March 17, 2026, opinions

Designated for publication Smith, J. (Smith, Wiener, Higginson) (oral argument), criminal, sentencing, equal protection clause Affirming conviction and 30-year sentence for production and attempted production of child pornography. Nautica Hamilton, a day care worker at the Lubbock YWCA, pleaded guilty to production and attempted production of child pornography after photographing the genitalia of an 18-month-old … More March 17, 2026, opinions

January 27, 2026, opinions

Designated for publication Higginson, J. (Southwick, Higginson, Wilson) (oral argument), insurance, jurisdiction Remanding appeal from denial of motion to compel arbitration to district court to consider motions pending in case in light of holding that court lacks subject-matter jurisdiction due to inapplicability of the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards to … More January 27, 2026, opinions

January 13, 2026, opinions

Designated for publication per curiam (Richman, Ho; Dennis on panel but not participating in this order) (oral argument at the merits stage), Ho, J., dissenting from denial of panel rehearing; municipal liability, qualified immunity, First Amendment Denying petition for panel rehearing of October 7, 2025, opinion that had affirmed qualified immunity dismissal of police officers … More January 13, 2026, opinions

January 12, 2026, opinions

Designated for publication per curiam (en banc) (oral argument at panel stage) (voting for en banc rehearing: Jones, Smith, Willett, Ho, Duncan, Engelhardt, Wilson, JJ.; voting against en banc rehearing: Elrod, Stewart, Richman, Southwick, Haynes, Graves, Higginson, Douglas, Ramirez, JJ.), Ho, J., dissenting from denial of en banc rehearing (joined by Jones, Smith, Engelhardt, JJ.); … More January 12, 2026, opinions

December 17, 2025, opinions

Designated for publication per curiam (en banc denial from Richman, Graves, Ramirez, JJ.) (voting for rehearing: Elrod, C.J., Jones, Smith, Oldham, JJ.; voting against rehearing: Stewart, Richman, Southwick, Haynes, Graves, Higginson, Willett, Ho, Duncan, Englehardt, Wilson, Douglas, Ramirez, JJ.) (oral argument on original panel hearing), Ho, J., concurring in denial of rehearing; Oldham, J., dissenting … More December 17, 2025, opinions

December 9, 2025, opinions

Designated for publication Jones, J. (Jones, Stewart, Ramirez) (oral argument), Medicaid Vacating summary judgment for plaintiff hospitals in challenge to Department of Health and Human Services regulation “that penalizes hospitals in states that have pursued alternatives to Medicaid expansion,” and remanding for further proceedings. A group of Texas hospitals challenged a 2023 regulation issued by … More December 9, 2025, opinions

December 8, 2025, opinions

Designated for publication Willett, J. (Higginson, Willett, Engelhardt) (oral argument), criminal, sentencing Affirming 240-month sentence on convictions of wire fraud and money laundering. The defendant — Christopher Kirchner — was the co-founder and CEO of a logistics software startup. He diverted millions in investor funds to finance a lavish personal lifestyle rather than developing the … More December 8, 2025, opinions

December 1, 2025, opinions

Designated for publication Rodriguez, J. (Jones, Graves, Rodriguez, by designation) (oral argument withdrawn), Graves, J., dissenting in part; criminal, Second Amendment, sentencing Affirming conviction and 70-month sentence for possession of a firearm by a felon. McCree was arrested after fleeing from police and discarding a loaded Glock while carrying five rocks of crack cocaine and … More December 1, 2025, opinions

November 21, 2025, opinions

Designated for publication Higginson, J. (Higginson, Ho, Wilson) (oral argument), trade secrets, injunction Vacating permanent injunction imposed with regard to claimed misappropriation of trade secrets, but otherwise affirming judgment of trade-secret-misappropriation liability on jury verdict, $56 million compensatory damages award, and $112 million exemplary damages award. Computer Sciences Corporation (“CSC”) sued Tata Consulting Services (“TCS”) … More November 21, 2025, opinions

November 18-20, 2025, opinions

Designated for publication Higginbotham, J. (Higginbotham, Ho, Douglas) (no oral argument), Federal Tort Claims Act Affirming dismissal of FTCA claims. The Fifth Circuit reviewed pro se claims brought by Howard and Theresa Ellsworth under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), arising from alleged negligent diabetes treatment Mr. Ellsworth received at VA facilities between 2016 and … More November 18-20, 2025, opinions