Designated for publication U.S. v. Barry, 19-11091, appeal from N.D. Tex. Smith, J. (Smith, Clement, Oldham), criminal, sentencing Affirming sentence that was based on a calculation of drug-quantity involved that relied in part on a conversion of the amount of cash possessed by defendant into the amount of drugs that would have been sold to … More Take the Fifth: Oct. 16, 2020 opinions
Designated for Publication Taylor v. McDonald, 18-11572, appeal from N.D. Tex. Smith, J. (Smith, Clement, Oldham), prisoner suit, § 1983, qualified immunity Affirming qualified-immunity-based dismissal of prisoner’s § 1983 suit for deprivation of due process by keeping him confined to a psychiatric unit without an involuntary commitment proceeding. Prisoner had initially consented to transfer to … More Take the Fifth: Oct. 15, 2020 opinions
To create a little efficiency for the writers of this blog, Take the Fifth will take a different tack beginning today. We will continue to include full summaries of those opinions designated for publication, but for unpublished opinions will only continue to provide links to the opinions and basic statistical information regarding basic outcome, district … More Take the Fifth: Oct. 14, 2020 opinions
Whole Woman’s Health v. Paxton, 17-51060, appeal from W.D. Tex., designated for publication Dennis, J. (Stewart, Dennis, Willett), Willett, J., dissenting; abortion law Affirming district court’s judgment permanent injunction against the enforcement of Texas Senate Bill 8 (“SB8”) and its requirement that “a woman to undergo an additional and medically unnecessary procedure to cause fetal … More Take the Fifth: Oct. 13, 2020 opinions
Martinez v. Pompeo, 19-41041, appeal from S.D. Tex., designated for publication per curiam (King, Graves, Oldham), immigration, Administrative Procedures Act Affirming dismissal of suit by plaintiffs for issuance of U.S. passport to father, who claimed to be a U.S. citizen, and for issuance of immigrant visas to his wife and step-daughter. Father had conflicting birth … More Take the Fifth: Oct. 12, 2020 opinions
U.S. v. Strother, 19-40361, appeal from E.D. Tex., designated for publication Higginson, J. (Higgonbotham, Jones, Higginson), criminal, sentencing, guilty plea Affirming conviction and sentence. Defendant had pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon. Thereafter, his counsel successfully moved to withdraw as counsel, and defendant filed a pro se motion to withdraw his … More Take the Fifth: Oct. 9, 2020 opinions
Janvey v. GMAG, LLC, 17-11526, appeal from N.D. Tex., designated for publication Stewart, J. (Stewart, Dennis, Willett), Texas Uniform Fraudulent Transfers Act, fraudulent transfer After earlier vacating prior panel decision and referring to Texas Supreme Court to answer legal question regarding Texas Uniform Fraudulent Transfers Act (“TUFTA”), Court entered new opinion reversing district court’s judgment … More Take the Fifth: Oct. 8, 2020 opinions
U.S. v. Omigie, 19-40526, appeal from E.D. Tex., designated for publication Higginbotham, J. (Higginbotham, Jones, Higginson), criminal, sentencing, guilty plea, forfeiture, supervised release Affirming conviction, remanding for determination of whether supervised release condition is consistent with oral pronouncement of court. Court held there was no plain error in the district court’s informing the defendant of … More Take the Fifth: Oct. 7, 2020 opinions
U.S. v. Peterson, 19-11143, appeal from N.D. Tex., designated for publication Higginson, J. (Higginbotham, Jones, Higginson), criminal, attempted enticement of a minor, sentencing Affirming conviction and sentence of defendant for attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity under 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b). The Court rejected defendant’s challenge to the sufficiency f the … More Take the Fifth: Oct. 6, 2020 opinions
Empower Texans, Inc. v. Geren, 19-50557, appeal from W.D. Tex., designated for publication Southwick, J. (Elrod, Southwick, Haynes), mootness Vacating District Court’s dismissal of suit on grounds of legislative immunity, holding the suit to be moot, and remanding with instructions to dismiss as moot. Plaintiffs had filed suit against the Chairman of the Committee on … More Take the Fifth: Oct. 5, 2020 opinions
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