July 13-15, 2026, decisions

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

July 8-9, 2026, opinions

Designated for publication Higginson, J. (Richman, Higginson, Douglas) (no oral argument), qualified immunity Affirming qualified immunity summary judgment dismissal of claim against officer on excessive force claim. On April 27, 2022, Houston police pursued Jalen Randle to execute three felony warrants (aggravated assault, felon in possession of a firearm, and evading arrest). After an immobilization … More July 8-9, 2026, opinions

June 2, 2026, opinions

Designated for publication Elrod, C.J. (Elrod, Willett, Wilson) (oral argument), criminal, sentencing, Sixth Amendment Affirming application of career-criminal sentencing enhancement even though he had no trained interpreter available during the prior criminal proceedings on which the enhancement was based. Heraclio Duran-Gonzalez had two prior federal convictions for conspiring to possess marijuana with intent to distribute … More June 2, 2026, opinions

March 23, 2026, opinions

Designated for publication per curiam (Wiener, Willett, Wilson) (no oral argument), Willett, J., concurring (joined by Wilson, J.); criminal, Second Amendment, Commerce Clause Affirming conviction of possession of a firearm by a felon Jaterron Williamson was convicted of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). He had three prior … More March 23, 2026, opinions

March 4-5, 2026, opinions

Designated for publication Davis, J. (Davis, Jones, Stewart) (no oral argument), criminal Affirming conviction of possession of a firearm by a felon. Lester Landrum pleaded guilty but preserved constitutional challenges to the statute, arguing that it violates the Second Amendment (both facially and as applied), the Equal Protection Clause, the Commerce Clause, and that it … More March 4-5, 2026, opinions

February 27, 2026, opinions

Designated for publication per curiam (voting for en banc rehearing: Jones, Smith, Ho, Duncan, Engelhardt, Oldham; voting against en banc rehearing: Elrod, Stewart, Richman, Southwick, Haynes, Graves, Higginson, Willett, Wilson, Douglas, Ramirez), Jones, J., dissenting from denial of en banc rehearing (joined by Smith, Ho, Duncan, Oldham), Higginson, J., concurring in denial of en banc … More February 27, 2026, opinions

February 25-26, 2026, opinions

Designated for publication Elrod, C.J. (Elrod, Clement, Haynes) (oral argument), Telephone Consumer Protection Act Affirming summary judgment dismissal of TCPA claim. Bradford sued, claiming that prerecorded calls the company made to his cell phone violated the TCPA because they lacked “prior express written consent” and constituted telemarketing. The panel held that (1) the TCPA itself … More February 25-26, 2026, opinions

November 25, 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

October 30-31, 2025, opinions

Designated for publication Elrod, C.J. (Elrod, Clement, Haynes) (oral argument), Haynes, dissenting in part; timeliness, personal torts Affirming dismissal as untimely of claims brought under Texas law, originally in Texas state courts but then removed, for monetary damages arising from chemical explosions at defendant’s facility, where original action was certified as to injunctive relief class … More October 30-31, 2025, opinions

October 14-15, 2025, opinions

Designated for publication Clement, J. (Clement, Engelhardt, Wilson) (oral argument), Title VII, employment discrimination, labor law, jury instructions, pleadings amendment Denying petition for en banc rehearing, but granting petition for panel rehearing and substituting a new opinion in place of the panel’s May 8, 2025, opinion; reversing the denial of Southwest’s motion for judgment as a matter of law … More October 14-15, 2025, opinions