Designated for publication Jones, J. (Jones, Stewart, Duncan), administrative law Reversing $6.5 million penalty judgment and vacating injunction issued after jury verdict in civil enforcement action brought by the CFTC against energy commodity trader under 17 CFR § 155.4(b)(2)(i), “a regulation that prevents commodities traders from ‘taking the other side of orders’ without clients’ consent.” … More January 8, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Oldham, J. (Jolly, Engelhardt, Oldham), jurisdiction, voting rights Vacating district court’s declaratory judgment regarding the unconstitutionality of Houston’s voter-registration provisions, and remanding to the district court with instructions to dismiss without prejudice due to the lack of an Article III case or controversy. The Court noted that the parties were in agreement … More December 11, 2023, opinions
Designated for publication Higginson, J. (Smith, Higginson, Engelhardt), social security, jurisdiction Affirming the district court’s decision that it did not have jurisdiction over the plaintiff’s claims arising from withholding of benefits. The Court held that it could not have general federal question jurisdiction over claims arising from the Social Security Act, and that the limited … More November 20, 2023, opinions
Designated for publication Elrod, J. (Stewart, Elrod, Graves), qualified immunity, expert testimony, First Amendment Affirming in part and reversing in part qualified immunity dismissal of plaintiff’s claims arising from arrest for making a false report of a hostage situation. The Court first held that the district court did not abuse its discretion in excluding the … More November 2, 2023, opinions
Designated for publication Smith, J. (Smith, Southwick, Higginson), Higginson, J., concurring; habeas corpus Affirming denial of § 2255 petition seeking relief from guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine on IAC grounds. The Court held that the petitioner had not forfeited his argument about … More September 13, 2023, opinions
Designated for publication Smith, J. (Higginbotham, Smith, Engelhardt), toxic tort, jurisdiction, timeliness Affirming denial of remand on the basis of improper joinder of nondiverse defendants; but reversing dismissal of wrongful death claim and vacating denial of leave to amend for fear of cancer claims, arising from defendants’ facility’s emissions of toxic levels of ehtylene oxide. … More August 22, 2023, opinions
Designated for publication Willett, J. (joined by Richman, Higginbotham, Stewart, Elrod, Southwick, Haynes, Graves, Higginson, Ho, Duncan, Engelhardt, Wilson, Douglas, JJ.), Ho, J., concurring, Jones, J., concurring in judgment only (joined by Smith, Oldham, JJ.); Title VII, employment discrimination Reversing 12(b)(6) dismissal of female correctional officers’ Title VII disparate treatment claim against county for policy … More August 18, 2023, opinions
Designated for publication per curiam (Smith, Higginson, Willett), attorney discipline Affirming three-judge district court panel’s decision imposing a 12-month suspension from practice in front of that court after substance-abuse-related inappropriate courtroom behavior and failures to show up for clients’ sentencing hearings. The Court rejected the attorney’s argument that only the presiding judge can impose sanctions … More August 11-14, 2023, opinions
Designated for publication Engelhardt, J. (Richman, Ho, Engelhardt), National Environmental Policy Act, sovereign immunity Affirming summary judgment in favor of Corps of Engineers on plaintiffs’ claims that Corps should be compelled to prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement pursuant to NEPA to increase usage of the Bonnet Carre Spillway, which summary judgment dismissed claims on … More March 27, 2023, opinions
Designated for publication Engelhardt, J. (Graves, Willett, Engelhardt), criminal, jurisdiction, Miranda Reversing dismissal of indictments in international bribery and money laundering cases, and reversing granting of motion to suppress, and remanding for further proceedings. The Court first held that the district court erred in holding that it did not have jurisdiction over the cases based … More February 28, 2023, opinions
