5th Circuit Case Commentaries

“Here-and-Now Harm” & Dual-Layer Tenure: The Fifth Circuit’s Seal of Unconstitutionality on NLRB Removal Protections

Date: Aug 25, 2025

“Here-and-Now Harm” & Dual-Layer Tenure: The Fifth Circuit’s Seal of Unconstitutionality on NLRB Removal Protections 1. Introduction In Space Exploration Technologies Corp. v. National Labor...

“A Harmless Drag Show? No Such Ban.” – Spectrum WT v. Wendler and the Fifth Circuit’s Recognition of Drag Shows as First-Amendment-Protected Expression in Designated Public Forums

Date: Aug 25, 2025

“A Harmless Drag Show? No Such Ban.” – Spectrum WT v. Wendler and the Fifth Circuit’s Recognition of Drag Shows as First-Amendment-Protected Expression in Designated Public Forums Introduction...

When Deliberate Indifference Also “Shocks the Conscience”: The Fifth Circuit’s Clarification of Supervisory Liability in Doe v. Jewell

Date: Aug 19, 2025

When Deliberate Indifference Also “Shocks the Conscience”: The Fifth Circuit’s Clarification of Supervisory Liability in Doe v. Jewell Introduction In Doe v. Jewell, the United States Court of...

From “Minor” to Material: Fifth Circuit Recalibrates the PLRA Physical-Injury Threshold in Morris v. Estes

Date: Aug 19, 2025

From “Minor” to Material: Fifth Circuit Recalibrates the PLRA Physical-Injury Threshold in Morris v. Estes 1. Introduction Background. In Morris v. Estes, No. 24-30553 (5th Cir. Aug. 15, 2025),...

Norman v. Ingle: Video-Clarity Rule & Officer-Specific Qualified Immunity Analysis in the Fifth Circuit

Date: Aug 19, 2025

Norman v. Ingle: Video-Clarity Rule & Officer-Specific Qualified Immunity Analysis in the Fifth Circuit I. Introduction Norman v. Ingle, No. 24-20431 (5th Cir. Aug. 15, 2025), sets a new benchmark...

Fifth Circuit Endorses “Non-Physical” Quorum: State of Texas v. Bondi and the Modernization of the Quorum Clause

Date: Aug 19, 2025

Fifth Circuit Endorses “Non-Physical” Quorum: State of Texas v. Bondi and the Modernization of the Quorum Clause 1. Introduction In State of Texas v. Bondi, No. 24-10386 (5th Cir. Aug. 15, 2025), the...

The Stelly Clarification: One-Year Prescriptive Period Governs § 1981 Failure-to-Promote Actions Involving “New and Distinct” Internal Promotions

Date: Aug 19, 2025

The Stelly Clarification: One-Year Prescriptive Period Governs § 1981 Failure-to-Promote Actions Involving “New and Distinct” Internal Promotions 1. Introduction In Stelly v. Department of Public...

Plain-Error Limits on Borden-Based Challenges: Fifth Circuit Preserves Louisiana Armed Robbery as a “Crime of Violence” Absent Proven Reckless-Mens-Rea Applications

Date: Aug 19, 2025

Plain-Error Limits on Borden-Based Challenges: Fifth Circuit Preserves Louisiana Armed Robbery as a “Crime of Violence” Absent Proven Reckless-Mens-Rea Applications Introduction United States v....

“Substantial-Risk, Not Proven-Harm” – Fountain v. Rupert Re-Entwines Garrett and Rhodes, Recasting the Fifth Circuit’s Eighth-Amendment Lens

Date: Aug 19, 2025

“Substantial-Risk, Not Proven-Harm” – Fountain v. Rupert Re-Entwines Garrett and Rhodes, Recasting the Fifth Circuit’s Eighth-Amendment Lens 1. Introduction On 14 August 2025 the United States Court...

“Loss of Confidence” as a Stand-Alone, Legitimate Reason: A Commentary on Glover v. Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government

Date: Aug 19, 2025

“Loss of Confidence” as a Stand-Alone, Legitimate Reason Fifth Circuit Commentary on Glover v. Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government I. Introduction Thomas L. Glover, a Black law-enforcement...

