Designated for publication Clement, J. (Clement, Graves, Ho) (oral argument withdrawn), Ho, J., concurring; criminal, sentencing Vacating sentence on conviction of failing to register as a sex offender, and remanding for resentencing. The Fifth Circuit held that the district court erred in sentencing Sergio Yovani Quintanilla-Matamoros based on an incorrect sex-offender tier under the Sex … More January 9, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication Clement, J. (Smith, Clement, Higginson), breach of contract On breach of contract claim arising from the extension of a lease over a whole tract, rather than a portion, by a bank that managed co-lessor’s interest in a mineral interests on the tract, affirming district court’s judgment that the lease calculated royalty on … More January 6, 2025, opinions
Designated for publication Smith, J. (joined by Jones, Stewart, Southwick, Higginson, Willett, Ho, Duncan, Engelhardt, Oldham, Wilson, Ramirez, JJ.); Haynes, J., concurring in judgment only; Richman, C.J., dissenting (joined by Elrod, Graves, Douglas, JJ.); criminal, sufficiency of evidence, Miranda rights, due process On en banc rehearing of panel opinion that had reversed on the basis … More June 5-7, 2024, 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
Designated for publication Smith, J. (Smith, Clement, Wilson), criminal, supervised release, sentencing Vacating sentences for revocation of supervised release, and rendering judgment accordingly. Defendant had originally been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment and 5 years’ supervised release for a conviction of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The district court then vacated the … More April 28, 2023, opinions
Designated for publication Johnson v. BOKF National Association, 18-11375, appeal from N.D. Tex. Dennis, J. (Higginbotham, Dennis, Ho), Ho, J., concurring in judgment only; banking law Affirming district court’s dismissal of putative class action against bank alleging that extended overdraft charges were usurious interest under the National Bank Act, for failure to state a claim. … More September 29, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. Knowlton, 19-41042, appeal from E.D. Tex. Elrod, J. (Elrod, Willett, Engelhardt), criminal Affirming conviction for receiving material containing child pornography. The Court held that the flash drives, external hard drives, and computer hard drives were “materials containing” child pornography and not merely child pornography itself, rejecting defendant’s argument that he … More Take the Fifth: April 1-2, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Daves v. Dallas County, 18-11368, appeal from N.D. Tex. Southwick, J. (Southwick, Graves, Engelhardt), cash bail, § 1983, Equal Protection, Due Process, sovereign immunity, Ex Parte Young Affirming preliminary injunction against imposition of cash bail on indigent arrestees as unconstitutional, with modifications to injunction to not apply to criminal district court judges … More Take the Fifth: Dec. 26-31, 2020 opinions
