Fifth Circuit Heightens Relevance Scrutiny for Religious-Affiliation Evidence in Capital Sentencing Commentary on Davis v. Guerrero, 24-70008 (5th Cir. June 26 2025) 1. Introduction Irving Alvin...
State “Saving Constructions” and Pre-Compliance Review: The Principle from Spirit Aerosystems v. Paxton Introduction On 26 June 2025 the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit decided...
Re-Urged Summary Judgment as Rule 50 Preservation & the Fact-Specific Nature of “Clearly Established” Rights: A Commentary on Trabucco v. Rivera Introduction The Fifth Circuit’s decision in Trabucco...
Federal Certification over State Disaster-Immunity Ambiguities: Breaux v. Worrell and the Fifth Circuit’s Refined Approach to La. R.S. 29:735 Introduction Breaux v. Worrell, No. 24-30097 (5th...
Butler v. Collins: Texas Labor Code Chapter 21 Does Not Preempt Common-Law Tort Claims Against Individual Employees Introduction The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, in Butler v....
United States v. Morales: Knowledge of § 5822 Non-Compliance and Domestic Manufacture Not Required for NFA “Making” Offense on Plain-Error Review I. Introduction In United States v. Morales,...
Fifth Circuit Embraces “Intentional Relinquishment” Test for Arbitration Waiver: Garcia v. Fuentes (2025) 1. Introduction In Garcia v. Fuentes, No. 24-10699 (5th Cir. June 24, 2025), the United...
“Halting-Assurance” Doctrine: The Fifth Circuit’s Reaffirmation of the High Bar for Eighth-Amendment Method-of-Execution Challenges Commentary on Jordan v. Mississippi State Executioner, No. 25-70013...
“Still-Treating, Still Immune” – Spikes v. Wheat and the Fifth Circuit’s Clarification that Misdiagnosis Amid Continuous Care Does Not Constitute Deliberate Indifference 1. Introduction Spikes v....
“The Hard-Look Mandate on Steroids” – Texas Corn Producers v. EPA and the Fifth Circuit’s Expanded Duty to Tackle Statistical Critiques in Rulemaking 1. Introduction Texas Corn Producers v. EPA, No....
Reyes Reaffirms Tradition of Disarming Dangerous Felons after Bruen: The Fifth Circuit’s Post-Rahimi Framework for § 922(g)(1) As-Applied Challenges Introduction United States v. Reyes, No. 24-40369...
“Instant Termination Means Instant Preclusion” – The Fifth Circuit’s Clarification of Texas Rule 162 in Willis v. Aron Introduction The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit’s...
“Temporal-and-Conceptual Distinctness” after Clark v. Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections: A Refined Heck Bar for Section 1983 Excessive-Force Claims Arising from Prison Disciplinary...
“Clearly Established” Curtilage Law and Qualified Immunity After Sauceda v. Lopez (Sauceda II) 1. Introduction Sauceda v. Lopez, No. 24-40174 (5th Cir. 2025), nick-named “Sauceda II,” is the Fifth...
United States v. Griffin: Heightened Appellate Deference to District-Court Credibility Findings in § 2255 Ineffective-Assistance Hearings 1. Introduction United States v. Griffin, No. 22-60453 (5th...
The “Edwards Waiver Doctrine”: When Extended Premium Acceptance Estops ERISA Insurers from Exercising Discretionary Cancellation Rights 1. Introduction Edwards v. Guardian Life Ins., No. 24-60381...
“Stone Still Stands” – Fifth Circuit Affirms the Ongoing Prohibition against Permanent Religious Displays in Public-School Classrooms (Roake v. Brumley) 1. Introduction Roake v. Brumley is the first...
Presumed Prejudice for Improper Mid-Trial Juror Dismissals: United States v. Carpenter 1. Introduction United States v. Carpenter, No. 24-11076 (5th Cir. 2025) arises out of a multi-million-dollar...
“Premises, Pipelines & Protest” The Fifth Circuit’s Limiting-Construction Doctrine for Louisiana’s Infrastructure Trespass Statute Introduction White Hat v. Murrill, No. 24-30272 (5th Cir. 2025),...
“Waivers Mean Waivers” – United States v. Nyandoro and the Fifth Circuit’s Re-Statement on Appeal Waivers, Factual-Insufficiency, and Second-Amendment Challenges 1. Introduction United States v....