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.

Jan 23 2026

24-3129 Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. HAOTIAN SUN

The D.C. Circuit affirmed the convictions of Haotian Sun for mail fraud and conspiracy, ruling that the evidence was sufficient to prove he knowingly participated in a scheme to exchange counterfeit iPhones for authentic replacements. The court also rejected all sentencing and Fourth Amendment challenges raised by co-defendant Peng Fei Xue, upholding his conviction and sentence.

Criminal Fraud Sentencing Guidelines

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Jan 23 2026

24-7045 Panel Decision

DAVID L. DE CSEPEL v. REPUBLIC OF HUNGARY, A FOREIGN STATE

The D.C. Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a decades-long lawsuit by the de Csepel family seeking the return of Holocaust-era artwork seized by Hungary. The court held that U.S. courts lack jurisdiction under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act because the family failed to prove the takings violated the specific international law of expropriation.

Civil Forfeiture / Penalty

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Jan 23 2026

20-7077 Panel Decision

JOSHUA ATCHLEY v. ASTRAZENECA UK LIMITED, ET AL.

The D.C. Circuit reversed the dismissal of a civil suit alleging pharmaceutical companies aided terrorism in Iraq by knowingly providing substantial assistance to a terrorist-controlled ministry. The court held that the plaintiffs adequately pleaded a nexus between the defendants' corrupt payments and specific terrorist attacks, satisfying the secondary liability standard set forth in Twitter v. Taamneh.

Civil Securities

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Jan 20 2026

24-5234 Panel Decision

MILTON S. HERSHEY MEDICAL CENTER, ET AL v. ROBERT F. KENNEDY, JR

The D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment, holding that the Secretary of Health and Human Services lacked the authority to unilaterally direct contractors to reopen final Medicare cost determinations outside the specific regulatory framework. The court ruled that the agency's attempt to apply a new reimbursement formula to settled reports was barred by explicit time limits and a prohibition on reopening based on changes in legal interpretation.

Administrative / Agency Review Civil Summary Judgment

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Jan 20 2026

23-1155 Panel Decision

SPOKANE AIRPORT BOARD v. TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

The D.C. Circuit denied a petition challenging the TSA's emergency cybersecurity rules for airports, ruling that the agency acted within its broad statutory authority. The court also held that the petitioner waived several arguments by failing to raise them during the administrative reconsideration process.

Civil Immigration (Civil)

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Jan 16 2026

24-3194 Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. JOSEPH A. CERRONI, JR.

The D.C. Circuit affirmed the denial of a writ of coram nobis, holding that the appellant failed to prove fundamental error or ineffective assistance of counsel regarding his guilty plea. The court further ruled that the appellant waited too long to challenge the conviction, offering no valid reason for the three-decade delay.

Constitutional Sixth Amendment - Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

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Jan 16 2026

25-7053 Panel Decision

JAMAL J. KIFAFI, INDIVIDUALLY, AND ON BEHALF OF ALL OTHERS SIMILARLY SITUATED v. HILTON HOTELS RETIREMENT PLAN, ET AL.

The D.C. Circuit affirmed the District Court's denial of broad post-judgment discovery and equitable accounting requests, finding no abuse of discretion. The court held that the plaintiff failed to demonstrate significant questions regarding the defendant's compliance with a long-standing ERISA injunction.

Civil ERISA / Employee Benefits

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Jan 16 2026

25-5001 Panel Decision

SHAHNAZ HAERI MEHNEH AND ALIASGHAR NEJAT v. MARCO RUBIO

The D.C. Circuit dismissed consolidated appeals alleging unreasonable delay in visa adjudications because the Department of State completed processing the applications while the cases were pending. The court held that no effectual relief could be granted and that no exceptions to the mootness doctrine applied.

Administrative / Agency Review Civil Mootness

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Jan 13 2026

24-1346 Panel Decision

CENTURYTEL OF MONTANA, INC., A SUBSIDIARY OF LUMEN TECHNOLOGIES, INC v. NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS LOCAL UNION 768 Consolidat...

The D.C. Circuit denied CenturyTel's petition for review and granted enforcement of the NLRB's order, holding that the Board's finding of a violation of Sections 8(a)(5) and (1) of the National Labor Relations Act was supported by substantial evidence. The court concluded that CenturyTel improperly failed to furnish information regarding non-union technicians working within the Union's jurisdiction despite the collective bargaining agreement's provisions on crossing jurisdictional boundaries.

Civil Immigration (Civil)

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Jan 13 2026

24-1369 Panel Decision

Boutique Air Inc. v. Department of Transportation, et al.

The D.C. Circuit denied Boutique Air's petition for review regarding the Department of Transportation's selection of Key Lime Air for Essential Air Service subsidies in Jackson, Tennessee. The court affirmed that the agency's decision was not arbitrary or capricious despite Boutique Air's arguments regarding cost, precedent, and subsidy caps.

Civil Immigration (Civil)

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