United States Court…

United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit

Every decision we've summarized from United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Mar 10 2026
24-3098 Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. CALVIN SMITH, ALSO KNOWN AS A-SAY

The D.C. Circuit vacated Calvin Smith's life sentences for drug conspiracy and racketeering, finding the drug sentence exceeded statutory limits and the racketeering sentence lacked required factual findings. The court also vacated a felony murder conviction on double jeopardy grounds and remanded the case for a new sentencing hearing.

Mar 10 2026
24-5172 Panel Decision

MONTE A. ROSE, JR v. ROBERT F. KENNEDY, JR., SECRETARY, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

The D.C. Circuit dismissed Indiana's appeal of a district court order remanding a Medicaid dispute to HHS because the remand order was not a final decision under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. The court held that the order left the core dispute unresolved for further agency proceedings, and no exceptions to the finality rule applied.

Mar 5 2026
25-5332 Panel Decision

Darrell Prince v. United States

The D.C. Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a pro se qui tam complaint, ruling that private individuals lack standing to file such actions on behalf of the United States. The court also denied the appellant's ancillary motions and dismissed portions of his request to supplement the record as moot.

Feb 24 2026
25-5259 Panel Decision

Nicholas Woodall v. Donald J. Trump, President, et al.

The D.C. Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Nicholas Woodall's complaint against the President, ruling that the filing failed to meet the pleading standards of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a). The court held that the document did not constitute a valid case or controversy under Article III because it lacked a short and plain statement of jurisdiction or grounds for relief.

Feb 24 2026
25-7138 Panel Decision

S.R.B. Kenneth v. TYPSA Group and Kingdom of Spain

The D.C. Circuit affirmed the dismissal of claims against the Kingdom of Spain, ruling that sovereign immunity under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act barred the suit. The court also upheld the dismissal of claims against TYPSA Group for failing to allege a domestic injury required for RICO liability or conduct violating the law of nations.

Feb 20 2026
24-5155 Panel Decision

FRIENDS OF ANIMALS v. UNITED STATES BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, AN AGENCY OF THE UNITED STATES AND STATE OF UTAH

The D.C. Circuit dismissed the appeal for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction because the District Court's order remanding the case to the agency was not a final decision. The court affirmed that the District Court correctly identified the core dispute regarding BLM's authority to conduct multiple gathers over a decade without new determinations, but held that the agency must first complete the required remedial steps on remand.

Feb 18 2026
25-7090 Panel Decision

Alfreda Turnbow v. Sibley Memorial Hospital, also known as Sibley Memorial Hospital/Johns Hopkins Medicine

The D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment to Sibley Memorial Hospital on the appellant's race discrimination and failure-to-accommodate claims. The court held that the appellant forfeited her challenge to the accommodation claim and failed to provide sufficient evidence to support her pretext argument for discrimination.

Feb 18 2026
25-3082 Panel Decision

United States of America v. Wei Chin

The D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a motion to file a discovery request in a closed criminal case, ruling that the lower court did not abuse its discretion in managing its docket. The court also denied the appellant's motions for appointment of counsel and a certificate of appealability, clarifying that the latter is unnecessary for this specific type of interlocutory appeal.