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 17 2026
16-70616 Unpublished

BAOLIN CHANG; SHA CHANG v. TODD BLANCHE, Acting Attorney General

The Ninth Circuit denies a petition for review of a Board of Immigration Appeals order dismissing asylum and related claims because the agency provided specific and cogent reasons for an adverse credibility finding. The court holds that the petitioners' voluntary return to China undermined their assertions of fear, and without independent non-testimonial evidence, this credibility determination is dispositive.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Apr 17 2026
9:23-cv-00151-KLD Unpublished

John Ambler; Stacy Ambler v. Flathead Conservation District; Friends of Montana Streams and Rivers Intervenor-Defendant

The Ninth Circuit affirmed that Montana lacks jurisdiction to enforce its 1975 Streambed Act against private landowners within Glacier National Park. The court held that because the United States acquired exclusive legislative jurisdiction in 1914, post-cession state statutes do not apply absent a same basic scheme exception.

Civil Securities Summary Judgment
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Apr 17 2026
9:23-cv-00151-KLD Unpublished

John Ambler; Stacy Ambler v. Flathead Conservation District; Friends of Montana Streams and Rivers

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment, holding that Montana lacks jurisdiction to enforce its 1975 Streambed Act against private inholdings within Glacier National Park. The court reasoned that because the United States acquired exclusive legislative jurisdiction over these lands in 1914, post-cession state statutes do not assimilate into federal law absent a same basic scheme.

Civil Securities Summary Judgment
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Apr 17 2026
23-61 Unpublished

Jenny Carolina Aguilar-Velasquez v. Todd Blanche, Acting Attorney General

The Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals' order denying asylum, withholding of removal, and Convention Against Torture protection. The court held that the record contained substantial evidence that the petitioner failed to establish past persecution or a well-founded fear of future persecution because harm to her relatives was not closely tied to her and she suffered no physical injury herself.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Apr 17 2026
24-6168 Unpublished

SAUL GABRIEL SALES-LOPEZ v. TODD BLANCHE, Acting Attorney General

The Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review of a Board of Immigration Appeals decision, ruling that the petitioner's motions to reopen and reconsider were barred by statutory time limits and the one-motion rule. The court found no exceptions applied because the petitioner failed to demonstrate changed country conditions or fundamental unfairness in his immigration proceedings.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Apr 17 2026
3:22-cv-05499-TMC Unpublished

JONATHAN ADELSTEIN, relator and JESSICA BRUNELLE v. PEACEHEALTH, INC., a Washington nonprofit corporation; ROBERT AXELROD

The Ninth Circuit vacated summary judgment on a False Claims Act retaliation claim, ruling that an employer's refusal to renew a contract after an employee reported Medicaid fraud created a genuine dispute of material fact. The court held that a reasonable jury could find the nonrenewal was likely to deter protected activity and that the employer's stated reasons were pretextual.

Civil Civil Rights - Employment Summary Judgment
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Apr 17 2026
25-3072 Unpublished

BIATO RODEL OVALLE-BAMACA v. TODD BLANCHE, Acting Attorney General

The Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review, upholding the Board of Immigration Appeals' rejection of an immigrant's claims for cancellation of removal, asylum, and protection from torture. The court found substantial evidence supported the agency's conclusion that the petitioner failed to prove exceptional hardship to his children and did not demonstrate changed circumstances to excuse his late asylum filing.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Apr 17 2026
3:24-cv-05260-GJL Unpublished

Kathy S. Miller v. Frank Bisignano, Commissioner of Social Security

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the denial of Social Security disability benefits, holding that the Administrative Law Judge did not abuse discretion in rejecting medical and lay testimony. The court found the ALJ properly applied the substantial evidence standard by weighing treatment duration, consistency with the record, and the claimant's insured status.

Civil Social Security
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