Designated for publication Stewart, J. (Richman, Stewart, Dennis), habeas corpus Affirming district court’s dismissal of second-in-time § 2254 petition as a successive habeas petition, rejecting argument that the fact that the appeal of the denial of the petitioner’s first-in-time § 2254 petition was still pending made his second-in-time petition merely an amendment of the first-in-time … More April 12-15, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication per curiam (King, Ho, Engelhardt), criminal, search and seizure, Miranda rights Affirming conviction of possession with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine, upholding denial of motion to suppress. The Court held that the record contained sufficient evidence of probable cause to conduct a warrantless search of the defendant’s vehicle, obviating the … More April 5-8, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Willett, J. (Willett, Wilson, Ramirez), breach of contract Affirming summary judgment in favor of defendant on plaintiff’s breach of contract and fraud claims arising from alleged breach of supplier-exclusivity agreement between defendant and plaintiff’s predecessor-in-interest. The Court held that the plaintiff’s breach of contract claim was time-barred on its face, and that … More April 3, 2024, opinions
Unpublished per curiam (Jones, Southwick, Ho), prisoner suit Affirming dismissal of Texas state prisoner’s suit as frivolous. per curiam (Wiener, Stewart, Douglas), criminal, sentencing Affirming imposition of standard supervised release terms as part of sentence for conviction of kidnapping, carjacking, and transportation of a stolen vehicle in interstate commerce. per curiam (Jolly, Smith, Haynes), criminal … More March 27-30, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication per curiam (Jolly, Engelhardt, Oldham), criminal, sentencing, Miranda Affirming conviction and 235-month sentence on drug and firearm offenses. The Court held that the district court did not err in denying a motion to suppress a non-Mirandized statement by the defendant upon his arrest that he had a handgun in his bedroom, because … More February 26, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication per curiam (King, Smith, Elrod), qualified immunity, municipal liability, Americans with Disabilities Act Affirming qualified immunity dismissal of plaintiff’s excessive force claims against K9 officer arising from dog-bite injuries when officers responded to call that plaintiff was suicidal, and bystander liability claims against second officer; and 12(b)(6) dismissal of municipal liability claim … More November 29, 2023, opinions
Designated for publication Southwick, J. (King, Elrod, Southwick), Voting Rights Act Vacating district court’s preliminary injunction to enjoin Louisiana legislature’s 2022 congressional redistricting maps on the basis that the failure to create a second majority-Black district violated section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, and remanding for further proceedings to allow the legislature until January … More November 9-10, 2023, opinions
Designated for publication deGravelles, J. (Haynes, Engelhardt, deGravelles, by designation), maritime law, punitive damages Affirming the judgment after a bench trial that defendant had wrongfully arrested and detained the plaintiff’s vessel after ramming it and preventing its departure from the defendant’s shipyard for five days, that punitive damages were justified, and that prejudgment interest was … More October 16-17, 2023, opinions
Designated for publication Clement, J. (Clement, Haynes, Oldham), criminal, civil commitment Affirming order of indefinite civil commitment pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 4246 because appellant was committed the Attorney General under § 4241(d) when the petition was filed. Unpublished per curiam (Clement, Haynes, Oldham), criminal Affirming Anders motion to withdraw, and dismissing appeal. per curiam … More October 4, 2023, opinions
Designated for publication Higginson, J. (Wiener, Higginson, Wilson), qualified immunity Reversing denial of qualified immunity motion to dismiss, and rendering judgment in favor of wildlife officer defendants on § 1983 claims arising from arrests related to hunting activities and to alleged forgeries in transfers of a jet ski and a pickup truck. The Court held … More August 21, 2023, opinions
