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.

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.

Appellate Jurisdiction Civil Securities

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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.

Civil Securities Summary Judgment

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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.

Criminal Other Criminal

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Feb 17 2026

24-5276 Panel Decision

PATRICK LENZ, DR., EXECUTOR OF THE ESTATE OF HARRY S. STONEHILL v. INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE

The D.C. Circuit affirmed the denial of a motion to vacate a 2008 FOIA judgment, ruling that the movant failed to prove fraud on the court by clear and convincing evidence. The court also upheld the lower court's decision to treat the motion as untimely under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b)(3).

Civil FOIA Summary Judgment Tax (Civil)

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Feb 13 2026

25-7005 Panel Decision

STABIL LLC v. RUSSIAN FEDERATION

The D.C. Circuit affirmed that the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act permits U.S. courts to enforce arbitral awards against the Russian Federation for the expropriation of Ukrainian assets in Crimea. The court held that Russia's waiver of immunity under the New York Convention and the FSIA's arbitration exception precludes its immunity defense, even absent direct commercial contacts with the United States.

Civil Civil Rights - Voting

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Feb 13 2026

25-7003 Panel Decision

Mohammad Hilmi Nassif & Partners v. Republic of Iraq

The D.C. Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a suit seeking recognition of a Jordanian judgment against Iraq, holding that the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act provides the sole basis for jurisdiction over foreign states. The court found that neither an explicit waiver nor the commercial activity exception applied to the underlying debt dispute.

Administrative / Agency Review Civil

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Feb 13 2026

24-5237 Panel Decision

EB5 HOLDINGS INC., ET AL. v. JOSEPH EDLOW, DIRECTOR, UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES

The D.C. Circuit affirmed that regional centers participating in the EB-5 visa program must pay the annual Integrity Fund fee, regardless of whether they were designated before the 2022 statutory overhaul. The court held that the statutory term 'designated' describes a current status of authorization rather than the specific historical moment of designation.

Administrative / Agency Review Civil

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Feb 10 2026

25-1091 Panel Decision

AFFIRMED ENERGY, LLC v. FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

The D.C. Circuit affirmed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's approval of a PJM tariff amendment ending Energy Efficient Resources' eligibility for capacity auctions. The court held that the amendment was prospective and did not violate the filed-rate doctrine, even though it divested Affirmed Energy of rights to bid in future auctions.

Civil Immigration (Civil)

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Feb 4 2026

25-7122 Panel Decision

Samar Chatterjee v. Yvonne Williams, Judge and District of Columbia Superior Court

The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit affirmed the lower court's denial of appointed counsel and dismissal of claims against a judge. The appellate court held that the appellant forfeited jurisdictional challenges and that the judge was protected by absolute judicial immunity.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983

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Feb 3 2026

24-5239 Panel Decision

EMPOWER OVERSIGHT WHISTLEBLOWERS & RESEARCH v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

The D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a motion to unseal Stored Communications Act non-disclosure applications, ruling that grand jury secrecy rules displace common law and First Amendment access rights. The court remanded the case for the district court to consider whether to allow an amendment to the motion to unseal in light of a new Department of Justice Office of Inspector General report.

Civil Other Civil

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