Delkei Derrett v. State of Texas - Sexual Assault Appeal

The Texas Court of Appeals, 7th District, affirmed Delkei Derrett's sexual assault conviction and sentence. The appellant was sentenced to ten years imprisonment (suspended to eight years community supervision) plus three days in jail. The court granted defense counsel's motion to withdraw following an Anders brief review, finding no meritorious issues on appeal.

Papillion v. Texas - Criminal Appeal Dismissed

The Texas Court of Appeals, 9th District (Beaumont) dismissed defendant Thaddeus Deshun Papillion's appeal from a guilty plea conviction for possession of a controlled substance. The appeal was dismissed as untimely because Papillion failed to file his notice of appeal by the August 8, 2025 deadline and did not seek an extension within the permissible 15-day window.

Leon Cauley Jr. v. State of Texas - Injury to Disabled Person

The Texas Court of Appeals, 9th District (Beaumont) affirmed Leon Cauley Jr.'s conviction for injury to a disabled person, a first-degree felony. The court upheld the 30-year sentence despite defendant's four issues challenging trial court evidentiary rulings regarding hearsay, extraneous offense evidence, and criminal trespass warning evidence.

Norris v. State of Texas - Assault of Public Servant

The Texas Court of Appeals, 11th District affirmed Michael Dewayne Norris's conviction for assault of a public servant. The court rejected Norris's challenge to the trial court's admission of body camera footage recorded from a security monitor. The jury had assessed a 20-year sentence in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Tatum ISD v. Alonza McAllister - Tax Foreclosure Excess Proceeds

The Texas Court of Appeals, 6th District affirmed the trial court's order permitting Darnell McAllister to recover $70,471.18 in excess proceeds remaining after a tax foreclosure sale of his property. The appellate court rejected Tatum ISD's argument that the claim was untimely under Section 34.04(a) of the Texas Tax Code's two-year filing deadline. Docket No. 06-25-00077-CV.

Ashleigh Company v. Stewart - Contract Dispute

The Texas 11th District Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court judgment awarding Appellees Jason and Tarrah Stewart $34,572.41 in interpleaded funds from cotton crop sale proceeds. The appellate court rejected six issues raised by Appellants Ashleigh Company LLC and Daren-Ordon Company LLC including statute of frauds, contract termination, fraudulent inducement, and attorney's fees claims.

In Re Gentri Renee McLean v. The State of Texas - Custody Order Mandamus

The Texas Court of Appeals, 11th District conditionally granted a mandamus petition filed by Gentri Renee McLean challenging temporary custody orders issued by the 318th District Court of Midland County. The trial court had orally pronounced orders on February 25, 2026 that modified conservatorship status and stripped the mother of her right to designate the children's primary residence without proper statutory authority.

King v. Villegas - En Banc Rehearing Ordered

The Ninth Circuit granted en banc rehearing in King v. Villegas (No. 23-1713), vacating the prior three-judge panel opinion. The case originated from the Eastern District of California (Case No. 1:17-cv-00676-JLT-EPG). This procedural order remands the matter for full court reconsideration without specifying the underlying claims or panel decision contents.

Blunt v. Town of Gilbert - Certification of Questions to Arizona Supreme Court

The Ninth Circuit certified three questions to the Arizona Supreme Court regarding the 2022 amendment to Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 38-1102 (Arizona Peace Officers Bill of Rights). The certified questions address whether the presumption against retroactivity bars application of the amendment to at-will employment agreements signed before 2022, and whether such application would violate the Contract Clause of the Arizona State Constitution. The case involves Brian Blunt, a 21-year veteran police officer terminated by the Town of Gilbert.

United States v. Miller - Criminal Fraud Sentence Enhancement Appeal

The Third Circuit affirmed Christopher Miller's sentence for bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and unlawful monetary transactions related to $2+ million in COVID-19 pandemic relief fraud. Miller appealed the District Court's application of a four-level sentencing enhancement under U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1(a), arguing the court incorrectly classified certain individuals as criminal activity participants. The appellate court found harmless error in the District Court's legal analysis but affirmed the sentence.