Decisions

Every decision we've summarized — searchable, filterable, neutral.

Apr 1 2026
6th Cir. 25-5352 Published

HON. DONNA GREENWELL DUTTON v. JIMMY SHAFFER

The Sixth Circuit held that the Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission violated a judge's First Amendment rights by attempting to enforce ethics rules against her campaign statements. The court reversed the lower court's denial of relief for two rules, ruling that the state's interest in judicial integrity did not justify suppressing speech that was readily capable of a true interpretation.

Child Sexual Abuse Material Criminal Summary Judgment
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Apr 1 2026
10th Cir. 2:21-CR-00878-KG-JFR-1) Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. JOHN BENJAMIN THORNTON

The Tenth Circuit affirmed the revocation of John Benjamin Thornton's supervised release after he failed to report to his probation office in New Mexico as ordered. The court held that unverified gang threats do not excuse a defendant's non-compliance with mandatory reporting conditions when the probation officer has already investigated and rejected the allegations.

Criminal Supervised Release
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Apr 1 2026
9th Cir. 4:22-cr-01661-SHR-LCK-1 Unpublished

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. JORGE OLIVERIO MORAN-CAN

The Ninth Circuit affirmed Jorge Oliverio Moran-Can's conviction for assaulting a federal officer, rejecting his claims regarding jury selection, expert testimony, and prosecutorial misconduct. The court held that the defendant failed to prove the prosecutor's strike of a Latino juror was pretextual and that the district court correctly excluded unreliable expert testimony.

Criminal Other Criminal
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Apr 1 2026
9th Cir. 25-1370 Unpublished

ARIZONA STATE LEGISLATURE, by and through the President of the Arizona Senate, Warren Petersen, and the Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives, Steve Montenegro; KIMBER...: ARIZONA STATE LEGISLATURE, by and through the President of the Arizona Senate, Warren Petersen, and the Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives, Steve Montenegro; KIMBER…

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a challenge to a presidential proclamation creating a national monument, holding that the plaintiffs lacked Article III standing. The court ruled that alleged future injuries to tax revenue and land value were too speculative to satisfy the imminence requirement.

Civil Environmental (Civil) Standing
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Apr 1 2026
9th Cir. 2:25-cv-05563- Published

LOS ANGELES PRESS CLUB; NEWSGUILD - COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA; SEAN BECKNER-CARMITCHEL; RYANNE MENA; LEXIS-OLIVIER RAY; CHARLES XU; BENJAMIN ADAM CLIMER; ABIGAIL OLMEDA...: LOS ANGELES PRESS CLUB; NEWSGUILD – COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA; SEAN BECKNER-CARMITCHEL; RYANNE MENA; LEXIS-OLIVIER RAY; CHARLES XU; BENJAMIN ADAM CLIMER; ABIGAIL OLMEDA…

The Ninth Circuit affirmed that journalists and protesters likely succeeded on First Amendment retaliation claims against federal officers but vacated a preliminary injunction as overbroad. The court remanded the case for the district court to fashion a narrower order strictly tailored to the specific harms alleged by the plaintiffs.

Civil Labor Preliminary Injunction Standing
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Apr 1 2026
9th Cir. 18-71787 Published

ALFONSO VERDUZCO RUIZ v. PAMELA BONDI, Attorney General

The Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review of a Department of Homeland Security reinstatement order, ruling that an approved visa petition does not create a vested right to adjust status before the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act. The court further held that aliens must demonstrate actual prejudice to claim a due process violation for the denial of counsel in reinstatement proceedings.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Apr 1 2026
7th Cir. 24-2320 Panel Decision

MOHAMED M. MUTHANA v. MARKWAYNE MULLIN Secretary of Homeland Security, et al

The Seventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Mohamed Muthana's due process and administrative claims because his own immigration petition proved he listed the address where the government sent notice. By failing to meaningfully contest this dispositive evidence in the lower court or on appeal, Muthana waived his right to challenge the denial of his request to reopen immigration proceedings.

Constitutional Fifth Amendment - Due Process Summary Judgment
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