Nairne v. Landry: Fifth Circuit Confirms Single-Judge Jurisdiction & Broad Organizational Standing in Section 2 Voting-Rights Litigation

Date: Aug 19, 2025

Nairne v. Landry: Fifth Circuit Confirms Single-Judge Jurisdiction & Broad Organizational Standing in Section 2 Voting-Rights Litigation Introduction The Fifth Circuit’s decision in Nairne v. Landry...

Conditional Termination Notices Are Not Repudiation, and Fee-Shifting Survives Mutual Termination – A Commentary on Penthol v. Vertex Energy (5th Cir. 2025)

Date: Aug 19, 2025

Conditional Termination Notices Are Not Repudiation, and Fee-Shifting Survives Mutual Termination Penthol, L.L.C. v. Vertex Energy Operating, L.L.C., No. 24-20329 (5th Cir. Aug. 14, 2025) 1....

“Beyond Debate” Re-affirmed: Fifth Circuit Clarifies the Specificity Requirement for Clearly-Established Law in Less-Lethal Force Cases

Date: Aug 19, 2025

“Beyond Debate” Re-affirmed: Fifth Circuit Clarifies the Specificity Requirement for Clearly-Established Law in Less-Lethal Force Cases 1. Introduction In Smith v. Saenz, No. 24-50975 (5th Cir. Aug....

Objective Reasonableness Governs “In the Opinion Of” Notice Clauses in Reinsurance Treaties – A Commentary on U.S. Fire Insurance Co. v. Unified Life Insurance Co.

Date: Aug 19, 2025

Objective Reasonableness Governs “In the Opinion Of” Notice Clauses in Reinsurance Treaties – A Commentary on United States Fire Insurance Co. v. Unified Life Insurance Co., 5th Cir. (2025)...

Mere Observation and Incidental Touch Do Not Amount to Seizure: The “Larremore Rule” on Fourth-Amendment Encounters

Date: Aug 19, 2025

Mere Observation and Incidental Touch Do Not Amount to Seizure: The “Larremore Rule” on Fourth-Amendment Encounters Introduction United States v. Larremore, No. 24-50431 (5th Cir. Aug. 14, 2025),...

Montiel Rubio v. Bondi: The Fifth Circuit Fortifies the “Voluntary-Return” Rule in Asylum, Withholding, and CAT Proceedings

Date: Aug 18, 2025

Montiel Rubio v. Bondi: The Fifth Circuit Fortifies the “Voluntary-Return” Rule in Asylum, Withholding, and CAT Proceedings Introduction In Montiel Rubio v. Bondi, decided 13 August 2025, the United...

Beyond the Sanctuary: Defining the Limits of Texas’s Religious-Services Clause on Public Lands

Date: Aug 18, 2025

Beyond the Sanctuary: Defining the Limits of Texas’s Religious-Services Clause on Public Lands 1. Introduction Perez v. City of San Antonio, No. 23-50746 (5th Cir. Aug. 13, 2025) is a sweeping...

“Harmless” Guideline Miscalculations after United States v. Abercrombie: When a Clear Crime-of-Violence Error Is Not Plain Error Requiring Vacatur

Date: Aug 18, 2025

“Harmless” Guideline Miscalculations after United States v. Abercrombie: Fifth Circuit Clarifies When Clear Crime–of–Violence Errors Do Not Satisfy the Plain-Error Standard Introduction The Fifth...

Sharpening the Lens of Ascertainability: B. v. Harrington and the Fifth Circuit’s Demand for Precision in Medicaid EPSDT Class Actions

Date: Aug 15, 2025

Sharpening the Lens of Ascertainability: B. v. Harrington and the Fifth Circuit’s Demand for Precision in Medicaid EPSDT Class Actions 1. Introduction B. v. Harrington, No. 24-30244 (5th Cir. Aug....

“Speculative Future Use” Is Not Enough: DM Arbor Court v. City of Houston and the Revitalisation of Lucas-Style Categorical Takings

Date: Aug 15, 2025

“Speculative Future Use” Is Not Enough: DM Arbor Court v. City of Houston and the Revitalisation of Lucas-Style Categorical Takings 1. Introduction Hurricane Harvey’s devastation of the Arbor Court...