Take the Fifth: March 15, 2021 opinions

Designated for publication U.S. v. Dubin, 19-50912, appeal from W.D. Tex. per curiam (En banc), criminal, fraud, sufficiency of evidence, timeliness, restitution, sentencing Ordering case to be reheard en banc, vacating December 4 panel opinion (Barksdale, Elrod, Ho; Elrod, concurring) that affirmed conviction and sentence for defendants’ charged scheme to defraud Texas’s Medicaid program. Jones v. Michaels Stores, Inc., … More Take the Fifth: March 15, 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: Dec. 21-24 opinions

Designated for publication Taylor v. Stevens, 17-10253, appeal from N.D. Tex. per curiam (Owen, Jones, Smith), qualified immunity, § 1983, Eighth Amendment On remand from the Supreme Court, vacating its earlier decision reversing in part and remanding dismissal of Eighth Amendment conditions-of-confinement claims on qualified immunity grounds, and remanding case in its entirety. Texas v. … More Take the Fifth: Dec. 21-24 opinions

Take the Fifth: Dec. 1, 2020 opinions

Designated for publication Thomas v. Lumpkin, 17-20661, appeal from S.D. Tex. Jones, J., order denying en banc rehearing, joined by Owen, Jones, Smith, Southwick, Haynes, Costa, Ho, Duncan, Engelhardt, Oldham, Wilson, JJ.; Graves, J., dissenting from denial of rehearing, joines by Elrod, J. (Stewart, Dennis, Elrod, Graves, Higginson, Willett, voting to rehear); habeas corpus, ineffective … More Take the Fifth: Dec. 1, 2020 opinions

Take the Fifth: Oct. 22, 2020 opinions

Designated for publication Whole Woman’s Health v. Paxton, 17-51060, appeal from W.D. Tex., designated for publication Dennis, J. (Stewart, Dennis, Willett), Willett, J., dissenting; abortion law; Opinion originally released on October 13, 2020; released in “MODIFIED” form on Oct. 22 in order to append Judge Willett’s dissent; Take the Fifth‘s original summary of the majority … More Take the Fifth: Oct. 22, 2020 opinions

Take the Fifth: Oct. 15, 2020 opinions

Designated for Publication Taylor v. McDonald, 18-11572, appeal from N.D. Tex. Smith, J. (Smith, Clement, Oldham), prisoner suit, § 1983, qualified immunity Affirming qualified-immunity-based dismissal of prisoner’s § 1983 suit for deprivation of due process by keeping him confined to a psychiatric unit without an involuntary commitment proceeding. Prisoner had initially consented to transfer to … More Take the Fifth: Oct. 15, 2020 opinions

Take the Fifth: Oct. 9, 2020 opinions

U.S. v. Strother, 19-40361, appeal from E.D. Tex., designated for publication Higginson, J. (Higgonbotham, Jones, Higginson), criminal, sentencing, guilty plea Affirming conviction and sentence. Defendant had pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon. Thereafter, his counsel successfully moved to withdraw as counsel, and defendant filed a pro se motion to withdraw his … More Take the Fifth: Oct. 9, 2020 opinions

Take the Fifth: Sept. 30, 2020 opinions

Texas Alliance for Retired Americans v. Hughs, 20-40643, Designated for Publication per curiam (Clement, Elrod, Haynes), elections law Staying district court’s preliminary injunction of enforcement of Texas House Bill 25, which would eliminate straight-ticket voting. HB25’s straight-ticket voting ban became effective September 1, 2020; District Court enjoined HB25 on September 25; early voting in Texas … More Take the Fifth: Sept. 30, 2020 opinions