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 en banc per curiam (coting against rehearing: Elrod, Smith, Stewart, Richman, Southwick, Haynes, Graves, Higginson, Douglas, Ramirez; voting for rehearing: Jones, Willett, Ho, Duncan, Engelhardt, Oldham, Wilson) (no oral argument); Richman, J., concurring in denial of rehearing; Ho, J., dissenting from denial of rehearing; Oldham, J., dissenting from denial of rehearing (joined … More October 9-10, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication Engelhardt, J. (Smith, Haynes, Engelhardt) (oral argument), Haynes, J., dissenting; criminal, sentencing Vacating sentence of two consecutive 30-year terms for production of child pornography, and remanding for resentencing. David Koan pled guilty to two counts of production of child pornography under 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a). He had previously been sentenced in Texas … More October 1-2, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication Oldham, J. (Wiener, Engelhardt, Oldham) (oral argument), First Amendment, standing, mootness Affirming permanent injunction against restriction on film projection, reversing dismissal on standing grounds of plaintiff’s facial overbreadth challenge, and remanding for further proceedings. University of Mississippi film professor John Rash sought to host PROJECT(ion), a free nighttime public art event projecting … More September 17, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication Jones, J. (Higginbotham, Jones, Southwick) (no oral argument), Toxic Substances Control Act, administrative law Granting industry petitioner’s petition for review of EPA rule, vacating rule, and remanding to EPA. Methylene chloride (MC) is a volatile chemical solvent widely used in adhesives, automotive products, and paint removers. EPA determined that nearly all uses … More September 15-16, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication Higginbotham, J. (Higginbotham, Willett, Ho) (oral argument prior to certification to state supreme court), statutory immunity, personal tort Upon receiving state supreme court opinion after June 25, 2025, certification of question regarding statutory immunity, reversing district court’s ruling that defendant had immunity and remanding for further proceedings. The Breauxs and the Blanchards … More September 9, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication Graves, J. (Stewart, Graves, Oldham) (oral argument), Oldham, J., dissenting; magistrate referral, recusal Affirming vacatur of referral to magistrate for trial of contractual dispute between port and wharf tenant after trial had already resulted in verdict for plaintiff tenant company. IFG Port Holdings sued the Lake Charles Harbor & Terminal District (the … More September 8, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication Duncan, J. (King, Higginson, Duncan) (no oral argument), tax law Granting motion to modify original panel opinion rendered June 8, 2026, and substituting new opinion that likewise affirmed tax court’s judgment upholding imposition of estate-tax liability and assessment of 20% negligence penalty. Anne Milner Fields, a businesswoman diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2011, … More July 31, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication per curiam (en banc; voting against en banc rehearing: Elrod, Jones, Smith, Richman, Southwick, Haynes, Ho, Duncan, Oldham, Wilson; voting for en banc rehearing: Stewart, Graves, Higginson, Willett, Douglas, Ramirez; Englehardt, J., not participating), Ho, J., concurring in denial, Willett, J., dissenting from denial (joined by Stewart, Graves, Higginson, Douglas, Ramirez) (oral … More July 30, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication Douglas, J. (Higginbotham, Ho, Douglas), Ho, J., dissenting in part (oral argument); standing, preemption, First Amendment Affirming preliminary injunction of Texas social media regulation statute as to monitoring and filtering requirements as preempted by federal law; vacating injunction as sought by certain plaintiffs for lack of standing; and remanding for further proceedings. … More July 24, 2026, opinions
