Designated for publication Smith, J. (Smith, Clement, Higginson) (no oral argument), appeal waiver, criminal, sentencing On remand from Supreme Court, withdrawing September 18 panel opinion (also post-remand) and substituting with new opinion, dismissing appeal of sentence on enforcement of appeal-waiver in guilty plea. Devin Chaney pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act Robbery and Armed Bank Robbery, … More October 19-20, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication per curiam (Smith, Higginson; decided by quorum as Judge Wiener was originally on panel but did not participate in decision) (oral argument); Rule 59; attorney misconduct; juror statements; First Amendment Vacating judgment for defendant on First Amendment claims by member of public whose comments at Parish Council meeting were cut off. Joy … More October 16, 2026, decisions
Designated for publication Douglas, J. (Clement, Oldham, Douglas) (oral argument withdrawn), breach of contract, expert witness, mandate Affirming defense judgment after bench trial on remand from reversal of earlier summary judgment for defendant. Energy trading firm MIECO contracted with natural gas producer Pioneer for the daily sale of 20,000 million British thermal units of natural … More October 8, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication Engelhardt, J. (Wiener, Engelhardt, Oldham) (oral argument withdrawn), personal tort, preemption Reversing judgment for defendant on claims arising from fatal truck-auto accident in which one of defendant’s employee’s was the involved truck driver; and remanding for further proceedings. Satnam Singh Lehal’s tractor-trailer jackknifed on the way to Laredo, Texas, crossed into oncoming … More August 3, 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
Designated for publication Duncan, J. (King, Higginson, Duncan) (no oral argument), tax law Affirming tax court’s judgment upholding imposition of estate-tax liability and assessment of 20% negligence penalty. As Anne Milner Fields’s health rapidly declined in 2016 due to end-stage Alzheimer’s, her great-nephew and agent Bryan Milner transferred approximately $17 million of her assets into … More June 8, 2026, opinions
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 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
Designated for publication Higginbotham, J. (Higginbotham, Smith, Oldham) (no oral argument), Oldham, J., concurring; criminal, sentencing, supervised release Vacating mandatory supervised release requirement for financial-change notification, and remanding for correction of judgment. In October 2023, Jayden Douglas Richard Vacchino lured a sixteen-year-old girl from Floresville, Texas, to Shreveport, Louisiana, for sex after meeting her online. … More May 7, 2026, opinions
Unpublished decisions per curiam (Wiener, Willett, Wilson) (no oral argument), criminal Granting Anders motion to withdraw, and dismissing appeal. per curiam (Smith, Graves, Wilson) (no oral argument), criminal Granting Anders motion to withdraw, and dismissing appeal. per curiam (Clement, Richman, Willett) (no oral argument), criminal Granting Anders motion to withdraw, and dismissing appeal. per curiam … More April 27, 2026, opinions
