Designated for publication Jones, J. (Jones, Barksdale, Ho) (no oral argument), Ho, J., concurring; separation of powers, administrative law Granting petition for review and vacating FTC cease-and-desist order as to Intuit’s advertisements for TurboTax. Intuit sells TurboTax, including a “Free Edition” available only to taxpayers with “simple tax returns”—a category that excludes the majority of … More March 20, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication Wilson, J. (King, Higginson, Wilson) (no oral argument), immigration, Religious Freedom Restoration Act, res judicata Withdrawing December 15, 2025, opinion and substituting new opinion affirming dismissal of challenge to denial of visa for foreign student plaintiff sought to sponsor under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, but in change from original panel opinions … More February 12-13, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication per curiam (Elrod, Jones, Smith, Stewart, Richman, Southwick, Haynes, Graves, Higginson, Willett, Ho, Duncan, Engelhardt, Oldham, Wilson, Douglas, Ramirez) (oral argument), Haynes, J., concurring (joined by Southwick and Douglas); administrative law, en banc In the first of the en banc opinions released from the January 2026 en banc sitting, exactly as we … More February 3, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication Stewart, J. (Smith, Stewart, Haynes) (oral argument), maritime law, timeliness Affirming summary judgment dismissal of limitation-of-liability suit as untimely, when it was filed three years after former employee’s state-court negligence suit was filed in state court. Seaman claimant Brandon Darrow, employed by Genesis Marine, LLC, suffered a severe back injury while working … More January 16, 2025, opinions
Designated for publication en banc (orally argued to merits panel), Quorum Clause, en banc Ordering en banc rehearing of August 15, 2025, panel opinion (Graves, Higginson, Wilson [dissenting]) reversing district court’s judgment that the Quorum Clause of the Constitution requires physical presence by members of Congress to conduct votes, and vacating permanent injunction of portions … More January 14-15, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication per curiam (en banc denial from Richman, Graves, Ramirez, JJ.) (voting for rehearing: Elrod, C.J., Jones, Smith, Oldham, JJ.; voting against rehearing: Stewart, Richman, Southwick, Haynes, Graves, Higginson, Willett, Ho, Duncan, Englehardt, Wilson, Douglas, Ramirez, JJ.) (oral argument on original panel hearing), Ho, J., concurring in denial of rehearing; Oldham, J., dissenting … More December 17, 2025, opinions
Designated for publication Higginbotham, J. (Higginbotham, Ho, Douglas) (no oral argument), Federal Tort Claims Act Affirming dismissal of FTCA claims. The Fifth Circuit reviewed pro se claims brought by Howard and Theresa Ellsworth under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), arising from alleged negligent diabetes treatment Mr. Ellsworth received at VA facilities between 2016 and … More November 18-20, 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 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 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
