September 8-11, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Higginson, J. (Smith, Southwick, Higginson), criminal, supervised release Affirming imposition of 15 “standard conditions” for terms of supervised release from district court’s Standing Order, where oral pronouncement included that the supervised release would be “subject to the standard conditions” but did not otherwise expressly articulate those conditions. Elrod, J. (Dennis, Elrod, Ho), … More September 8-11, 2023, opinions

August 30-31, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication per curiam (Richman, Higginbotham, Southwick), habeas corpus, ineffective assistance of counsel Affirming denial of habeas relief on IAC claims of petitioner convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death. per curiam (en banc court), criminal, sufficiency of evidence Ordering en banc rehearing of June 7, 2023, panel opinion that reversed and vacated … More August 30-31, 2023, opinions

August 23, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication per curiam (Richman, Jones, Stewart, Haynes, Graves, Higginson, Willett, Duncan, Engelhardt, Oldham, Douglas, JJ., voting against rehearing; Smith, Elrod, Ho, JJ., voting for rehearing); Ho, J., dissenting from denial of rehearing en banc (joined by Smith, J.); § 1983 Denying rehearing en banc of panel opinion that affirmed dismissal of § 1983 … More August 23, 2023, opinions

August 2, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Jones, J. (Jones, Southwick, Ho), Southwick, J., dissenting; Federal Power Act, administrative law Reversing FERC orders implementing cost allocation scheme for electrical grid improvements in much of the American West, in the WestConnect region, holding that the orders violate the Federal Power Act as a matter of law and that FERC inadequately … More August 2, 2023, opinions

July 28-31, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Higginson, J. (Higginbotham, Southwick, Higginson), insurance Affirming in part and reversing in part summary judgment in favor of insurers on claim for defense and indemnification under CGL and umbrella policies for an underlying suit against the insured alleging contamination from the plaintiff’s auto salvage and vehicle wash properties. The Court held that … More July 28-31, 2023, opinions

July 21, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication per curiam (en banc), labor law Ordering rehearing en banc; vacating March 31, 2023, panel opinion that had denied petitions for review of NLRB order finding that Tesla CEO Elon Musk posted an unlawful threat on Twitter, that employee was unlawfully terminated, that Tesla did not unlawfully solicit and promise to remedy … More July 21, 2023, opinions

July 14-18, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Willett, J. (Richman, Wiener, Willett), Wiener, J., concurring; Title IX, sec. 1983 Denying rehearing en banc, and withdrawing prior panel opinion and substituting new opinion, reversing denial of qualified immunity dismissal of sec. 1983 claim on state-created danger grounds, and remanding for proceedings of Title IX claims arising from sexual assault of … More July 14-18, 2023, opinions

July 10, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Stewart, J. (Richman, Stewart, Douglas), prisoner suit Dismissing appeal of dismissal of Texas state prisoner’s suit against medical personnel, upon denying motion to proceed in forma pauperis under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g) and upon failure to pay required filing fees. The Court held that the plaintiff has accumulated more than three strikes … More July 10, 2023, opinions

June 1, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Wiener, J. (Wiener, Southwick, Duncan), criminal, sentencing Affirming reliance on obstruction of justice enhancement to apply to base sentencing level, resulting in 21-month sentence on conviction of assaulting, resisting, or impeding various officers or employees. The Court held that the district court did not clearly err in finding that the defendant obstructed … More June 1, 2023, opinions

May 31, 2023, opinions

Unpublished per curiam (Richman, Dennis, Haynes), prisoner suit Vacating 41(b) dismissal of Texas state prisoner’s § 1983 suit, concluding that lesser sanctions would prompt diligent prosecution of suit, and remanding for further proceedings. per curiam (Graves, Ho, Duncan), breach of contract Reversing judgment on jury verdict in favor of company’s former CEO on his breach … More May 31, 2023, opinions