March 7-8, 2022, opinions

Designated for publication U.S. v. Sheperd, 19-20073, appeal from S.D. Tex. Willett, J. (Smith, Willett, Duncan), criminal, Sixth Amendment, ineffective assistance of counsel Remanding to district court to hold evidentiary hearing on whether defendant’s pretrial counsel’s conflict of interest adversely affected her right to representation. From Judge Willett’s comprehensive introduction: “‘The Sixth Amendment is the … More March 7-8, 2022, opinions

February 4-7, 2022, opinions

Designated for publication U.S. v. Bates, 19-10813, appeal from N.D. Tex. per curiam (King, Graves, Willett), criminal, sentencing, Armed Career Criminals Act On remand from the U.S. Supreme Court, vacating and remanding for resentencing. The Court held that, under Borden v. United States, 141 S. Ct. 1817 (2021), the Texas crime of assault of a … More February 4-7, 2022, opinions

October 21-25, 2021, opinions

Designated for publication Ghedi v. Mayorkas, 20-10995, appeal from N.D. Tex. Willett, J. (Stewart, Costa, Willett), Fourth Amendment, Administrative Procedures Act Affirming dismissal of plaintiff’s Fourth Amendment and APA claims against various federal officials in their official capacities arising from being subjected to air travel restrictions and inconveniences. While the Court disagreed with the district … More October 21-25, 2021, opinions

October 11, 2021 opinions

Unpublished Bruno v. Ford, 21-20204, appeal from S.D. Tex. per curiam (Davis, Jones, Elrod), Fair Labor Standards Act Vacating district court’s summary judgment dismissing plaintiff’s FLSA claims, and remanding for further proceedings. U.S. v. Pontefract, 21-30032, appeal from W.D. La. per curiam (Smith, Higginson, Willett), habeas corpus Denying certificate of appealability, and affirming district court’s … More October 11, 2021 opinions

September 30, 2021 opinions

Designated for publication Adams v. All Coast, L.L.C., 19-30907, appeal from W.D. La. per curiam (Smith, Clement, Oldham), Fair Labor Standards Act, maritime law Denying petition for en banc rehearing (Judges Jones and Elrod voting for rehearing; Chief Judge Owen and Judges Smith, Stewart, Dennis, Southwick, Haynes, Graves, Higginson, Costa, Willett, Ho, Duncan, Engelhardt, Oldham, … More September 30, 2021 opinions

September 7-9, 2021 opinions

Designated for publication U.S. v. McClaren, 17-30524, appeal from E.D. La. Stewart, J. (Stewart, Higginson, Wilson), criminal, severance, Batson challenge, sufficiency of evidence, sentencing, First Step Act Granting government’s petition for panel rehearing of May 18, 2021 opinion; withdrawing previous panel opinion and substituting new one; denying defendants’ petition for panel rehearing and for rehearing … More September 7-9, 2021 opinions

September 1-6, 2021 opinions

Designated for publication Rutila v. U.S. DOTD, 20-10730, appeal from N.D. Tex. Smith, J. (Owen, Smith, Graves), Freedom of Information Act Reversing district court’s jurisdictional dismissal of pro se FOIA suit against the FAA and DOTD, and remanding for further proceedings. “The district court reasoned that, because Rutila ‘broadly challenged Defendants’ adequacy of search without … More September 1-6, 2021 opinions

July 30, 2021 opinions

Designated for publication Sanchez Oil & Gas Corp. v. Crescent Drilling & Production, Inc., 20-20304, appeal from S. D. Tex. Jones, J. (Jones, Clement, Graves), Fair Labor Standards Act, indemnification Reversing summary judgment in favor of defendant on plaintiff’s claim for indemnification for FLSA liability to subcontractor, finding existence of material fact as to whether … More July 30, 2021 opinions

July 27-28, 2021 opinions

Designated for publication U.S. v. Jackson, 19-10627, appeal from N.D. Tex. per curiam (Wiener, Elrod, Higginson), criminal, crime of violence Vacating conviction of using a facility in aid of a racketeering enterprise with intent to commit a “crime of violence”; holding that predicate offense of sex trafficking of children is not a “crime of violence,” … More July 27-28, 2021 opinions

July 21, 2021 opinions

Designated for publication Landry’s, Inc. v. The Insurance Co. of the State of Pennsylvania, 19-20430, appeal from S.D. Tex. Oldham, J. (Smith, Oldham; Ho, recused, op. by quorum); insurance Reversing district court’s summary judgment that insurer did not have a duty to defend retail chain that was defending itself against a claim by the processing … More July 21, 2021 opinions