Designated for publication Engelhardt, J. (Smith, Haynes, Engelhardt) (oral argument), Haynes, J., dissenting; criminal, sentencing Vacating sentence of two consecutive 30-year terms for production of child pornography, and remanding for resentencing. David Koan pled guilty to two counts of production of child pornography under 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a). He had previously been sentenced in Texas … More October 1-2, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication per curiam (Smith, Haynes, Oldham) (no oral argument), criminal, sentencing, guilty plea On remand from U.S. Supreme Court, dismissing appeal of conviction and sentence in light of appeal waiver in plea agreement. Davantae London robbed multiple Wal-Mart stores at gunpoint in the Houston area. As part of his plea agreement, he waived … More August 19-21, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication Wilson, J. (Southwick, Graves, Wilson) (no oral argument), Graves, J., dissenting in part; criminal, sentencing, restitution Affirming enhanced sentence for receipt of child pornography; and affirming in part and vacating in part restitution awards. Mendoza pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(2) after DHS discovered … More August 7, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication Douglas, J. (Dennis, Oldham, Douglas), Dennis, J., dissenting; sec. 1983, pretrial detention Affirming dismissal of claims by pretrial detainee regarding the alleged misuse of suicide watch protocols by county and county officials. Ronnie Alexander, a pretrial detainee at Henderson County Jail, was moved to a “violent cell” after he falsely claimed to … More July 10, 2025, opinions
Designated for publication per curiam (Jones, Oldham, Hendrix, by designation), Sarbanes-Oxley Act, employment law, timeliness, Rule 59(e) Reversing dismissal of employee’s Sarbanes-Oxley anti-retaliation claim against employer, but affirming dismissal of claim against employer’s parent company, and remanding for further poceedings. The case involves a Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) whistleblower retaliation claim brought by Vuoncino, a corporate … More June 3, 2025, opinions
Designated for publication Higginson, J. (Smith, Southwick, Higginson), insurance Reversing district court’s judgment denying declaratory relief to insurer that argued that the Louisiana Oilfield Anti-Indemnity Act invalidated coverage for contracts by insured to engage in “drill-and-blast” salt mining, under the Act’s applicability to activities comprising “drilling for minerals.” District court had not reached that question, … More March 18, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Hale v. Harrison County Board of Supervisors, 17-60246, appeal from S.D. Miss. per curiam (Davis, Haynes, Oldham), prisoner suit Dismissing appeal of summary judgment dismissal of prisoner’s seventh of at least twelve federal lawsuits and imposition of third strike under the Prison Litigation Reform Act, and barring plaintiff from filing “additional abusive … More Aug. 9, 2021 opinions
