JL

James L. Dennis

Judge, Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit · Born 1936 · Monroe, LA

Party: Democratic →B.A., Louisiana Tech UniversityBA, Louisiana Tech UniversityJD, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeBA, Louisiana Tech UniversityJD, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Affiliations

Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit — appointed by William Jefferson Clinton

On the bench with

⚖️ James Earl Graves jr ⚖️ Leslie Southwick ⚖️ James C. Ho ⚖️ Stuart Kyle Duncan ⚖️ Andrew Stephen Oldham ⚖️ Don R. Willett

Decision levers

AI-measured from their own opinions — each lever cites its cases

Living constitutionalismOriginalism

In [7] applies 1974 La. Const. art. I §3 text directly to invalidate birth-based statutory classification without evolving standards analysis. Pace v. STATE THROUGH LA. STATE … ↗

PurposivismTextualism

In [7] and [8] parses statutory definitions and contract stipulations by their plain terms rather than broader purpose. Pace v. STATE THROUGH LA. STATE … ↗ Lombardo v. Deshotel ↗

Deference to government powerSkepticism of government power

In [7] invalidates state retirement statute's discriminatory classification, showing skepticism toward government classifications. Pace v. STATE THROUGH LA. STATE … ↗

Judges who rule most like them:Thomas Ignatius Vanaskie Jeffrey S. Sutton Michael H. Schneider sr Paul Wooten

Decision record

Full record (20) →

United States v. Morgan
Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit · 2007-10-17 · cited 70×
The case involved Linda Morgan's appeal of her conviction on twelve counts of health care fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1347 and one count of conspiracy under 18 U.S.C. § 371, arising from her role in a scheme to bill Medicare for durable medical equipment such as wheelchairs. At trial, the government presented evidence that Morgan signed Certificates of Medical Necessity listing herself as the treating physician for patients she had never examined, that she was not licensed in the relevant states, and that she had sold the prescriptions to a co-conspirator for substantial payments while her Medicare provider number had been deactivated. The district court admitted business records and other evidence over Morgan's objections, and the jury found her guilty. The Fifth Circuit affirmed, holding that the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict, was sufficient for a reasonable jury to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Morgan knowingly participated in a scheme to defraud a health care benefit program and conspired with others to do so.
criminal lawhealthcare
McKenzie v. WEBSTER PARISH SCHOOL BD.
Supreme Court of Louisiana · 1995-09-22
In McKenzie v. Webster Parish School Board, the Louisiana Supreme Court reviewed a writ application seeking further review of a lower court decision in a dispute involving Gerald McKenzie and the school board. The court denied the writ, declining to hear the case on the merits. Justice Dennis noted that he would have granted the writ, while Justice Victory was recused from the panel.
labor & employmentprocedure
Griffin v. Danos and Curole Marine Contractors, Inc.
Supreme Court of Louisiana · 1995-09-15
The case involves a lawsuit by Daniel Griffin Jr. and his wife against Danos and Curole Marine Contractors, Inc. and the Gray Insurance Company arising from events related to the company's marine operations. The Louisiana Supreme Court denied the writ application seeking review of a lower court decision. The opinion provides no additional reasoning or explanation for the denial beyond the statement that it was denied, with one justice noted as not participating.
torts & liability
Haydel v. Hercules Transport, Inc.
Supreme Court of Louisiana · 1995-06-23
The case was a civil lawsuit brought by Kathy C. Haydel individually and on behalf of her minor children against Hercules Transport, Inc., and several other companies involved in transportation and fertilizer businesses. The Louisiana Supreme Court denied the writ application. The denial was issued on the showing made by the applicants. One justice indicated he would have granted the writ while another was not on the panel.
torts & liabilityprocedure
West v. Louisiana Indem. Co.
Supreme Court of Louisiana · 1995-06-16 · cited 1×
The case involved Jackie West and Lana West as plaintiffs suing Louisiana Indemnity Company along with insurance agencies Welch Nichols Agency, Inc., Patterson Agency Inc., and American Agency Inc. The Louisiana Supreme Court denied the writ application filed in the matter. The opinion provides no further details on the underlying dispute or any reasoning for the denial.
business & regulatory
Burris v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Supreme Court of Louisiana · 1995-05-12
The case involved a lawsuit by plaintiff Yuolanda Burris against Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and Richard Alred. The Louisiana Supreme Court denied the writ application, leaving the lower court's decision in place. The court's order provided no substantive reasoning or discussion of the underlying claims. One justice noted that he would have granted the writ to review the matter.
proceduretorts & liability

Judicial data via CourtListener (Free Law Project). Social links via Wikidata.

