Designated for publication Clement, J. (Clement, Southwick, Engelhardt) (no oral argument), qualified immunity, appellate jurisdiction Vacating judgment denying dismissal and failing to mention qualified immunity defense, and remanding for further proceedings. Plaintiffs Patricia Anna Wertenbroch and Kulwant Singh Atwal sued Clint Hardeman, the City Manager of Pittsburg, Texas, under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging he … More June 3, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication Wilson, J. (King, Higginson, Wilson) (oral argument), criminal, sentencing Affirming 60-month sentence on conviction of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana. James Troy Phillips led police on a high-speed car chase reaching over 135 miles per hour to evade a traffic stop because he had a large quantity … More May 27-28, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication per curiam (Haynes, Ho, Oldham) (no oral argument), Ho, J., concurring; Oldham, J., concurring; criminal, Second Amendment Affirming conviction of possession of a firearm by a felon. Peter Villa Cordova pled guilty to possessing a firearm after a felony conviction in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). His prior felony convictions include … More May 20, 2026, opinions
Unpublished decisions per curiam (Stewart, Willett, Wilson) (no oral argument), habeas corpus Dismissing as frivolous appeal from dismissal of § 2244 petition challenging convictions for receipt and possession of child pornography, and whether his actual-innocence claim satisfied the savings clause of 28 U.S.C. § 2255(e). Relying on Jones v. Hendrix, 599 U.S. 465 (2023), the … More May 19, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication Smith, J. (Higginbotham, Smith, Oldham) (oral argument), immigration, Administrative Procedures Act, timeliness Affirming dismissal of claims arising from denial of issuance of passport to plaintiff on basis of failure to prove citizenship. Hector Cortez claims he was born in Laredo, Texas. About a decade ago, he used his U.S. passport to travel … More May 18, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication Engelhardt, J. (Jones, Engelhardt, Summerhays, by designation) (oral argument), Jones, J., dissenting; international child custody, Hague Convention Affirming order to return children to custodial parent in Canada; vacating preliminary injunction enjoining Texas courts from conducting further proceedings and ordering Canadian courts to adjudicate custody. Sarah Moreau and Andrew White married and lived … More May 15, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication Jones, J. (en banc; joined by Elrod, Smith, Willett, Ho, Duncan, Engelhardt, Oldham, Wilson) (oral argument); Southwick, J., concurring only in the holding that the court has jurisdiction to consider this appeal; Richman, J., concurring in part/dissenting in part; Haynes, J., dissenting (joined by Stewart, Graves, Higginson, Douglas, Ramirez); Higginson, J., dissenting … More March 30, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication Stewart, J. (Davis, Jones, Stewart) (no oral argument), appellate jurisdiction, receivership, mootness Affirming district court’s judgment approving sale of one property in receiver-managed sale, while dismissing appeal as to another sale order and as to settlement-ratification orders. The SEC sued Timothy Barton for alleged violations of the Exchange Act and the Securities … More March 25, 2026, opinions
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
