Designated for publication Smith, J. (Higginbotham, Smith, Oldham) (oral argument), immigration, Administrative Procedures Act, timeliness Affirming dismissal of claims arising from denial of issuance of passport to plaintiff on basis of failure to prove citizenship. Hector Cortez claims he was born in Laredo, Texas. About a decade ago, he used his U.S. passport to travel … More May 18, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication Engelhardt, J. (Jones, Engelhardt, Summerhays, by designation) (oral argument), Jones, J., dissenting; international child custody, Hague Convention Affirming order to return children to custodial parent in Canada; vacating preliminary injunction enjoining Texas courts from conducting further proceedings and ordering Canadian courts to adjudicate custody. Sarah Moreau and Andrew White married and lived … More May 15, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication Graves, J. (Elrod, Higginbotham, Graves) (no oral argument), international law Affirming summary judgment dismissal of international law claims arising from death on international flight, to the extent the claims arise from theories of imperfect medical response, but reversing summary judgment to the extent claims arise from malfunctioning medical equipment. Fourteen-year-old Kevin Greenidge … More May 14, 2026, opinions
Unpublished decisions per curiam (Higginbotham, Engelhardt, Ramirez) (no oral argument), criminal Granting Anders motion to withdraw, and dismissing appeal. per curiam (Stewart, Graves, Oldham) (no oral argument), civil Affirming dismissal of plaintiff’s claims, with no description of nature of claims or issues on appeal. per curiam (Jones, Duncan, Douglas) (no oral argument), criminal Granting Anders … More May 13, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication Jones, J. (Jones, Duncan, Douglas) (no oral argument), Americans with Disabilities Act Affirming dismissal of ADA claims. Albert Hayes worked as an IT systems administrator for Army contractor GStek at Fort Polk. After COVID-era telework ended and he was required to return to the office, Hayes was diagnosed with Autism, Major Depressive … More May, 8, 11, 12, 2026 opinions
Designated for publication Higginbotham, J. (Higginbotham, Smith, Oldham) (no oral argument), Oldham, J., concurring; criminal, sentencing, supervised release Vacating mandatory supervised release requirement for financial-change notification, and remanding for correction of judgment. In October 2023, Jayden Douglas Richard Vacchino lured a sixteen-year-old girl from Floresville, Texas, to Shreveport, Louisiana, for sex after meeting her online. … More May 7, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication Oldham, J. (single judge) (no oral argument), habeas corpus Denying motion for certificate of appealability from district court’s denial of Rule 60(b) motion construed as an unauthorized successive § 2255 motion. At issue was (1) whether the court could issue a COA when the applicant’s claims do not implicate the denial of … More May 6, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication Richman, J. (Richman, Willett, Douglas) (oral argument), Willett, J., concurring; Douglas, J., concurring; maritime law, arbitration Vacating denial of arbitration, and remanding with instructions to issue order compelling arbitration of seaman’s claims from severe leg injuries. Jeremiah Hill, an able-bodied seaman, suffered severe leg injuries when unsecured cargo crushed his leg aboard … More May 5, 2026, opinions
Unpublished decisions per curiam (Richman, Southwick, Willett) (no oral argument), criminal Granting Anders motion to withdraw, and dismissing appeal. per curiam (Higginbotham, Engelhardt, Ramirez) (no oral argument), criminal, sentencing Affirming imposition of mental health treatment condition in supervised release term as part of sentence, when there was no professional diagnosis—only the defendant’s self-reported anxiety and … More May 4, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication Duncan, J. (Southwick, Duncan, Engelhardt) (no oral argument), abortion law, standing, administrative law Granting Louisiana’s motion to stay the FDA’s 2023 REMS (order allowing mifepristone to be prescribed online and dispensed through the mail without any in-person doctor visit) pending appeal under 5 U.S.C. § 705. After Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health … More May 1, 2026, opinions
