September 1-5, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Wilson, J. (Duncan, Wilson, Schroeder, by designation), criminal, sentencing Affirming 480-month sentence on conviction of conspiring to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute it and distributing a detectable amount of a substance containing cocaine base. Higginbotham, J. (Higginbotham, Southwick, Willett), qualified immunity Affirming denial of qualified immunity on Louisiana … More September 1-5, 2023, opinions

August 29, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication per curiam (Richman, Jones, Smith, Stewart, Elrod, Haynes, Higginson, Willett, Ho, Duncan, Engelhardt, Oldham, Douglas), legislative privilege, appellate jurisdiction, standing Vacating August 25, 2023 panel opinion (which had been substituted for withdrawn MAy 10, 2023 panel opinion), and ordering en banc rehearing of district court’s order that Mississippi legislators must provide a … More August 29, 2023, opinions

August 25, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Ho, J. (Jones, Ho, Wilson), administrative law, standing Granting petition for review of NRC order, and vacating license for temporary storage for spent nuclear fuel, holding that the NRC does not have authority under the Atomic Energy Act to license temporary nuclear waste storage facilities. The Court first held that the petitioners … More August 25, 2023, opinions

August 21, 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

August 18, 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

August 17, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Jones, J. (Higginbotham, Jones, Oldham), Oldham, J., dissenting; habeas corpus, prosecutorial misconduct, ineffective assistance of counsel Reversing in part and affirming in part denial of § 2255 petition; reversing district court’s application of procedural bar to claim of breach of plea agreement by Assistant U.S. Attorneys, but affirming disposition of IAC claim. … More August 17, 2023, opinions

August 16, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Jones, J. (Jones, Willett, Douglas), Douglas, J., dissenting; habeas corpus, ineffective assistance of counsel Affirming denial of petitioner’s § 2255 petition on IAC claim arising from trial counsel’s inadequate argument and appellate counsel’s lack of argument for “back time” credit on sentence for possession of a firearm by a felon to account … More August 16, 2023, opinions

August 15, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Dennis, J. (Richman, Dennis, Haynes), qualified immunity, municipal liability Reversing qualified immunity summary judgment on plaintiff’s false arrest claim, but affirming summary judgment on excessive force claim and on municipal liability claim. As to the false arrest claim, the Court held that the arresting officer entered the curtilage of the plaintiff’s property … More August 15, 2023, opinions

August 11-14, 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

August 10, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Douglas, J. (Wiener, Graves, Douglas), prisoner suit Vacating dismissal of Louisiana state prisoner’s § 1983 suit as frivolous, and remanding for further proceedings. The Court held that the magistrate and district court judges abused their discretion in finding as frivolous the plaintiff’s claim that his procedural due process rights were violated when … More August 10, 2023, opinions