9th Cir.

United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

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

Apr 22 2026
4:22-cv-00057-REP Unpublished

STANFIELD V. CLEMENT

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the denial of Katherine Lea Stanfield's federal habeas petition, ruling that the Idaho Supreme Court did not unreasonably apply federal law when admitting expert testimony about a technician's statements. The court held that the Confrontation Clause was not violated because the testifying expert had personal knowledge of the evidence's accuracy and the technician's labeling served a laboratory purpose rather than a trial purpose.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - General (28 USC 2241) Habeas Corpus - State Prisoner (28 USC 2254) Sixth Amendment - Confrontation Clause
Read summary →
Apr 22 2026
2:21-cv-04154-SSS-KS Unpublished

Harvest Aid, LLC v. Paul, et al.

The Ninth Circuit vacated a district court order that denied defendants' motions for a new trial solely because they failed to comply with local pre-filing conference rules. The appellate court held that strict enforcement of procedural requirements without equitable consideration deprived the defendants of a merits-based trial when they had made good-faith efforts to cooperate.

Civil Intellectual Property
Read summary →
Apr 22 2026
2:21-cv-04154-SSS-KS Unpublished

Harvest Aid, LLC v. Paul, et al.

The Ninth Circuit vacated a district court order that denied a motion for a new trial solely because the defendants failed to complete a local rule pre-filing conference. The appellate court held that the district court abused its discretion by ignoring the defendants' good-faith efforts to meet and confer and the plaintiff's refusal to cooperate.

Civil Intellectual Property
Read summary →
Apr 22 2026
25-2152 Unpublished

SINGH V. BLANCHE

The Ninth Circuit denied Paramjeet Singh's petition for review of his asylum and removal relief applications, upholding the Board of Immigration Appeals' adverse credibility determination. The court found the agency's findings conclusive because Singh's testimony regarding past persecution contained material inconsistencies with his prior statements and medical records.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
Read summary →
Apr 21 2026
2:15-cr-00465- Published

USA V. BOLANDIAN

The Ninth Circuit vacated Shahriyar Bolandian's insider-trading conviction because the district court failed to investigate a juror's expressed uncertainty about his impartiality. The appellate court held that a trial judge has an independent, non-delegable duty to inquire into juror bias, meaning defense counsel's acquiescence did not waive the defendant's right to an impartial jury.

Criminal Fraud
Read summary →
Apr 21 2026
4:20-cv-00553-BLW Published

SHOSHONE-BANNOCK TRIBES OF THE FORT HALL RESERVATION v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

The Ninth Circuit denied petitions for panel and en banc rehearing, upholding the district court's summary judgment that the Bureau of Land Management lacked authority to conduct a land exchange involving Fort Hall Reservation lands. The court held that a specific 1900 statute governing these ceded lands prohibits disposal via the Federal Land Policy and Management Act because the earlier law's plain text bars such transfers.

Civil Intellectual Property
Read summary →
Apr 21 2026
4:20-cv-00553 Published

SHOSHONE-BANNOCK TRIBES OF THE FORT HALL RESERVATION V. J.R. SIMPLOT COMPANY, ET AL

The Ninth Circuit denied petitions for panel and en banc rehearing, leaving in place a ruling that the Bureau of Land Management lacked authority to conduct a land exchange involving Fort Hall Reservation ceded lands. The court held that a specific 1900 Act provision restricting disposal of these lands to certain enumerated laws supersedes the general disposal authorization found in the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976.

Civil Intellectual Property
Read summary →
Apr 21 2026
1:21-cv-00193- Published

MCAULIFFE, ET AL. V. ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY

The Ninth Circuit reversed the district court's summary judgment, holding that the General Aviation Revitalization Act's statute of repose restarts when identical replacement parts are installed, without requiring a substantive alteration to the aircraft's design. The court affirmed the dismissal of the fraud exception claim due to insufficient evidence of manufacturer concealment and remanded the case for a new causation analysis.

Civil Tort / Personal Injury
Read summary →
Apr 20 2026
3:14-cv-01092- Published

GESSELE, ET AL. V. JACK IN THE BOX INC.

The Ninth Circuit reversed and remanded a wage-and-hour judgment against Jack in the Box, holding that willfulness of overdeductions requires a factual trial and that employers must pay for shortened meal periods under Oregon law. The panel also ruled that shoe deductions were not automatically for the employee's benefit and remanded for class certification reconsideration on unpaid breaks and shoe claims.

Civil Labor Summary Judgment
Read summary →