# 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals

Type: court

Source: Legal & RegTech Intelligence Brief — https://getlegalbrief.com/entity/5th-us-circuit-court-of-appeals-court
Canonical HTML page: https://getlegalbrief.com/entity/5th-us-circuit-court-of-appeals-court

## Timeline

- **2026-07-06**: Supreme Court denies emergency petitions — Justice Samuel Alito issues two one‑sentence orders denying emergency requests to block the law, clearing the way for enforcement while full litigation continues.
- **2026-06**: 5th Circuit allows law to take effect — A three‑judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals lifts the district court's injunction, permitting Texas to enforce the age‑verification requirements.
- **2026-03-23**: Supreme Court Denial — The U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear Villarreal's appeal, ending the legal challenge.
- **2024-12**: District court declares law unconstitutional — A federal district court in Texas rules the App Store Accountability Act violates the First Amendment and blocks its enforcement.
- **2024-01-23**: 5th Circuit En Banc Ruling — The full appeals court grants qualified immunity to the officers in a 9-7 decision.
- **2019-01-15**: Civil Lawsuit Filed — Villarreal files a federal civil rights lawsuit against the City of Laredo and individual officers.
- **2018-03-01**: Charges Dismissed — A state judge dismisses the criminal charges, ruling the statute was unconstitutionally vague.
- **2017-12-01**: Villarreal Arrested — Laredo police arrest Villarreal for seeking non-public information.

## Recent coverage (2 stories)

### SCOTUS denial lets Texas enforce app age-verification after 18-month block
2026-07-11 20:32:42 · Sentiment: Neutral · Impact: 7/10 · Sources: 11

The Supreme Court refused to block the Texas App Store Accountability Act, allowing enforcement pending appeal. The decision highlights the tension between child safety regulations and First Amendment protections in digital marketplaces, with significant implications for age-verification jurisprudence and the future of state internet laws.
Full story: https://getlegalbrief.com/story/supreme-court-texas-age-verification-law-enforcement

### Supreme Court Declines Review of Texas Journalist's Arrest Appeal
2026-03-23 17:41:59 · Sentiment: Neutral · Impact: 5/10 · Sources: 3

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear the appeal of Priscilla Villarreal, a Texas journalist arrested for seeking non-public information from police. The decision leaves intact a lower court ruling that granted qualified immunity to the arresting officers, raising significant concerns regarding First Amendment protections for investigative reporting.
Full story: https://getlegalbrief.com/story/supreme-court-villarreal-journalist-arrest-appeal

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