Take the Fifth: Oct. 20, 2020 opinions

Designated for publication U.S. v. Sila, 17-11212, appeal from N.D. Tex. Elrod, J. (Higginbotham, Elrod, Haynes), criminal, sentencing, sufficiency of evidence Affirming two counts of indictment regarding theft of government funds and aggravated identity theft, vacating one count of indictment regarding theft of government funds for insufficiency of evidence, and remanding for resentencing. Defendant had … More Take the Fifth: Oct. 20, 2020 opinions

Take the Fifth: Oct. 19, 2020 opinions

Designated for publication Richardson v. Hughs, 20-50774, appeal from W.D. Tex. Smith, J. (Higginbotham, Smith, Oldham), Higginbotham, J., concurring; election law, sovereign immunity Staying, pending appeal, the district court’s injunction of Texas’s procedures regarding mail-in ballot signature verification and voter-notification procedures. Texas’s absentee mail-in balloting procedures–a system that, as confirmed by 5th Circuit’s October 14th … More Take the Fifth: Oct. 19, 2020 opinions

Take the Fifth: Oct. 13, 2020 opinions

Whole Woman’s Health v. Paxton, 17-51060, appeal from W.D. Tex., designated for publication Dennis, J. (Stewart, Dennis, Willett), Willett, J., dissenting; abortion law Affirming district court’s judgment permanent injunction against the enforcement of Texas Senate Bill 8 (“SB8”) and its requirement that “a woman to undergo an additional and medically unnecessary procedure to cause fetal … More Take the Fifth: Oct. 13, 2020 opinions

Take the Fifth: Oct. 9, 2020 opinions

U.S. v. Strother, 19-40361, appeal from E.D. Tex., designated for publication Higginson, J. (Higgonbotham, Jones, Higginson), criminal, sentencing, guilty plea Affirming conviction and sentence. Defendant had pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon. Thereafter, his counsel successfully moved to withdraw as counsel, and defendant filed a pro se motion to withdraw his … More Take the Fifth: Oct. 9, 2020 opinions

Take the Fifth: Oct. 5, 2020 opinions

Empower Texans, Inc. v. Geren, 19-50557, appeal from W.D. Tex., designated for publication Southwick, J. (Elrod, Southwick, Haynes), mootness Vacating District Court’s dismissal of suit on grounds of legislative immunity, holding the suit to be moot, and remanding with instructions to dismiss as moot. Plaintiffs had filed suit against the Chairman of the Committee on … More Take the Fifth: Oct. 5, 2020 opinions

Take the Fifth: Oct. 1, 2020 opinions

U.S. v. Crittenden, 18-50635, unpublished per curiam (Dennis, Elrod, Costa), criminal, sufficiency of evidence District Court had granted new trial to defendant convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamines. Fifth Circuit panel withdrew its prior majority and dissenting opinions; and remanded to the District Court to clarify whether it had held that there was … More Take the Fifth: Oct. 1, 2020 opinions