January 15-16, 2025, opinions

Designated for publication Elrod, C.J. (Elrod, Dennis, Higginson), criminal, sentencing, sufficiency of evidence Affirming conviction and 36-month sentence for wire fraud arising from fraudulent loan scheme involving the Paycheck Protection Program, but remanding for correction of a clerical error in the judgment. Wilson, J. (Jolly, Graves, Wilson), criminal, sentencing Vacating sentence based on enhancement for … More January 15-16, 2025, opinions

January 14, 2025, opinions

Designated for publication Ramirez, J. (Richman, Graves, Ramirez), qualified immunity Reversing denial of motion to dismiss on qualified immunity grounds, on plaintiffs’ deliberate indifference claims arising from death of detainee from combined drug toxicity after he reported to the detaining officers that he did not feel well. The Court held, “An officer’s failure to immediately … More January 14, 2025, opinions

January 13, 2025, opinions

Designated for publication Richman, J. (Richman, Haynes, Duncan), criminal, sentencing, Armed Career Criminal Act Affirming constitutionality of conviction of possession of a firearm by a felon, and affirming for lack of plain error the 262-month sentence upon application of Armed Career Criminal Act. Oldham, J. (Jones, Oldham, Hendrix, by designation), criminal, compassionate release Affirming denial … More January 13, 2025, opinions

January 10, 2025, opinions

Designated for publication Stewart, J. (Smith, Stewart, Duncan), arbitration Reversing district court’s order compelling arbitration of plaintiff’s employment and First Amendment claims, and remanding to district court to first determine County’s motion to dismiss on government immunity grounds. Willett, J. (Elrod, Willett, Duncan), Elrod, C.J., dissenting in part; qualified immunity Reversing denial of summary judgment … More January 10, 2025, opinions

January 8, 2025, opinions

Designated for publication Hendrix, J. (Jones, Oldham, Hendrix, by designation), criminal, compassionate release Affirming dismissal for lack of jurisdiction over movant’s motion for compassionate release, on basis that the compassionate-release statute does not apply to sentences imposed by the Uniform Code of Military Justice, such that district courts are not empowered to grant compassionate release … More January 8, 2025, opinions

January 6, 2025, opinions

Designated for publication Clement, J. (Smith, Clement, Higginson), breach of contract On breach of contract claim arising from the extension of a lease over a whole tract, rather than a portion, by a bank that managed co-lessor’s interest in a mineral interests on the tract, affirming district court’s judgment that the lease calculated royalty on … More January 6, 2025, opinions

December 30-31, 2024, opinions

Designated for publication Clerk Order (Voting AGAINST en banc hearing in the first instance: Elrod, Smith, Stewart, Richman, Southwick, Haynes, Graves, Higginson, Willett, Duncan, Engelhardt, Wilson, Douglas, Ramirez, JJ.; voting FOR en banc hearing in the first instance: Jones, Ho, Oldham, JJ.); First Amendment, en banc Order denying motion for the en banc Court to … More December 30-31, 2024, opinions

December 16-27, 2024, opinions

Designated for publication per curiam (Jones, Haynes, Douglas), Jones, J., concurring; Affordable Care Act, Title IX, standing Vacating summary judgment for plaintiffs in challenge to Notification of Interpretation and Enforcement of Section 157 of the ACA, which interpreted discrimination on the basis of sex to include discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and and … More December 16-27, 2024, opinions

December 9-13, 2024, opinions

Designated for publication Higginson, J. (Smith, Clement, Higginson), criminal, sentencing, sufficiency of evidence, Affirming convictions of substantive healthcare in scheme to defraud TRICARE by ordering unnecessary toxicology and DNA cancer screening tests, finding sufficient evidence to support convictions, finding no plain error in district court’s exclusion of testimony regarding statements purportedly made to defendant by … More December 9-13, 2024, opinions

December 6, 2024, opinions

Designated for publication Engelhardt, J. (Smith, Engelhardt, Ramirez), criminal, restitution Affirming $21 million restitution award imposed jointly and severally on defendant with defendant in another section of the district court in a separate criminal proceeding, on guilty plea conviction of misprison of a felony (wire fraud). Stewart, J. (Smith, Stewart, Duncan), criminal, sentencing Vacating special … More December 6, 2024, opinions