Decision levers

AI-measured from their own opinions — each lever cites its cases

Living constitutionalismOriginalism

In [7] applies 1974 La. Const. art. I §3 text directly to invalidate birth-based statutory classification without evolving standards analysis. Pace v. STATE THROUGH LA. STATE … ↗

PurposivismTextualism

In [7] and [8] parses statutory definitions and contract stipulations by their plain terms rather than broader purpose. Pace v. STATE THROUGH LA. STATE … ↗ Lombardo v. Deshotel ↗

Deference to government powerSkepticism of government power

In [7] invalidates state retirement statute's discriminatory classification, showing skepticism toward government classifications. Pace v. STATE THROUGH LA. STATE … ↗

Party: Democratic →B.A., Louisiana Tech University →B.A., Louisiana Tech UniversityBA, Louisiana Tech University →BA, Louisiana Tech UniversityJD, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeJD, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeBA, Louisiana Tech University →BA, Louisiana Tech UniversityJD, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeJD, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

JD, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Judges who rule most like them:Thomas Ignatius Vanaskie Jeffrey S. Sutton Michael H. Schneider sr Paul Wooten

B.A., Louisiana Tech University →

BA, Louisiana Tech University →

JL

James L. Dennis

Judge, Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit · Born 1936 · Monroe, LA

📰 News & journal →

Decision record

Full record (20) →

United States v. Morgan
Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit · 2007-10-17 · cited 70×
The case involved Linda Morgan's appeal of her conviction on twelve counts of health care fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1347 and one count of conspiracy under 18 U.S.C. § 371, arising from her role in a scheme to bill Medicare for durable medical equipment such as wheelchairs. At trial, the government presented evidence that Morgan signed Certificates of Medical Necessity listing herself as the treating physician for patients she had never examined, that she was not licensed in the relevant states, and that she had sold the prescriptions to a co-conspirator for substantial payments while her Medicare provider number had been deactivated. The district court admitted business records and other evidence over Morgan's objections, and the jury found her guilty. The Fifth Circuit affirmed, holding that the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict, was sufficient for a reasonable jury to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Morgan knowingly participated in a scheme to defraud a health care benefit program and conspired with others to do so.
criminal lawhealthcare
McKenzie v. WEBSTER PARISH SCHOOL BD.
Supreme Court of Louisiana · 1995-09-22
In McKenzie v. Webster Parish School Board, the Louisiana Supreme Court reviewed a writ application seeking further review of a lower court decision in a dispute involving Gerald McKenzie and the school board. The court denied the writ, declining to hear the case on the merits. Justice Dennis noted that he would have granted the writ, while Justice Victory was recused from the panel.
labor & employmentprocedure
Griffin v. Danos and Curole Marine Contractors, Inc.
Supreme Court of Louisiana · 1995-09-15
The case involves a lawsuit by Daniel Griffin Jr. and his wife against Danos and Curole Marine Contractors, Inc. and the Gray Insurance Company arising from events related to the company's marine operations. The Louisiana Supreme Court denied the writ application seeking review of a lower court decision. The opinion provides no additional reasoning or explanation for the denial beyond the statement that it was denied, with one justice noted as not participating.
torts & liability
Haydel v. Hercules Transport, Inc.
Supreme Court of Louisiana · 1995-06-23
The case was a civil lawsuit brought by Kathy C. Haydel individually and on behalf of her minor children against Hercules Transport, Inc., and several other companies involved in transportation and fertilizer businesses. The Louisiana Supreme Court denied the writ application. The denial was issued on the showing made by the applicants. One justice indicated he would have granted the writ while another was not on the panel.
torts & liabilityprocedure
West v. Louisiana Indem. Co.
Supreme Court of Louisiana · 1995-06-16 · cited 1×
The case involved Jackie West and Lana West as plaintiffs suing Louisiana Indemnity Company along with insurance agencies Welch Nichols Agency, Inc., Patterson Agency Inc., and American Agency Inc. The Louisiana Supreme Court denied the writ application filed in the matter. The opinion provides no further details on the underlying dispute or any reasoning for the denial.
business & regulatory
Burris v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Supreme Court of Louisiana · 1995-05-12
The case involved a lawsuit by plaintiff Yuolanda Burris against Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and Richard Alred. The Louisiana Supreme Court denied the writ application, leaving the lower court's decision in place. The court's order provided no substantive reasoning or discussion of the underlying claims. One justice noted that he would have granted the writ to review the matter.
proceduretorts & liability

Affiliations

Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit — appointed by William Jefferson Clinton

On the bench with

⚖️ James Earl Graves jr ⚖️ Leslie Southwick ⚖️ James C. Ho ⚖️ Stuart Kyle Duncan ⚖️ Andrew Stephen Oldham ⚖️ Don R. Willett