Designated for publication Douglas, J. (Higginbotham, Ho, Douglas), Ho, J., dissenting in part (oral argument); standing, preemption, First Amendment Affirming preliminary injunction of Texas social media regulation statute as to monitoring and filtering requirements as preempted by federal law; vacating injunction as sought by certain plaintiffs for lack of standing; and remanding for further proceedings. … More July 24, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication Elrod, J. (Elrod, Ho, Oldham), COVID-19, American Rescue Plan Act, Spending Clause Affirming permanent injunction against enforcement of provision in the American Rescue Plan Act, which allocated $200 billion to the states to assist in economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, holding that provision that states must agree to not use funds … More June 25, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication per curiam (Elrod, Willett, Duncan), criminal, restitution Vacating $6,000 restitution award issued as part of sentence on conviction of production of child pornography, on holding that PSR cited inapplicable statutes and failed to conduct a proximate-cause analysis; and remanding for further proceedings. Smith, J. (Higginbotham, Smith, Higginson), criminal, competence, sentencing Affirming conviction … More April 25-26, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Smith, J. (Smith, Southwick, Higginson), labor law Granting petition for review of NLRB order ruling that Tesla infringed on employees’ rights to unionize when it required employees to wear specific Tesla uniforms and prohibited employees from wearing union-insignia t-shirts instead (though the policy allowed employees to wear as many union stickers on … More November 14, 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
Designated for publication Wilson, J. (Dennis, Southwick, Wilson), Dennis, J., dissenting in part; criminal, sufficiency of evidence, restitution, competence, severance, search and seizure, Brady violation Affirming in part, vacating in part, and remanding for further proceedings on convictions and sentences arising from RICO conspiracy, drug trafficking, firearms, and murder charges related to violent gang activity. … More October 11-17, 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 Crittindon v. LeBlanc, 20-30304, appeal from M.D. La. Higginbotham, J. (Higginbotham, Costa, Oldham), Oldham, J., dissenting; qualified immunity Affirming in part and reversing in part denial of qualified immunity for … More June 7-12, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication Seguin v. Remington Arms Co., 17-30499, appeal from E.D. La. Southwick, J. (Owen, Dennis, Southwick), Dennis, J., dissenting; product liability After Louisiana Supreme Court declined certified question on the issue, reversing summary judgment in favor of plaintiff in design-defect claim under the Louisiana Product Liability Act (“LPLA”) against firearm manufacturer after accidental … More April 6-7, 2022, opinions
