Designated for publication Elrod, C.J. (Elrod, Clement, Haynes) (oral argument), Haynes, dissenting in part; timeliness, personal torts Affirming dismissal as untimely of claims brought under Texas law, originally in Texas state courts but then removed, for monetary damages arising from chemical explosions at defendant’s facility, where original action was certified as to injunctive relief class … More October 30-31, 2025, opinions
Designated for publication Willett, J. (Barksdale, Willett, Duncan) (oral argument), election law Affirming denial of preliminary injunction on plaintiff voters’ suit challenging as racially discriminatory a county commission’s redrawing of county precinct lines. The Fifth Circuit began by reaffirming that states and their political subdivisions hold primary constitutional authority to regulate elections, including the drawing … More October 29, 2025, opinions
Designated for publication en banc, First Amendment, Establishment Clause, Free Exercise Clause, ripeness, standing, sovereign immunity, en banc Ordering initial hearing en banc, with the en banc rehearing argument of Roake v. Brumley. Stewart, J. (Jones, Stewart, Ramirez) (oral argument), criminal, sufficiency of evidence Affirming conviction of coercing and enticing a minor to engage in … More October 28, 2025, opinions
Designated for publication en banc; First Amendment, en banc Vacating August 18, 2025, panel opinion (Dennis, Southwick, Ho; Ho, J., dissenting) and ordering en banc rehearing of panel opinion that reversed denial of preliminary injunction against university administration’s cancellation of LGBT+ student organization’s drag show. Unpublished decisions per curiam (Wiener, Willett, Wilson) (no oral argument), … More October 27, 2025, opinions
Published decisions per curiam (Elrod, Jones, Higginson) (no oral argument), Higginson, J., dissenting; criminal, discovery, sealed records Granting unopposed motion for summary reversal of unexplained denial of joint unopposed motion for entry of modified protective order for production of criminal discovery records. Finding: “The dissent raises the concern that a reversal of the District Court’s … More October 23-24, 2025, opinions
Unpublished decisions per curiam (Jones, Duncan, Douglas) (no oral argument), criminal Granting Anders motion to withdraw, and dismissing appeal. per curiam (Clement, Southwick, Oldham) (no oral argument), civil Affirming judgment in favor of defendant, with no description of claims or appeal issues. per curiam (Richman, Willett, Douglas) (oral argument), Willett, J., dissenting in part; vaccine … More October 22, 2025, opinions
Designated for publication King, J. (King, Smith, Douglas) (oral argument), criminal, sufficiency of evidence, Brady violation, witness testimony Affirming conviction of sex trafficking. The Fifth Circuit affirmed the conviction and 480-month sentence of Larry Odell Lewis for sex trafficking and coercion-and-enticement offenses involving four women he controlled as prostitutes between 2014 and 2017. The court … More October 21, 2025, opinions
Unpublished decisions Richman, J. (Richman, Haynes, Duncan) (oral argument), insurance Reversing in part and affirming in part dismissal of claims against insurer for a declaration of insurer’s duty to defend and indemnify: reversing the magistrate judge’s dismissal of BPX’s duty-to-defend and duty-to-indemnify claims, vacating and remanding BPX’s declaratory judgment claim, and affirming the magistrate judge’s … More October 20, 2025, opinions
Designated for publication Stewart, J. (Jones, Stewart, Ramirez) (oral argument), criminal, sufficiency of evidence, testimony, jury instruction Affirming conviction of bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and making false entries in bank records. A federal jury convicted Ashton J. Ryan, Jr.—former President/CEO of First NBC Bank and Chair of its Board—of conspiracy to commit … More October 17, 2025, opinions
Designated for publication Douglas, J. (Wiener, Douglas, Ramirez) (oral argument), Ramirez, J., dissenting; habeas corpus, speedy trial, Sixth Amendment, AEDPA Reversing denial of § 2254 petition and remanding with instructions to issue writ of habeas corpus regarding petitioner’s speedy trial claim arising from the elapsing of 1,233 days between his arrest and his state court … More October 16, 2025, opinions
