April 3, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Higginson, J. (Wiener, Higginson, Wilson), criminal, sufficiency of evidence, jury instructions, 404(b), Confrontation Clause Affirming convictions of kidnapping and other counts arising from drug trafficking conspiracy, rejecting arguments regarding the kidnapping jury instruction, sufficiency of the evidence, admission of 404(b) evidence, and violation of the Confrontation Clause. Dennis, J. (Davis, Dennis, Higginson), … More April 3, 2023, opinions

March 22, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Dennis, J. (Wiener, Dennis, Duncan), criminal, Confrontation Clause, Sixth Amendment, sufficiency of evidence, sentencing, crime of violence Upon granting petition for panel rehearing, vacating defendants’ conviction for aiding and abetting the discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, but affirming conviction on other counts arising from two armored car armed … More March 22, 2023, opinions

March 21, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Smith, J. (Smith, Barksdale, Haynes), qualified immunity, Equal Protection, municipal liability Reversing dismissal of plaintiffs’ excessive force, denial of medical care, and unlawful arrest claims arising from fatal shooting during routine traffic stop; affirming dismissal of remaining claims for unlawful arrest and detention and racial discrimination; and denying as moot motion to … More March 21, 2023, opinions

March 20, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Elrod, J. (Wiener, Elrod, Engelhardt), criminal, sentencing Vacating sentence for conviction of being a felon in possession of a firearm, where sentence is based on enhancement applicable when a defendant’s firearm “has an altered or obliterated serial number” and there is no evidence that the rifle at issue ever had a serial … More March 20, 2023, opinions

March 16, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Willett, J. (Richman, Wiener, Willett), Wiener, J., dissenting; qualified immunity Reversing a denial of qualified immunity summary judgment dismissing § 1983 claims against school officials by mother of disabled public-school student who had been sexually assaulted by another student with known violent tendencies, whose teacher allowed the assaulted student and the aggressor … More March 16, 2023, opinions

March 15, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Smith, J. (Jones, Smith, Graves), administrative law Granting petition for review of Federal Railroad Administration refusal to grant waiver of standard track-inspection regulations so BNSF could test new technology, vacating FRA’s refusal order, and remanding. Following successful waivers and tests of automated track inspection technology, the FRA denied a waiver-request for wider … More March 15, 2023, opinions

March 13-14, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Willett, J. (Graves, Willett, Engelhardt), insurance, preemption, sovereign immunity, standing Affirming dismissal of former federal employee’s claim against health insurer and federal Office of Personnel Management arising from the denial of coverage for proton therapy for cancer; district court had dismissed claims against OPM under sovereign immunity, and against Blue Cross on … More March 13-14, 2023, opinions

March 9-10, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Higginbotham, J. (Higginbotham, Higginson, Oldham), Oldham, J., dissenting in part; qualified immunity Dismissing for lack of appellate jurisdiction officers’ appeal of denial of qualified immunity summary judgment on plaintiff’s excessive force claim against one officer, false arrest claim against four officers, and fabrication of evidence claim against another officer, arising from the … More March 9-10, 2023, opinions

March 3-6, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication per curiam (Wiener, Elrod, Engelhardt), immigration Denying Mexican citizen’s petition for review of BIA order issuing a final order of removal after IJ’s decision that he was ineligible for asylum because of a conviction of Texas aggravated robbery. Petitioner had been a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. since 2003. In 2014 … More March 3-6, 2023, opinions