Every decision we've summarized from United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
The Ninth Circuit granted a petition for review of an immigration judge's denial of asylum and related relief. The court vacated the adverse credibility determination because the judge relied on findings unsupported by substantial evidence.
The Ninth Circuit granted a petition for review of an immigration judge's denial of asylum and related relief. The court vacated the decision because the judge relied on multiple unsupported findings to make an adverse credibility determination.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed a firearms trafficking sentencing enhancement, holding that the defendant need only have reason to believe the transferee was an unlawful possessor, not that the transferee was actually unlawful. The court rejected arguments relying on other criminal statutes, emphasizing that the plain text of the Sentencing Guidelines focuses on the defendant's subjective belief.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a First Amendment challenge brought by parents of students in California charter school independent study programs. The court held that these programs constitute public school education, allowing the state to require secular curricula without violating the Free Exercise or Free Speech Clauses.
The Ninth Circuit dismissed a petition for review challenging only a denial of Convention Against Torture protection because such an order does not merge into a final order of removal. The court held that appellate jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(1) requires a challenge to the underlying removal order, not a standalone challenge to the CAT denial.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for Eli Lilly in a products liability case involving Cialis, holding that the plaintiffs failed to prove proximate causation under Washington's learned intermediary doctrine. The court further ruled that any potential errors regarding the appointment of counsel and the sham affidavit rule were harmless given the merits of the decision.
The Ninth Circuit reversed a district court order denying attorney's fees to religious plaintiffs who reached a settlement with the government. The appellate court held that the plaintiffs qualified as prevailing parties because the settlement agreement materially altered their legal relationship and the district court retained jurisdiction to enforce it.
The Ninth Circuit reversed the district court's dismissal of a declaratory judgment action, holding that a permanent life insurance policy issued in 2024 was a distinct contract from a prior term policy issued in 2004. Because the permanent policy was a new contract and the policyholder lacked an insurable interest at the time of its issuance, the court ruled the policy void as an illegal wager.
The Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review challenging an Immigration Judge's handling of a continuance request and translation services. The court held that the petitioner failed to demonstrate prejudice because he was statutorily ineligible for any relief other than voluntary departure, which he received.