Designated for publication Southwick, J. (Richman, Southwick, Oldham), election law, sovereign immunity Reversing district court’s denial of District Attorney’s motion to dismiss constitutional claims of voters and others challenging recent amendments to Texas election laws, holding that District Attorney is entitled to sovereign immunity; vacating denial of motion to dismiss for lack of standing; and … More June 20-21, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Stewart, J. (Stewart, Duncan, Engelhardt), attorney-client privilege Reversing order compelling depositions and production related to law firm reports prepared for public university arising from alleged incidents of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and racial discrimination, and remanding for further proceedings. Court held that it had jurisdiction over the appeal of the court’s discovery … More June 17-18, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Wilson, J. (Smith, Graves, Wilson), tax law, jury instructions Finding jury instructions “irredeemably flawed,” vacating verdict in favor of taxpayer for refund of IRS-imposed penalty for failure to timely file information returns, vacating attorney fees award as the plaintiff was no longer the prevailing party, and remanding for a new trial. The … More June 13-14, 2024, opinions
Unpublished per curiam (Wiener, Stewart, Douglas), criminal Granting Anders motion to withdraw, and dismissing appeal. per curiam (Higginbotham, Stewart, Southwick), criminal Granting Anders motion to withdraw, and dismissing appeal. per curiam (Higginbotham, Stewart, Southwick), criminal Granting Anders motion to withdraw, and dismissing appeal. per curiam (Wiener, Stewart, Douglas), criminal, sentencing Affirming sentence on conviction of … More June 12, 2024, opinions
Unpublished per curiam (Jolly, Higginson, Duncan), criminal, sufficiency of evidence, sentencing Affirming 460-month sentence and conviction of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana; possession with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; conspiracy to transport aliens; conspiracy to … More June 11, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Smith, J. (joined by Jones, Stewart, Southwick, Higginson, Willett, Ho, Duncan, Engelhardt, Oldham, Wilson, Ramirez, JJ.); Haynes, J., concurring in judgment only; Richman, C.J., dissenting (joined by Elrod, Graves, Douglas, JJ.); criminal, sufficiency of evidence, Miranda rights, due process On en banc rehearing of panel opinion that had reversed on the basis … More June 5-7, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Wilson, J. (Clement, Engelhardt, Wilson), commercial litigation Affirming summary judgment in favor of bank, holding that Mississippi law allowed a loan guaranty to be transferred from original lender and that guarantor could not assert equitable defenses belonging to the borrower. Unpublished per curiam (Dennis, Elrod, Ho), mineral law After receiving response from … More June 4, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Engelhardt, J. (King, Ho, Engelhardt), Ho, J., dissenting in part; First Amendment, antitrust, standing, mootness, amendment In First Amendment and antitrust claims by physicians’ professional association against governing boards and against the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security arising from labeling as misinformation or disinformation of some physicians’ views on Covid … More June 3, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Graves, J. (Richman, Graves, Wilson), criminal, sentencing Vacating sentence that relied on career offender enhancement on conviction for conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine hydrochloride and 280 grams of cocaine base, and remanding for resentencing. The Court summarized: “When the Government fails to prove by a preponderance of the … More May 30, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication per curiam (Richman, Higginbotham, Willett), Richman, C.J., dissenting in part; securities law, fraud, breach of contract Affirming summary judgment dismissal of extracontractual and Texas Securities Act fraud claims; but reversing summary judgment on federal securities law and Delaware common law fraud claims; and remanding for further proceedings. Claims arose from an agreement … More May 23-29, 2024, opinions
