Tag: compassionate release

July 13-15, 2026, decisions

July 16, 2026

Designated for publication Willett, J. (Stewart, Willett, Wilson) (no oral argument), Stewart, J., dissenting in part; mandamus, appellate jurisdiction, voluntary dismissal, school desegregation Dismissing appeal for lack of jurisdiction over judgment that was entered after voluntary dismissal of school desegregation case, and granting mandamus vacating post-dismissal judgment. This school-desegregation case had been pending for more … More July 13-15, 2026, decisions

June 23, 2026, opinions

June 24, 2026

Designated for publication Elrod, C.J. (Elrod, Richman, Willett) (oral argument), Title VII, employment discrimination Affirming summary judgment dismissal of race/national-origin discrimination and retaliation claims; ADA disability-discrimination, interference, and failure-to-accommodate claims; but reversing summary judgment dismissal of hostile-work-environment claims; and remanding for further proceedings. Brenda Brenyah, a Black woman and naturalized U.S. citizen born in Ghana, … More June 23, 2026, opinions

June 1, 2026, opinions

June 2, 2026

Designated for publication per curiam (en banc: Elrod, Stewart, Richman, Southwick, Haynes, Graves, Higginson, Douglas, Ramirez, JJ., voting against rehearing; Jones, Smith, Willett, Ho, Duncan, Engelhardt, Oldham, Wilson, JJ., voting for rehearing) (oral argument at panel stage); election law, standing, sovereign immunity, en banc Denying rehearing en banc of December 31, 2025, panel opinion (Richman, … More June 1, 2026, opinions

May 27-28, 2026, opinions

May 29, 2026

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

May 20, 2026, opinions

May 21, 2026

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

May 7, 2026, opinions

May 8, 2026

Designated for publication Higginbotham, J. (Higginbotham, Smith, Oldham) (no oral argument), Oldham, J., concurring; criminal, sentencing, supervised release Vacating mandatory supervised release requirement for financial-change notification, and remanding for correction of judgment. In October 2023, Jayden Douglas Richard Vacchino lured a sixteen-year-old girl from Floresville, Texas, to Shreveport, Louisiana, for sex after meeting her online. … More May 7, 2026, opinions

April 27, 2026, opinions

April 28, 2026

Unpublished decisions per curiam (Wiener, Willett, Wilson) (no oral argument), criminal Granting Anders motion to withdraw, and dismissing appeal. per curiam (Smith, Graves, Wilson) (no oral argument), criminal Granting Anders motion to withdraw, and dismissing appeal. per curiam (Clement, Richman, Willett) (no oral argument), criminal Granting Anders motion to withdraw, and dismissing appeal. per curiam … More April 27, 2026, opinions

April 24, 2026, opinions

April 25, 2026

Designated for publication Smith, J. (joined by Elrod, Jones, Haynes, Willett, Ho, Duncan, Engelhardt, Oldham, Wilson) (oral argument); Ho, J., concurring; Oldham, J., concurring (joined by Elrod, Jones, Willett, Ho, Duncan, Engelhardt); Richman, J., dissenting (joined by Stewart, Southwick, Higginson, Ramirez, and joined by Graves and Douglas as to part II on standing); Graves, J., … More April 24, 2026, opinions

April 21, 2026, opinions

April 22, 2026

Designated for publication Duncan, J. (joined by Elrod, Jones, Smith, Willett, Ho, Engelhardt, Oldham, Wilson; except Willett, Ho, Oldham do not join as to standing/justiciability); Ho, J., concurring; Oldham, J., concurring (joined by Willett); Ramirez, J., dissenting (joined by Stewart, Richman, Haynes, Graves, Higginson, Douglas); Southwick, J., dissenting (joined by Richman, Graves, Higginson, Douglas, Ramirez); … More April 21, 2026, opinions

March 17, 2026, opinions

March 18, 2026

Designated for publication Smith, J. (Smith, Wiener, Higginson) (oral argument), criminal, sentencing, equal protection clause Affirming conviction and 30-year sentence for production and attempted production of child pornography. Nautica Hamilton, a day care worker at the Lubbock YWCA, pleaded guilty to production and attempted production of child pornography after photographing the genitalia of an 18-month-old … More March 17, 2026, opinions