January 9, 2024, opinions

Unpublished per curiam (Richman, Stewart, Scholer, by designation), Title VII, Family and Medical Leave Act, employment discrimination, sanctions, discovery Affirming summary judgment dismissal of Title VII, Rehabilitation Act, and FMLA discrimination claims against former employer, and discovery decisions and denial of motion for sanctions. per curiam (King, Haynes, Graves), criminal Affirming conviction on bank robbery … More January 9, 2024, opinions

January 8, 2024, opinions

Designated for publication Jones, J. (Jones, Stewart, Duncan), administrative law Reversing $6.5 million penalty judgment and vacating injunction issued after jury verdict in civil enforcement action brought by the CFTC against energy commodity trader under 17 CFR § 155.4(b)(2)(i), “a regulation that prevents commodities traders from ‘taking the other side of orders’ without clients’ consent.” … More January 8, 2024, opinions

January 5, 2024, opinions

Designated for publication per curiam (Jones, Stewart, Duncan); Duncan, J., concurring; Jones, J., concurring; qualified immunity Affirming denial of motion to dismiss on qualified immunity, regarding plaintiff’s claims against Department of Public Safety and Corrections official for over-detention. Plaintiff was detained in a Louisiana prison 41 days past the end of his 90-day sentence, because … More January 5, 2024, opinions

December 19, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Wilson, J. (Higginbotham, Stewart, Wilson), Prison Litigation Reform Act, mootness, prisoner suit Vacating district court’s preliminary injunction regarding housing of juvenile offenders in detention facility at the Angola State Penitentiary, and dismissing appeal from merits of that injunction, on basis that time period for injunctive remedy under the PLRA has run and … More December 19, 2023, opinions

December 15, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Southwick, J. (Barksdale, Southwick, Higginson), Higginson, J., dissenting; voting rights, election law, standing Reversing summary judgment in favor of voter advocacy organization, and rendering judgment in favor of Texas officials (actively defended by intervenor attorney general) rejecting organization’s challenge to Texas’s original “wet” signature requirement as a violation of the Civil Rights … More December 15, 2023, opinions

December 8, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication per curiam (Smith, Higginson, Engelhardt), criminal, Commerce Clause, Second Amendment, gun laws Affirming conviction of possession of a firearm by a felon. The Court held there was no plain error in application of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) under the Commerce Clause, holding that Circuit precedent is clear that the statute does not … More December 8, 2023, opinions

November 30, 2023, opinions

Unpublished per curiam (Dennis, Engelhardt, Oldham), criminal, sentencing Affirming 72-month sentence, based on crime-of-violence sentencing enhancement, and constitutionality of conviction of being a felon in possession of a firearm. per curiam (Elrod, Ho, Wilson), Ho, J., dissenting in part; qualified immunity Dismissing appeal in part, reversing denial of qualified immunity summary judgment in part, and … More November 30, 2023, opinions

November 29, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication per curiam (King, Smith, Elrod), qualified immunity, municipal liability, Americans with Disabilities Act Affirming qualified immunity dismissal of plaintiff’s excessive force claims against K9 officer arising from dog-bite injuries when officers responded to call that plaintiff was suicidal, and bystander liability claims against second officer; and 12(b)(6) dismissal of municipal liability claim … More November 29, 2023, opinions

November 6, 2023, opinions

Unpublished per curiam (Wiener, Willett, Douglas), criminal, sentencing Affirming 110-month sentence on conviction of possession of a firearm by a felon in connection with a drug trafficking offense. per curiam (Willett, Duncan, Douglas), criminal, sentencing Affirming sentence on conviction of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine; possession of cocaine with intent to distribute … More November 6, 2023, opinions

November 2, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Elrod, J. (Stewart, Elrod, Graves), qualified immunity, expert testimony, First Amendment Affirming in part and reversing in part qualified immunity dismissal of plaintiff’s claims arising from arrest for making a false report of a hostage situation. The Court first held that the district court did not abuse its discretion in excluding the … More November 2, 2023, opinions