A group of conservative judges expressed strong disapproval over a decision by the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to deny a rehearing of a case concerning overtime exemptions for truck drivers. In a 12-5 decision, the court chose not to review en banc a case involving truck drivers who only transport oil within Texas but are considered to be engaging in interstate commerce under current court precedents.
Judge Andrew Oldham, a member of the earlier three-judge panel that heard the case, was notably vocal in his dissent. He joined in calling for a full-court review, criticizing the court’s reluctance to address what he described as flawed precedents. The sentiment among the dissenting judges was that the court had “refused to do the right thing” in not seizing the opportunity to correct past rulings.
The three-judge panel’s ruling from July, which was the subject of the requested rehearing, had upheld the classification of these intrastate truck drivers as part of interstate commerce, a decision rooted in existing circuit precedents. The conservative judges’ strong disagreement highlights ongoing tensions within the Fifth Circuit regarding the interpretation and application of labor laws, particularly in relation to overtime exemptions.
For further details on the case and the judges’ dissent, you can refer to the original report here.