Designated for publication Engelhardt, J. (Wiener, Engelhardt, Oldham) (oral argument withdrawn), immigration Denying Guatemalan citizen’s petitions for review of BIA denials of his motion to reopen removal proceedings and motion to reconsider. The Fifth Circuit denied Oscar Rene Rosa Arevalo’s petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ denials of his motions to reopen … More November 5, 2025, opinions
Designated for publication Clement, J. (Stewart, Clement, Wilson), criminal, sentencing Affirming 92-month sentence on conviction of possession of a firearm by a felon. Reginald Humbles, a U.S. Army veteran with a history of psychiatric issues, was arrested after stealing a waste disposal truck in New Orleans and leading police on a high-speed chase across the … More August 26, 2025, opinions
Designated for publication Elrod, C.J. (Elrod, Duncan, Engelhardt), employment discrimination, COVID-19 Reversing summary judgment in favor of the employer on the plaintiff former employee’s Title VII religious discrimination claim arising from his termination after refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccination and the employer failing to grant him a religious exemption, and remanding for further proceedings. … More August 5, 2025, opinions
Designated for publication per curiam (Jones, Haynes, Douglas), Jones, J., concurring; Affordable Care Act, Title IX, standing Vacating summary judgment for plaintiffs in challenge to Notification of Interpretation and Enforcement of Section 157 of the ACA, which interpreted discrimination on the basis of sex to include discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and and … More December 16-27, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication per curiam (Higginbotham, Southwick, Higginson), taking, federal question jurisdiction On remand from the U.S. Supreme Court, remanding to district court with instructions to remand to state court the plaintiffs’ taking claims against Texas. Willett, J. (Willett, Wilson, Ramirez), Ramirez, J., concurring; First Amendment Reversing summary judgment in favor of the State of … More September 25-27, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Kernodle, J. (Southwick, Duncan, Kernodle, by designation), COVID-19, mootness, standing Reversing district court’s dismissal as moot of challenge to Air Force’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate after Air Force rescinded the mandate, and reversing dismissal for lack of standing of plaintiff who had been separated from service, and remanding for further proceedings. The Court … More September 23, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Smith, J. (Smith, Graves, Wilson); Graves, J., dubitante; § 1983, amendment Affirming denial of untimely motion to amend, where § 1983 plaintiff failed to adequately explain the justification for his untimeliness. Judge Graves filed a dubitante opinion. “I agree that Banks failed to give an adequate excuse for his failure to diligently … More June 26, 2024, 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 Jones, J. (joined by Richman, Smith, Stewart, Southwick, Haynes, Duncan, Engelhardt, Wilson, JJ.); Graves, J., dissenting (joined by Elrod, Higginson, Willett, Ho, Douglas, JJ.); Higginson, J., dissenting (joined by Elrod, Graves, Willett, Ho, Oldham, Douglas, JJ.); Willett, J., dissenting (joined by Elrod, Graves, Higginson, Ho, Douglas, JJ.); Ho, J., dissenting (joined by … More January 23, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Duncan, J. (Wiener, Southwick, Duncan), breach of contract, COVID-19 Reversing dismissal of students’ putative class claims for breach of contract when defendant university failed to refund tuition and fees after switching to remote instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic, finding that the plaintiffs had adequately pled a breach of contract claim; but certifying … More July 19-20, 2023, opinions
