September 1-5, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Wilson, J. (Duncan, Wilson, Schroeder, by designation), criminal, sentencing Affirming 480-month sentence on conviction of conspiring to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute it and distributing a detectable amount of a substance containing cocaine base. Higginbotham, J. (Higginbotham, Southwick, Willett), qualified immunity Affirming denial of qualified immunity on Louisiana … More September 1-5, 2023, opinions

August 24, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Haynes, J. (Haynes, Engelhardt, deGravelles, by designation), § 1983, sovereign immunity, Ex parte Young Vacating judgment after bench trial in favor of plaintiff on his due process claim arising from Texas state officials’ notification of him that he would have to register as a sex offender under Texas law, and remanding with … More August 24, 2023, opinions

August 4, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Dennis, J. (King, Jones, Dennis), Jones, J., dissenting, voting rights, Eighth Amendment, Equal Protection, standing, sovereign immunity, Ex parte Young Reversing district court’s dismissal of plaintiff class’s Eighth Amendment challenge to Mississippi constitution’s permanent disenfranchisement of certain felons; affirming dismissal of plaintiff class’s Equal Protection claim against the Mississippi Secretary of State … More August 4, 2023, opinions

July 25, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Higginbotham, J. (Higginbotham, Smith, Engelhardt), Higginbotham, J., dissenting in part; criminal, sufficiency of evidence, jury instructions, Sixth Amendment, hearsay Affirming convictions of doctor and pharmacists in “pill mill” operation of controlled substance distribution and conspiracy counts, rejecting argument that there was not sufficient evidence to overcome the Controlled Substances Act’s exemption for … More July 25, 2023, opinions

May 11-16, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Higginson, J. (Richman, King, Higginson), criminal, sentencing, Speedy Trial Act Affirming convictions and 540-month sentence for armed robberies of cell phone stores. The Court held that there was no Speedy Trial Act violation where the defendant’s counsel sought a continuance on the indictment past the Act’s 30-day deadline, holding that the Government … More May 11-16, 2023, opinions

March 27, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Engelhardt, J. (Richman, Ho, Engelhardt), National Environmental Policy Act, sovereign immunity Affirming summary judgment in favor of Corps of Engineers on plaintiffs’ claims that Corps should be compelled to prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement pursuant to NEPA to increase usage of the Bonnet Carre Spillway, which summary judgment dismissed claims on … More March 27, 2023, opinions

March 13-14, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Willett, J. (Graves, Willett, Engelhardt), insurance, preemption, sovereign immunity, standing Affirming dismissal of former federal employee’s claim against health insurer and federal Office of Personnel Management arising from the denial of coverage for proton therapy for cancer; district court had dismissed claims against OPM under sovereign immunity, and against Blue Cross on … More March 13-14, 2023, opinions

March 8, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Duncan, J. (Smith, Duncan, Oldham), Oldham, J., concurring; trademark infringement, sovereign immunity Affirming summary judgment dismissal of plaintiff’s trademark claims arising from reading-incentive program against county school district; and affirming on alternative grounds to the sovereign immunity grounds relied on by the trial court the dismissal of plaintiff’s trademark claims against nonprofit … More March 8, 2023, opinions

February 17, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication per curiam; Elrod, J., concurring in denial of en banc rehearing (joined by Willett, Duncan, Wilson); Ho, J., dissenting from denial of rehearing en banc; criminal, First Amendment Denying en banc rehearing from August 23, 2022, panel opinion that vacated convictions for bribery concerning a local government receiving federal benefits and conspiracy … More February 17, 2023, opinions

February 7, 2023, opinions

Unpublished per curiam (Smith, Clement, Wilson), criminal Affirming conviction of assaulting a federal officer. per curiam (Smith, Clement, Wilson), immigration Denying in part and dismissing in part Mexican citizen’s petition for review of BIA order affirming IJ’s denial of application for cancellation of removal and protection under the CAT. per curiam (Wiener, Elrod, Engelhardt), criminal … More February 7, 2023, opinions