Take the Fifth: April 1-2, 2021 opinions

Designated for publication U.S. v. Knowlton, 19-41042, appeal from E.D. Tex. Elrod, J. (Elrod, Willett, Engelhardt), criminal Affirming conviction for receiving material containing child pornography. The Court held that the flash drives, external hard drives, and computer hard drives were “materials containing” child pornography and not merely child pornography itself, rejecting defendant’s argument that he … More Take the Fifth: April 1-2, 2021 opinions

Take the Fifth: March 22 and 23, 2021 opinions

Designated for publication U.S. v. Brune, 19-11360, appeal from N.D. Tex. Smith, J. (Jones, Smith, Elrod), criminal, double jeopardy Affirming conviction of defendant for possess with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. In the charging instrument, the government had misstated the statutory citation for the charged crime, … More Take the Fifth: March 22 and 23, 2021 opinions

Take the Fifth: March 11, 2021 opinions

Designated for publication U.S. v. Fackrell, 18-40598, appeal from E.D. Tex. Stewart, J. (Stewart, Duncan, Wilson), criminal, sentencing, death penalty Affirming convictions and death sentences of co-defendants for first-degree murder of fellow inmate in prison shanking to enforce rules of the Soldiers of Aryan Culture (“SAC”) prison gang. The Court held that the district court … More Take the Fifth: March 11, 2021 opinions

Take the Fifth: March 10, 2021 opinions

Designated for publication Hall CA-NV, LLC v. One Republic National Title Insurance Co., 20-10268, appeal from N.D. Tex. Ho, J. (Clement, Ho, Duncan), breach of contract, insurance Affirming dismissal of plaintiff’s suit for coverage for prior mechanic’s liens under title insurance policy, on basis that plaintiff had agreed to removal of such coverage. Judge Ho … More Take the Fifth: March 10, 2021 opinions

Take the Fifth: March 8, 2021 opinions

Designated for publication U.S. v. Masha, 19-20673, appeal from S.D. Tex. Jones, J. (Jones, Clement, Graves), criminal, sufficiency of evidence, sentencing Affirming conviction and sentence on eight counts of false use of a passport under 18 U.S.C. § 1543, and vacating (with government’s acquiescence) conviction and sentence on eight counts of misuse of a passport … More Take the Fifth: March 8, 2021 opinions

Take the Fifth: Feb. 25, 2021 opinions

Designated for publication Daves v. Dallas County, Texas, 18-11368, appeal from N.D. Tex. per curiam (en banc court, except for Oldham, J., recused), cash bail, § 1983, Equal Protection, Due Process, sovereign immunity, Ex Parte Young Voting to rehear en banc this matter where, on December 28, 2020, the panel of Judges Southwick, Graves, and Engelhardt (Southwick, J., authoring) affirmed … More Take the Fifth: Feb. 25, 2021 opinions

Take the Fifth: Feb. 24, 2021 opinions

Designated for publication U.S. v. Nora, 18-31078, appeal from E.D. La. Higginson, J. (Higginbotham, Jones, Higginson), criminal, sufficiency of evidence Reversing convictions and vacating sentence on counts of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, conspiracy to pay or receive illegal health care kickbacks, and aiding and abetting health care fraud, on holding that there was … More Take the Fifth: Feb. 24, 2021 opinions

Take the Fifth: Feb. 11 and 12, 2021 opinion

Designated for publication DM Arbor Court, Ltd. v. City of Houston, 20-20194, appeal from S.D. Tex. Costa, J. (Davis, Southwick, Costa), ripeness Vacating district court’s dismissal of suit on ripeness grounds, and remanding for further proceedings. Plaintiff had brought suit challenging the refusal by the City to grant permits for repairs to apartments that had … More Take the Fifth: Feb. 11 and 12, 2021 opinion

Take the Fifth: Feb. 4, 2021 opinions

Unpublished U.S. v. Higgins, 19-10885, appeal from N.D. Tex. per curiam (Higginbotham, Jones, Costa), criminal, sentencing, supervised release Affirming special conditions as part of supervised release sentence the district court’s order to participate in treatment for substance dependency, to contribute to the cost of that treatment, and to abstain from the use of alcohol and … More Take the Fifth: Feb. 4, 2021 opinions

Take the Fifth: Feb. 1 and 2, 2021 opinions

Designated for publication Tibakweitira v. Wilkinson, 18-60459, petition for review of BIA order Engelhardt, J. (Haynes, Duncan, Engelhardt), immigration Dismissing in part and denying in part Tanzanian citizen’s petitions for review of a BIA order dismissing his appeal from the IJ decision denying his application for withholding of removal and protection under the Convention Against … More Take the Fifth: Feb. 1 and 2, 2021 opinions