5th Circuit Court

Judge accused of making racial remarks, skipping court is no-show at her own hearing

A federal judge in Dallas—accused of refusing to take cases, making racial insults and abandoning the bench—has failed to appear at an investigatory hearing about the allegations.

Nov 2, 2026 9:43 AM CST

5th Circuit blasts federal judge for AI errors in rulings

Suspecting artificial intelligence-generated errors, a federal appeals panel has overturned a preliminary injunction barring a Mississippi law that prohibits diversity, equity and inclusion in public schools and universities and ordered the case to be reassigned to a different judge on remand.

Oct 26, 2026 10:28 AM CDT

Federal judge didn’t answer questions, instead emailed sealed documents to over 100 people

According to a second federal appellate order involving a federal judge in Dallas, she sent 140 emails with sealed court documents to judges, lawyers and journalists. The Oct. 20 order, written by the judicial council of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at New Orleans, follows a Sept. 29 order that was attached to a statement by judicial council of the 5th Circuit.

Oct 21, 2026 11:54 AM CDT

Supreme Court agrees to review federal home distilling ban

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed on Monday to consider whether Congress had the constitutional authority to impose a ban on home distilling more than 150 years ago.

Oct 20, 2026 9:36 AM CDT

Federal judge accused of misconduct, abandoning her job

A federal judge in Dallas has been accused of refusing to take cases, making racial insults to judges and court staff and abandoning her role, judicial investigators have found.

Oct 19, 2026 9:40 AM CDT

Are drag shows protected by First Amendment? 5th Circuit weighs in

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at New Orleans is weighing in on Texas A&M University’s ban on drag shows.

Sep 24, 2026 12:08 PM CDT

5th Circuit tells lawyers to verify citations—and cites wrong rule in doing so

In an age of artificial intelligence hallucinations popping up in court filings, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at New Orleans has warned lawyers to verify the accuracy of their filings—and cited the wrong rule in doing so, according to the National Law Review.

Sep 23, 2026 11:10 AM CDT

5th Circuit vacates $125M award after discovery of federal judge, trial counsel’s friendship

A federal appeals court on Tuesday tossed a $125 million award in a complex contract dispute between IFG Port Holdings and the Port of Lake Charles, Louisiana, citing an undisclosed longtime friendship between the U.S. magistrate judge who heard the case and IFG Port Holdings’ lead trial counsel.

Sep 9, 2026 9:37 AM CDT

Judge’s release of order with AI errors is ‘pretty serious matter,’ 5th Circuit says

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at New Orleans is weighing whether a challenge to a Mississippi law that prohibits programs promoting diversity, equity and inclusion should be reassigned after the district court judge issued an error-riddled ruling in the case.

Sep 1, 2026 10:02 AM CDT

5th Circuit examines, and sets aside, server test for online copyright infringement claims

A federal appellate court has diverted from what’s known as the “server test,” which provides guidance for evaluating copyright infringement claims involving embedded content online.

Aug 28, 2026 10:23 AM CDT

Judge mentions Dolly Parton’s ‘voluptuous’ look in comment about drag ban

A Texas federal judge invoked singer and actress Dolly Parton on the day that she died to again block a law viewed as a ban on drag performances for being too expansive, noting that the entertainer and philanthropist’s signature “big hair, flamboyant clothes and breast exposure” might have violated the law.

Aug 26, 2026 11:37 AM CDT

5th Circuit leads Supreme Court reversals for third consecutive time

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at New Orleans had more decisions reversed this term by the U.S. Supreme Court than any appellate court, placing it at the top of the reversal list for the third consecutive time.

Jul 10, 2026 11:05 AM CDT

Trump selects newly confirmed federal judge for open seat on 5th Circuit

President Donald Trump has chosen a newly confirmed federal judge for a vacancy on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at New Orleans.

Jul 1, 2026 9:42 AM CDT

There are no Supreme Court vacancies, but some judges are acting like there might be

One judge appears to have dropped his long-standing support for birthright citizenship. Another wrote that the federal judiciary should not demand President Donald Trump’s “homework.” A third opened a recent dissent with a crude term for male genitalia.

Jun 1, 2026 10:27 AM CDT

Supreme Court preserves access to mail distribution of widely used abortion pill

The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that patients can, for now, continue to access by mail the most commonly used abortion pill, handing antiabortion advocates a defeat in their push to restrict medication abortion.

May 15, 2026 6:42 AM CDT