October 1, 2024, opinions

Designated for publication per curiam (judges voting against rehearing: Richman, Jones, Stewart, Southwick, Haynes, Graves, Higginson, Ho, Engelhardt, Wilson, Douglas, Ramirez; judges voting for rehearing: Smith, Elrod, Willett, Duncan, Oldham); Oldham, J., dissenting from denial of rehearing en banc (joined by Smith, Elrod, Willett, Duncan, JJ.); Fair Labor Standards Act, Motor Carrier Act, en banc … More October 1, 2024, opinions

Annual statistics: October 2023 – September 2024

At the end of each month, we tally various statistics from opinions released by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Then, corresponding to the traditional court term start date of October 1 (using the court term employed by the Supreme Court, though the Fifth Circuit itself compiles statistics on a July-to-June year), … More Annual statistics: October 2023 – September 2024

September 30, 2024, opinions

Designated for publication Wilson, J. (Wiener, Elrod, Wilson), Elrod, J., concurring; criminal, collateral estoppel Affirming denial of motion to dismiss criminal prosecution on collateral estoppel grounds, where government decided to retry defendant on bribery charges after Court of Appeals vacated first conviction for improper jury instruction and remanded. Court held that defendant failed to show … More September 30, 2024, opinions

September 25-27, 2024, opinions

Designated for publication per curiam (Higginbotham, Southwick, Higginson), taking, federal question jurisdiction On remand from the U.S. Supreme Court, remanding to district court with instructions to remand to state court the plaintiffs’ taking claims against Texas. Willett, J. (Willett, Wilson, Ramirez), Ramirez, J., concurring; First Amendment Reversing summary judgment in favor of the State of … More September 25-27, 2024, opinions

September 24, 2024, opinions

Designated for publication Willett, J. (Dennis, Willett, Duncan), Dennis, J., dissenting in part; criminal, Sixth Amendment, jury instruction Affirming conviction for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. The Court found no error in the district court’s acceptance of the defendant’s waiver of potential conflict of interest by his counsel, a … More September 24, 2024, opinions

September 23, 2024, opinions

Designated for publication Kernodle, J. (Southwick, Duncan, Kernodle, by designation), COVID-19, mootness, standing Reversing district court’s dismissal as moot of challenge to Air Force’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate after Air Force rescinded the mandate, and reversing dismissal for lack of standing of plaintiff who had been separated from service, and remanding for further proceedings. The Court … More September 23, 2024, opinions

September 20, 2024, opinions

Designated for publication Oldham, J. (Ho, Duncan, Oldham), diversity jurisdiction Remanding appeal from summary judgment and from judgment after bench trial, for jurisdictional discovery into the citizenship of LLC members where complaints only alleged where the LLCs were “doing business” and had their “principal place of business.” Southwick, J. (Dennis, Southwick, Ho), insurance Reversing summary … More September 20, 2024, opinions

September 18-19, 2024, opinions

Designated for publication Jones, J. (Jones, Smith, Ho), copyright, trademark infringement Affirming summary judgment in favor of defendant, a children’s art teaching company, and against plaintiff artist, holding that fair use doctrine protected defendant’s use of plaintiff’s art works; and holding that district court’s summary judgment on trademark infringement claim where motion for summary judgment … More September 18-19, 2024, opinions

September 17, 2024, opinions

Unpublished per curiam (King, Southwick, Engelhardt), criminal Granting Anders motion to withdraw, and dismissing appeal. per curiam (King, Stewart, Higginson), insurance Affirming judgment in favor of defendant life insurer upholding denial of accidental death benefits. per curiam (Haynes, Higginson, Douglas), criminal Granting Anders motion to withdraw, and dismissing appeal. per curiam (Smith, Stewart, Duncan), criminal … More September 17, 2024, opinions