United States v. Houze — 5th Cir. (Sep 1, 2026)
The Fifth Circuit considers whether cocaine found at a fixed immigration checkpoint should have been suppressed. Border Patrol agents sent Walter Houze's vehicle to secondary inspection, where a dog alerted and agents found cocaine. Kathryn Shephard will represent Houze. She will argue that agents used the checkpoint for drug enforcement without reasonable suspicion and continued detaining him after he withdrew consent.
United States v. Houze (No. 25-40497) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, argued September 1, 2026.
Sources
Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105):https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/OralArgRecordings/25/25-40497_09-01-2026.mp3
Argument record — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit:https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/oral-argument-recordings/results?docket=25-40497
Argument calendar — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit:https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/court-calendars/sitting?d=2026-09-01
Opinion search, No. 25-40497 — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit:https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/results?docket=25-40497&group=flat
Case report — U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas:https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx/pr/michigan-resident-sentenced-cross-country-narcotics-deal
Fifth Circuit docket — Justia:https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca5/25-40497
Terry v. Ohio — U.S. Reports via GovInfo:https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USREPORTS-392/pdf/USREPORTS-392-1.pdf
United States v. Ellis — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit:https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/02/02-50556.cr0.wpd.pdf
United States v. Ceniceros — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit:https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/98/98-50793.CR0.wpd.pdf
BOLO example — New York State Police:https://troopers.ny.gov/news/two-suspects-arrested-connection-grand-larceny-investigation
- 0:00Introduction
- 1:14Terry Stop
- 2:52BOLO
- 16:38John Reed — United States