Designated for publication per curiam (Southwick, Higginson, Willett), immigration Denying Salvadoran citizens’ petition for review of BIA order affirming IJ’s denial of application for asylum and withholding of removal. The Court held that the record did not compel a contrary finding to the IJ’s finding that no factual nexus exists between the familial relationship alleged … More October 25, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication Elrod, J. (Stewart, Clement, Elrod), subpoenas, sovereign immunity Reversing partial denial of motions to quash subpoenas duces tecum that had been served on county district judges to determine their role in creating and enforcing Harris County’s bail schedule, which was the subject of plaintiffs’ constitutional challenge to the county’s felony-bail system. The … More September 16-19, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication Engelhardt, J. (King, Duncan, Engelhardt), criminal, Sixth Amendment, speedy trial, COVID-19, sufficiency of evidence Affirming conviction of five counts from a 2011 indictment charging defendant and co-conspirators with “offenses arising from a well-orchestrated scheme to circumvent American export controls designed to prevent dual use commodities—goods with both civilian and military applications—from falling … More September 6, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication NexPoint Advisors, L.P. v. Highland Capital Management, L.P., 21-10449, appeal from N.D. Tex. Duncan, J. (Wiener, Graves, Duncan), bankruptcy Affirming in large part confirmation order in investment firm’s bankruptcy; but reversing that portion of the liquidation plan that exculpated certain non-debtors in violation of 11 U.S.C. § 524(e). The Court first held … More August 19, 2022, opinions
(Still in catch-up mode here, so the opinions designated for publication will get the same brief treatment as the unpublished opinions …) Designated for publication U.S. v. Hamilton, 20-20645, appeal from S.D. Tex. Higginson, J. (Higginson, Willett, Ho), criminal, sentencing, sufficiency of evidence Affirming conviction of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, in violation of 18 … More June 13-15, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication Foster v. Warden, 20-10841, appeal from N.D. Tex. Southwick, J. (Dennis, Southwick, Wilson), mootness Vacating dismissal on mootness grounds of former military prisoner’s suit regarding the constitutionality of term of supervised release he had been found to have violated, and remanding to district court for determination of whether post-imprisonment effect on eligibility … More April 13-14, 2022, opinions
(Note: While normally Take the Fifth provides more detailed summaries for opinions designated for publication and only basic disposition notes and links for unpublished opinions, because this is a catch-up post after two weeks of being away from the blog, we are just providing the links and basic disposition notes for both published and unpublished … More March 19-31, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. Castro, 18-10137, appeal from N.D. Tex. Oldham, J. (Ho, Oldham, Wilson), habeas corpus Denying petition for rehearing, but withdrawing prior panel opinion and substituting new opinion that vacates Certificate of Appealability and dismisses appeal from denial of § 2255 petition. The Court held that it had the power to vacate … More March 14-18, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication McFarland v. Lumpkin, 19-70011, appeal from S.D. Tex. per curiam (Higginbotham, Southwick, Willett), habeas corpus, ineffective assistance of counsel, Brady claim, Sixth Amendment Affirming denial of habeas relief, after having granted COA on denial of claims of ineffective assistance of counsel, Brady violation, and Sixth Amendment violation. Reminiscent of the original panel … More February 14, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. Crittenden, 18-50635, appeal from W.D. Tex. Elrod, J. (Dennis, Elrod, Costa), Costa, J., dissenting; criminal, new trial Finding no abuse of discretion in district court’s order of a new trial upon a finding that “though the evidence was sufficient to support a conviction, the court had cautiously reweighed the evidence … More February 8, 2022, opinions
