claims of improper jury instructions and insufficient evidence, finding that the trial court correctly applied a “but-for” causation standard and that the evidence was more than sufficient for the jury to convict.
Leahy was sentenced to 24 months in prison and three years of supervised release. His conviction now stands following the appellate ruling.
