Ramirez v. Guerrero — 5th Cir. (Sep 1, 2026)
The Fifth Circuit considers whether Juan Ramirez may appeal the rejection of two federal habeas claims. One concerns mental-health evidence at sentencing; the other uses later evidence to challenge his confession. A certificate of appealability permits an appeal to proceed if reasonable jurists could debate the district court's ruling. Assistant Federal Public Defender Jennifer Garcia will represent Ramirez. She will argue that state courts never decided the first claim and that both warrant further review.
Ramirez v. Guerrero (No. 25-70010) — 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/25/25-70010_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=25-70010
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. 25-70010 — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit:https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/results?docket=25-70010&group=flat
Fifth Circuit docket — Justia:https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca5/25-70010
Federal habeas recommendation — U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas via CaseMine:https://www.casemine.com/judgement/us/671338faada6643f9ec9078b
Ex parte Ramirez — Texas Court of Criminal Appeals via Justia:https://law.justia.com/cases/texas/court-of-criminal-appeals/2021/ap-77-084.html
Jennifer Garcia filing — Supreme Court of Arizona:https://www.azcourts.gov/Portals/0/0000-NoticeOfIntentToRespondToMotionToSetBriefingS-05506007-0.PDF
Runningeagle v. Ryan — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit:https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2016/06/10/07-99026.pdf
Lucas Wallace filing — Supreme Court of the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/25/25-732/391562/20260113130228583_26.01.13%20Respondents%20Request%20for%20Extension.PDF
Wells v. Guerrero brief — Supreme Court of the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/25/25-732/396752/20260219133814103_Wells%20BIO%20Final.pdf
28 U.S.C. § 2253 — GovInfo:https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2023-title28/pdf/USCODE-2023-title28-partVI-chap153-sec2253.pdf
Miller-El v. Cockrell — United States Reports via GovInfo:https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USREPORTS-537/pdf/USREPORTS-537-322.pdf
- 0:00Introduction
- 26:49Lucas Wallace — Eric Guerrero