Designated for publication Richman, J. (Richman, Oldham, Ramirez) (oral argument withdrawn), Oldham, J., dissenting; maritime law, expert witness, toxic tort Affirming summary judgment for defendant in maritime toxic tort arising from Deepwater Horizon disaster. Richard DuFour, Jr. worked nearly three years as a cleanup worker following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in Pascagoula, Mississippi, … More October 27, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication Smith, J. (Smith, Haynes, Enhelhardt) (oral argument), timeliness, Americans with Disabilities Act Reversing dismissal of ADA claim as time-barred, holding that claim was tolled under American Pipe. James Bien worked for Union Pacific as a locomotive train conductor. After failing two color vision tests in 2013, he was removed from his conductor … More October 26, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication Douglas, J. (Jones, Duncan, Douglas) (oral argument), standing, subject matter jurisdiction, administrative law Affirming dismissal of suit challenging final rules of the Department of Energy under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, holding that the Circuit Courts Appeals had exclusive jurisdiction over such judicial review challenged under the EPCA, to the exclusion … More October 6-7, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication Smith, J. (Smith, Clement, Higginson) (no oral argument), criminal, guilty plea, sentencing On remand from U.S. Supreme Court, dismissing appeal under appeal-waiver of plea agreement. Devin Chaney pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act Robbery (18 U.S.C. § 1951(a)) and Armed Bank Robbery (18 U.S.C. § 2113(a) and (d)), and in his plea agreement … More September 18-21, 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 Willett, J. (Stewart, Clement, Willett) (oral argument heard on initial review); criminal, guilty plea, Second Amendment, Commerce Clause Upon remand from U.S. Supreme Court, affirming conviction of firearm-possession-by-controlled-substance-user on guilty plea, rejecting challenge to appeal-waiver. Kenleone Joe Nyandoro was charged with possessing a firearm as an unlawful user of a controlled substance … More September 4, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication Higginson, J. (King, Higginson, Duncan) (oral argument), copyright, Digital Millenium Copyright Act Remanding from district court’s denial of DMCA claims, for reconsideration under an appropriate standard to review what constitutes protected copyright management information. Emmerich Newspapers, a publisher of over 26 local news publications, sued Particle Media, the operator of the NewsBreak … More August 27, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication Higginson, J. (King, Higginson, Duncan) (oral argument), Duncan, J., dissenting; criminal, sentencing Vacating 46-month sentence on conviction of illegal reentry, and remanding for resentencing. Alexander Palencia-Berrum pled guilty to illegal reentry under 8 U.S.C. § 1326. His criminal history included three DWI convictions, an obstruction/minor-in-possession conviction, a domestic battery guilty plea, a … More August 26, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication per curiam (Smith, Haynes, Oldham) (no oral argument), criminal, sentencing, guilty plea On remand from U.S. Supreme Court, dismissing appeal of conviction and sentence in light of appeal waiver in plea agreement. Davantae London robbed multiple Wal-Mart stores at gunpoint in the Houston area. As part of his plea agreement, he waived … More August 19-21, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication Oldham, J. (Higginbotham, Smith, Oldham) (oral argument), election law, Americans with Disabilities Act, standing Reversing permanent injunction against provisions of Texas SB 1’s imposition of certain elections restrictions under Title II of the ADA. Multiple civil-rights organizations challenged nine provisions of Texas Senate Bill 1 (the Election Protection and Integrity Act of … More August 12, 2026, opinions
