April 16-22, 2024, opinions

Designated for publication per curiam (voting against en banc rehearing: Richman, Stewart, Southwick, Haynes, Graves, Higginson, Willett, Douglas, Ramirez; voting for en banc rehearing: Jones, Smith, Elrod, Ho, Duncan, Engelhardt, Oldham, Wilson); Willett, J., concurring in denial of en banc rehearing; Ho, J., dissenting from denial of en banc rehearing; Oldham, J., dissenting from denial … More April 16-22, 2024, opinions

December 12-14, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Duncan, J. (Higginbotham, Higginson, Duncan), criminal, guilt plea Affirming conviction of attempted interference with commerce by robbery, finding sufficient evidence in the record to support the defendant’s guilty plea. Haynes, J. (Clement, Haynes, Oldham), ERISA Affirming dismissal of ERISA claim against insurance company hired by plan’s sponsor, administrator, and fiduciary to maintain … More December 12-14, 2023, opinions

November 27, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Elrod, J. (Dennis, Elrod, Ho), Dennis, J., dissenting; mineral law Certifying to Louisiana Supreme Court question of whether Louisiana’s negotiorum gestio doctrine applies to Louisiana mineral law regarding the deduction of post-production costs from an unleased mineral-interest owner’s pro rata share of unit production. The same question was previously certified in Self … More November 27, 2023, opinions

July 24, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Elrod, J. (Elrod, Ho, Oldham), Oldham, J., dissenting in part; qualified immunity Reversing summary judgment in favor of defendant jail officials on qualified immunity grounds, and remanding for further proceedings. The plaintiff’s claims arise from being tasered while a pretrial detainee, when he alleges he was being fully compliant with the jail … More July 24, 2023, opinions

July 7, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication King, J. (King, Jones, Duncan), habeas corpus, ineffective assistance of counsel Affirming denial of habeas relief on ineffective assistance of counsel claim. Under AEDPA’s “doubly deferential review,” the Court held that the petitioner’s trial counsel’s failure to object to lay and expert testimony about the credibility of a child’s testimony was “arguably … More July 7, 2023, opinions

April 6-12, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Higginson, J. (Wiener, Higginson, Wilson), criminal, sentencing, Brady violation, restitution Affirming convictions of depriving two persons of their constitutional rights under color of law, arising from defendant’s sexual assault of two men while a police officer, and concurrent sentences of 12 and 360 months. The Court held that withheld evidence was not … More April 6-12, 2023, opinions

March 21, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Smith, J. (Smith, Barksdale, Haynes), qualified immunity, Equal Protection, municipal liability Reversing dismissal of plaintiffs’ excessive force, denial of medical care, and unlawful arrest claims arising from fatal shooting during routine traffic stop; affirming dismissal of remaining claims for unlawful arrest and detention and racial discrimination; and denying as moot motion to … More March 21, 2023, opinions

March 3-6, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication per curiam (Wiener, Elrod, Engelhardt), immigration Denying Mexican citizen’s petition for review of BIA order issuing a final order of removal after IJ’s decision that he was ineligible for asylum because of a conviction of Texas aggravated robbery. Petitioner had been a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. since 2003. In 2014 … More March 3-6, 2023, opinions

June 1-3, 2022, opinions

(Still in catch-up mode here, so the opinions designated for publication will get the same brief treatment as the unpublished opinions …) Designated for publication Davis v. Lumpkin, 19-20873, appeal from S.D. Tex. Southwick, J. (Smith, Wiener, Southwick), prisoner suit Affirming in part dismissal of prisoner’s § 1983 action, vacating in part, and remanding. Bertrand … More June 1-3, 2022, opinions