Designated for publication Willett, J. (Higginson, Willett, Engelhardt) (oral argument), criminal, sentencing Affirming 240-month sentence on convictions of wire fraud and money laundering. The defendant — Christopher Kirchner — was the co-founder and CEO of a logistics software startup. He diverted millions in investor funds to finance a lavish personal lifestyle rather than developing the … More December 8, 2025, opinions
Designated for publication per curiam (Higginbotham, Ho, Douglas) (oral argument withdrawn), criminal, sentencing Affirming sentence on conviction of possession of a firearm by a felon. The Court affirmed the sentence of Eddie Hudson. The court found no error in the district court’s decision to treat Hudson’s 2008 Arkansas robbery conviction as a prior “crime of … More December 5, 2025, opinions
Designated for publication Smith, J. (Smith, Stewart, Haynes) (no oral argument), bankruptcy Affirming bankruptcy court’s dismissal of creditor’s claim for contribution. The court affirmed the bankruptcy court (and district court) in rejecting Spin’s claim that it should be paid under a receivables-sale agreement with Jet Oilfield Services (“Jet”). Under the agreement, Spin paid Jet $3,000,000 … More December 4, 2025, opinions
Designated for publication Stewart, J. (Smith, Stewart, Haynes) (no oral argument), criminal, sentencing Affirming 240-month and 360-month concurrent sentences on conviction of possession of child pornography and sexual exploitation of children, and financial penalties and restitution of $55,300. In June 2021, police discovered that the defendant, Ulysses Rubalcava, had sexually abused two of his minor … More December 3, 2025, opinions
Designated for publication Clement, J. (Clement, Graves, Ho) (no oral argument), criminal, sentencing Vacating sentence in part and remanding for conformance of the written judgment of terms of supervised release with oral pronouncement. The Fifth Circuit confronted a recurring post-Diggles question: what should be done when a written judgment includes unpronounced discretionary conditions of supervised … More December 2, 2025, opinions
Designated for publication Rodriguez, J. (Jones, Graves, Rodriguez, by designation) (oral argument withdrawn), Graves, J., dissenting in part; criminal, Second Amendment, sentencing Affirming conviction and 70-month sentence for possession of a firearm by a felon. McCree was arrested after fleeing from police and discarding a loaded Glock while carrying five rocks of crack cocaine and … More December 1, 2025, opinions
Unpublished decisions per curiam (King, Haynes, Ho) (no oral argument), criminal Granting Anders motion to withdraw, and dismissing appeal.
Published decisions per curiam (Smith, Haynes, Oldham) (no oral argument), Haynes, J., dissenting in footnote; immigration Denying motion for stay of removal, on basis that “[e]quitable relief—even if it is ‘temporary’ or ‘short’—is never a matter of right or convenience.” In a footnote, Judge Haynes expressed her disagreement, and “would grant a short temporary stay … More November 26, 2025, opinions
Designated for publication Smith, J. (Smith, Dennis, Richman) (oral argument), Dennis, J., dissenting in part; criminal, sentencing Affirming conviction and sentence for possession of a firearm as an alien admitted under a nonimmigrant visa. The Fifth Circuit affirmed Moctar Ahmadou’s conviction and 78-month sentence for possessing a firearm as a nonimmigrant under 18 U.S.C. § … More November 25, 2025, opinions
Designated for publication Duncan, J. (Smith, Graves, Duncan) (no oral argument), diversity jurisdiction, commercial litigation Affirming that diversity jurisdiction exists, and affirming summary judgment for lender/plaintiff holding defendants liable as guarantors for loans made by Appellees Cadence Bank and Century Bank. The Banks made two large loans to Bridgelink Engineering LLC (which the Johnsons managed) … More November 24, 2025, opinions
