May 2025

The following are summaries of selected civil opinions issued by the Third Court of Appeals during March 2025. The summaries are an overview; please review the entire opinion. Subsequent histories are current as of April 9, 2025. 

The following is a summary of a selected criminal opinion issued by the Third Court of Appeals from November 2024. The summary is an overview; please review the entire opinion. The subsequent history is current as of April 4, 2025.

The following are summaries of selected civil opinions issued by the Fifth Circuit in March 2025. The summaries are overviews of particular aspects of the opinions; please review the entire opinions. 

Being a Taurus, spring has always been my favorite season. As I write this column, the wildflowers are out in full force with bluebonnets leading the charge. It is a season of renewal, growth, and a push to finish projects that need to wrap before summer sets in. AYLA has enjoyed a busy spring full of inspiring CLEs, service projects, and community.

The term woo-woo is defined as “dubiously or outlandishly mystical, supernatural, or unscientific” and while I like good supernatural fiction, I stick to science and facts otherwise. So, it was with bit of skepticism that I followed fellow committee member Corrine Smith’s suggestion for a wellness event: sound bath.

From Guest Columnist Kurt Metscher: When I got sober on July 26, 2010, I had no intention of staying sober, or even of living past the age of 25. At the time, I was 22 years old, homeless, and very much lost in the chaos of addiction. My story isn’t unique. Millions of people are suffering from substance use disorder in our country right now, and many of them are also practicing law.