Designated for publication per curiam (Barksdale, Willett, Duncan) (oral argument withdrawn), Willett, J., concurring (joined by Duncan, J.); criminal, Second Amendment Affirming conviction of possession of a firearm by a felon, rejecting Second Amendment and Commerce Clause challenges as foreclosed by Circuit precedent. Initially designated as an unpublished opinion, then changed to designate as being … More November 14, 2025, opinions
Designated for publication Jones, J. (King, Jones, Oldham) (oral argument), bankruptcy, jurisdiction, breach of contract Reversing bankruptcy court’s dismissal of breach of contract action, and remanding to bankruptcy court with instructions to remand to state court. The Fifth Circuit reverses a bankruptcy court’s Rule 12(c) dismissal and a district court affirmance, holding the bankruptcy court … More November 13, 2025, opinions
Designated for publication Duncan, J. (Barksdale, Willett, Duncan) (oral argument withdrawn), criminal, sentencing Affirming 240-month sentence on conviction of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Horton pleaded guilty to possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute, and his Presentence Investigation Report originally applied a base offense level of 38 under U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(a)(2) because a buyer, … More November 11, 2025, opinions
Designated for publication Oldham, J. (Wiener, Engelhardt, Oldham) (oral argument withdrawn), diversity jurisdiction Remanding appeal from judgment in favor of defendant in trust dispute, for jurisdictional discovery. “Once again, a party invoking this court’s diversity jurisdiction has failed to establish the citizenship of a limited liability company. 28 U.S.C. § 1332. Thus, we remand this … More November 10, 2025, opinions
Designated for publication Engelhardt, J. (Wiener, Engelhardt, Oldham) (oral argument withdrawn), immigration Denying Guatemalan citizen’s petitions for review of BIA denials of his motion to reopen removal proceedings and motion to reconsider. The Fifth Circuit denied Oscar Rene Rosa Arevalo’s petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ denials of his motions to reopen … More November 5, 2025, opinions
Designated for publication Smith, J. (Smith, Stewart, Ramirez) (no oral argument), § 1983, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, default judgment Affirming district court’s denial of default judgment on plaintiffs’ FDCPA and constitutional claims against defendants arising from eviction from public housing, where “all defendants appeared before the district court, filed an answer, or moved to … More November 4, 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
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 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
