Published decisions per curiam (Elrod, Jones, Higginson) (no oral argument), Higginson, J., dissenting; criminal, discovery, sealed records Granting unopposed motion for summary reversal of unexplained denial of joint unopposed motion for entry of modified protective order for production of criminal discovery records. Finding: “The dissent raises the concern that a reversal of the District Court’s … More October 23-24, 2025, opinions
Designated for publication per curiam (en banc); en banc, First Amendment, Establishment Clause, Free Exercise Clause, ripeness, standing, sovereign immunity Granting en banc rehearing of June 20, 2025, panel opinion (Dennis, Haynes, Ramirez; Dennis, J., concurring) affirming district court judgment of facial unconstitutionality and preliminary injunction of state law requiring display of Ten Commandments in … More October 6, 2025, opinions
Designated for publication Stewart, J. (Stewart, Clement, Willett), criminal, sufficiency of evidence, restitution Affirming conviction of operator of compound pharmacy for receiving illegal kickbacks as part of a conspiracy to induce physicians to prescribe highly lucrative prescriptions, and affirming restitution award. Xpress Compounding was a pharmacy focused on maximizing profits through pain cream prescriptions billed … More June 5, 2025, opinions
Designated for publication Higginson, J. (Higginbotham, Higginson, Duncan), qualified immunity, municipal liability, Fourth Amendment, § 1983 Dismissing appeal in part for want of appellate jurisdiction over appeals of denial of summary judgment on punitive damages claim, the summary judgment to police officer on Fourth Amendment search claim, and the summary judgment to the City and … More July 30-31, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Stewart, J. (Stewart, Duncan, Engelhardt), attorney-client privilege Reversing order compelling depositions and production related to law firm reports prepared for public university arising from alleged incidents of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and racial discrimination, and remanding for further proceedings. Court held that it had jurisdiction over the appeal of the court’s discovery … More June 17-18, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication per curiam (Elrod, Willett, Duncan), criminal, restitution Vacating $6,000 restitution award issued as part of sentence on conviction of production of child pornography, on holding that PSR cited inapplicable statutes and failed to conduct a proximate-cause analysis; and remanding for further proceedings. Smith, J. (Higginbotham, Smith, Higginson), criminal, competence, sentencing Affirming conviction … More April 25-26, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication per curiam (Richman, Higginbotham, Elrod), unfair trade practices, improper argument Reversing judgment on jury verdict in favor of defendant in unfair trade practices claim, and remanding for further proceedings, on the basis that “the Defendants’ counsels’ closing argument irreparably prejudiced the fairness of the trial.” The Court held that “legitimate ‘oratory’ and … More March 8, 2024, 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
Designated for publication per curiam (en banc court), voting rights, Eighth Amendment, Equal Protection, standing, sovereign immunity, Ex parte Young Granting en banc rehearing, and vacating August 4, 2023, panel opinion that reversed in part and affirmed in part district court’s dismissal of constitutional challenge to Mississippi’s permanent disenfranchisement of certain felons. Duncan, J. (Duncan, … More September 28-29, 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
