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
Unpublished decisions per curiam (Smith, Haynes, Oldham) (no oral argument), insurance, service of process Dismissing as frivolous appeal from dismissal of claim for insufficient service of process. per curiam (Jones, Duncan, Douglas) (no oral argument), criminal, sentencing Affirming 155-month sentence on conviction of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. per curiam (Smith, Haynes, … More January 19, 2026, opinions
Designated for publication Stewart, J. (Smith, Stewart, Haynes) (no oral argument), criminal, sentencing Affirming 240-month and 360-month concurrent sentences on conviction of possession of child pornography and sexual exploitation of children, and financial penalties and restitution of $55,300. In June 2021, police discovered that the defendant, Ulysses Rubalcava, had sexually abused two of his minor … More December 3, 2025, opinions
Designated for publication Higginson, J. (Southwick, Higginson, Wilson) (oral argument), bankruptcy Affirming district court’s holding that bankruptcy court properly sustained creditor’s objection to debtor’s claimed exemption of property from administration by bankruptcy estate, on basis that debtor waived his right to object to the untimeliness of the creditor’s objection to his claimed exemption. In 2019 … More November 17, 2025, opinions
Designated for publication Elrod, C.J. (Elrod, Engelhardt, Guidry, by designation), First Amendment, standing, qualified immunity Reversing dismissal of plaintiff’s First Amendment pre-enforcement challenge to Texas Election Code for lack of standing; affirming dismissal of claims against defendants in individual capacities as barred by qualified immunity; and remanding for further proceedings. The Institute for Free Speech … More July 28-29, 2025, opinions
Designated for publication Duncan, J. (Haynes, Duncan, Wilson), foreign official immunity, Torture Victim Protection Act Affirming dismissal of TVPA claims against former Nigerian governor under foreign official immunity. In this case, the widows of men killed by Nigerian military forces during rallies in 2020 sued former Nigerian governor Willie Obiano in a Texas federal court … More May 29-30, 2025, 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 Ramirez, J. (Richman, Oldham, Ramirez), criminal, sentencing, sufficiency of evidence, search and seizure Affirming convictions for money laundering, holding that sufficient evidence in the record supported the convictions, upholding denial of motion to suppress, finding no abuse of discretion in application of sentencing enhancements, and finding no abuse of discretion in denial … More April 23, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication per curiam (Richman, Jones, Stewart, Southwick, Haynes, Graves, Higginson, Engelhardt, Wilson, Douglas, Ramirez, JJ., voting against en banc rehearing; Smith, Elrod, Willett, Ho, Duncan, Oldham, JJ., voting for en banc rehearing); Clement, J., concurring in denial of rehearing en banc (joined by Jones, Stewart, Graves, Higginson, Engelhardt, Wilson, Douglas, Ramirez); Ho, J., … More February 5-7, 2024, opinions
