Designated for publications per curiam (Richman, Jones, Smith, Stewart, Dennis, Elrod, Southwick, Haynes, Graves, Higginson, Willett, Ho, Duncan, Engelhardt, Oldham, Wilson), Ho, J., dissenting from denial of rehearing (joined by Smith, Engelhardt, JJ.); criminal, Commerce Clause Denying rehearing en banc of a panel decision affirming conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm, … More November 11, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication Jones, J. (Jones, Southwick (Costa had been on panel but resigned before opinion released, so opinion is issued by a quorum of the panel)); bankruptcy Affirming dismissal of avoidance and recovery claims related to payments under a prior settlement agreement, but reversing dismissal of avoidance and recovery claims related to two payments … More October 7, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication Smith, J. (Jolly, Smith, Engelhardt), Jolly, J., dissenting in part; First Amendment Reversing summary judgment in favor of plaintiffs challenging Texas Justice of the Peace Wayne Mack’s opening of court with a ceremony that includes a prayer, and rendering judgment in favor of Mack. The Court held this was “a zero-pence case,” … More September 29, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. Castro, 18-10137, appeal from N.D. Tex. Oldham, J. (Ho, Oldham, Wilson), habeas corpus Denying petition for rehearing, but withdrawing prior panel opinion and substituting new opinion that vacates Certificate of Appealability and dismisses appeal from denial of § 2255 petition. The Court held that it had the power to vacate … More March 14-18, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. Martinez, 21-30068, appeal from W.D. La. Davis, J. (Davis, Jones, Elrod), criminal, search and seizure Affirming denial of motion to suppress evidence seized from USPS packages; defendant had argued that reasonable suspicion did not exist to detain the packages, and that the 17-day delay between their detention and the search … More February 1, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. Fuentes-Rodriguez, 15-40740, appeal from S.D. Tex. per curiam (King, Costa, Willett), criminal, sentencing, Armed Career Criminal Act On remand from the U.S. Supreme Court, vacating district court’s sentencing of defendant on conviction of illegal reentry under the ACCA, where the district court had found that the defendant’s prior conviction of … More January 7, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication Jones v. Lumpkin, 19-10079, appeal from N.D. Tex. Jones, J. (Jones, Higginson, Duncan), habeas corpus, timeliness Affirming district court’s dismissal of federal habeas application that had been filed after AEDPA’s one-year limitations period and that was not entitled to statutory tolling, on finding that petitioner was not entitled to equitable tolling. Petitioner’s … More January 5, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication Coleman v. BP Exploration & Production, Inc., 20-40811, appeal from S.D. Tex. Willett, J. (Higginbotham, Willett, Duncan), negligence, independent contractor Affirming summary judgment dismissal of claims against project management company (BP) and against day-to-day management company (Grand Isle Shipping), on claims of employee of scaffolding subcontractor arising from plaintiff’s back injury received … More November 22-29, 2021, opinions
Designated for publication Whole Woman’s Health v. Paxton, 17-51060, appeal from W.D. Tex. En banc (Owen, Jones, Smith, Stewart, Dennis, Elrod, Haynes, Graves, Higginson, Costa, Willett, Ho, Engelhardt, Wilson) (recused: Southwick, Duncan, Oldham) Elrod and Willett, JJ., plurality (joined by Jones, Smith, Ho, Engelhardt, Wilson in full; concurred in judgment only by Owen and Haynes); … More August 19, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Huawei Technologies USA, Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission, 19-60896, petition for review of FCC Order Duncan, J. (Elrod, Duncan, Wilson), administrative law, Administrative Procedures Act, ripeness, vagueness, Due Process Denying petition for review of FCC order barring recipients of federal telephone and internet service subsidies from purchasing equipment or services from companies … More June 18 and 21, 2021 opinions
