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
Designated for publication Smith, J. (Higginbotham, Smith, Oldham) (oral argument), criminal, sentencing, guilty plea Dismissing appeal of supervised release conditions in sentence, on basis that appeal was barred by appeal-waiver in plea agreement. Jamie Hackney pleaded guilty to production and transportation of child pornography. Per his plea agreement, he waived his right to appeal his … More May 26, 2026, opinions
Published decisions per curiam (Davis, Engelhardt, Oldham) (oral argument on original panel decision), federal officer jurisdiction On remand from U.S. Supreme Court on issue of federal officer removal, which had vacated the Fifth Circuit’s affirmance of the district courts’ remands to state courts, in turn remanding to district courts with instructions to proceed “consistent with … More May 22, 2026, opinions
Unpublished decisions per curiam (Stewart, Graves, Oldham) (no oral argument), criminal Granting Anders motion to withdraw, and dismissing appeal. per curiam (Smith, Higginson, Wilson) (no oral argument), criminal Granting Anders motion to withdraw, and dismissing appeal. per curiam (Stewart, Willett, Wilson) (no oral argument), jurisdiction, civil, amendment Vacating dismissal of pro se plaintiff’s civil action … More May 21, 2026, opinions
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
Unpublished decisions per curiam (Stewart, Willett, Wilson) (no oral argument), habeas corpus Dismissing as frivolous appeal from dismissal of § 2244 petition challenging convictions for receipt and possession of child pornography, and whether his actual-innocence claim satisfied the savings clause of 28 U.S.C. § 2255(e). Relying on Jones v. Hendrix, 599 U.S. 465 (2023), the … More May 19, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication Smith, J. (Higginbotham, Smith, Oldham) (oral argument), immigration, Administrative Procedures Act, timeliness Affirming dismissal of claims arising from denial of issuance of passport to plaintiff on basis of failure to prove citizenship. Hector Cortez claims he was born in Laredo, Texas. About a decade ago, he used his U.S. passport to travel … More May 18, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication Engelhardt, J. (Jones, Engelhardt, Summerhays, by designation) (oral argument), Jones, J., dissenting; international child custody, Hague Convention Affirming order to return children to custodial parent in Canada; vacating preliminary injunction enjoining Texas courts from conducting further proceedings and ordering Canadian courts to adjudicate custody. Sarah Moreau and Andrew White married and lived … More May 15, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication Graves, J. (Elrod, Higginbotham, Graves) (no oral argument), international law Affirming summary judgment dismissal of international law claims arising from death on international flight, to the extent the claims arise from theories of imperfect medical response, but reversing summary judgment to the extent claims arise from malfunctioning medical equipment. Fourteen-year-old Kevin Greenidge … More May 14, 2026, opinions
Unpublished decisions per curiam (Higginbotham, Engelhardt, Ramirez) (no oral argument), criminal Granting Anders motion to withdraw, and dismissing appeal. per curiam (Stewart, Graves, Oldham) (no oral argument), civil Affirming dismissal of plaintiff’s claims, with no description of nature of claims or issues on appeal. per curiam (Jones, Duncan, Douglas) (no oral argument), criminal Granting Anders … More May 13, 2026, opinions
