7th Cir.

United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

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

Apr 22 2026
24-3239 Panel Decision

HYATT HOTELS CORPORATION & SUBSIDIARIES v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE

The Seventh Circuit vacated and remanded the Tax Court's decision because the lower court failed to apply the claim of right doctrine when determining if loyalty fund payments constituted taxable income. The appellate court clarified that the claim of right doctrine is an independent basis for excluding income, broader than the trust fund doctrine previously applied.

Civil Tax (Civil)
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Apr 20 2026
26-1783 Panel Decision

COUNT US IN v. DIEGO MORALES, et al

The Seventh Circuit granted Indiana's emergency motion to stay a district court injunction that had barred enforcement of Senate Bill 10. Applying the Purcell principle, the court held that federal courts should generally avoid altering election rules on the eve of an election to prevent voter confusion and administrative chaos.

Civil Civil Rights - Voting
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Apr 15 2026
25-1904 Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. OMARI ANDREWS, JR

The Seventh Circuit affirmed Omari Andrews's conviction for possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, finding the evidence sufficient based on his own admission of four guns during a jail call. The court also upheld the district court's decision to admit fingerprint expert testimony, ruling that the defendant's late objection was untimely and that the expert's methodology was reliable.

Criminal Drug Trafficking Firearms
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Apr 15 2026
25-2127 Panel Decision

Rashaan Carter v. SP Plus Corporation

The Seventh Circuit affirmed the denial of a motion to stay litigation in favor of arbitration, holding that the employer failed to prove the employee validly consented to arbitrate. The court clarified that federal policy favors treating arbitration agreements like other contracts, not favoring them above all others.

Civil Forfeiture / Penalty
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Apr 14 2026
22-3114 Panel Decision

Bato Petrov v. Todd W. Blanche

The Seventh Circuit denied a petition for review challenging the denial of cancellation of removal for a stateless individual. The court found the Board of Immigration Appeals correctly determined that the petitioner failed to prove exceptional and extremely unusual hardship to his United States citizen relatives.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Apr 14 2026
20-3517 Panel Decision

Bato Petrov v. Todd W. Blanche

The Seventh Circuit affirmed the Board of Immigration Appeals denial of a motion to reopen removal proceedings. The court held that the petitioner failed to demonstrate exceptional and extremely unusual hardship to his United States citizen relatives.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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