Verdict . News

Federal Circuit Court of Appeals

Federal Circuit Hears Solar Industry Challenge to Commerce Department

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a nonprecedential order in *Auxin Solar Inc. v. United States*, a trade case involving major solar companies challenging Department of Commerce and Customs and Border Protection enforcement actions. The case includes industry giants like Canadian Solar, JA Solar, and Trina Solar as parties.

•Federal Circuit issued nonprecedential order in major solar industry trade case involving Auxin Solar and Concept Clean Energy against Commerce Department

•Case includes coalition of major solar manufacturers including Canadian Solar, JA Solar, Trina Solar, and JinkoSolar as defendants-appellants

•Ninth Circuit filed unpublished memorandum decision in asylum case involving Salvadoran family of four

9th Circuit Reviews Family Asylum Case Against AG Bondi

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit filed an unpublished memorandum decision on February 5, 2026, reviewing an immigration case involving Maria de Los Angeles Hernandez-Zepeda and her three sons from El Salvador. The family challenged a Board of Immigration Appeals ruling that denied their asylum, withholding of removal, and Convention Against Torture protection claims.

•Family challenged Board of Immigration Appeals denial based on murder witness and threatening incidents

Second Circuit Court of Appeals

2nd Circuit Issues Summary Order in Cantor v. Beech-Nut Class Action

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued a summary order on February 5, 2026, in the case of Cantor v. Beech-Nut Nutrition Co., involving a class action lawsuit with dozens of named plaintiffs. The three-judge panel rendered a decision that will not have precedential effect due to its summary order status.

•Second Circuit issued summary order in class action against Beech-Nut Nutrition Co. on February 5, 2026

•Case involves over 60 named plaintiffs led by Jeremy Cantor seeking class action status

•Ninth Circuit en banc court ruled traffic from major car accidents constitutes 'exceptional circumstances' for reopening removal orders

9th Circuit: Traffic Jam from Car Accidents Justifies Reopening Removal

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled en banc that immigration judges abused their discretion by denying a family's motion to reopen their in-absentia removal orders when they missed court due to traffic caused by major car accidents. The February 5, 2026 decision in Montejo-Gonzalez v. Bondi provides new guidance on what constitutes 'exceptional circumstances' in immigration proceedings.

•Immigration judges and BIA abused discretion by denying family's motion to reopen after missing court due to accident-related traffic

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Upholds 16-Year Sentence for Shooting at Federal Officer

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed a 192-month prison sentence for Keith Pharms, who was convicted on five criminal charges related to shooting at a federal officer following a car theft. Pharms unsuccessfully challenged his sentence on constitutional grounds.

•Keith Pharms received a 192-month federal sentence for shooting at a federal officer during a car theft operation

•The 11th Circuit rejected his Fifth and Sixth Amendment constitutional challenges on appeal

•Ninth Circuit denied Indonesian citizen Hendra Ko's petition to reopen asylum case after Christian conversion

9th Circuit Denies Indonesian Christian Convert's Asylum Petition

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals denied a petition from Hendra Ko, an Indonesian citizen who converted to Christianity after his initial asylum application was rejected. Ko argued that changed country conditions in Indonesia justified reopening his immigration case based on fears of religious persecution.

•Ko argued changed country conditions in Indonesia created new grounds for religious persecution claims

•Ninth Circuit denied petition for review, upholding asylum denial for Salvadoran citizen

9th Circuit Denies Asylum for Salvadoran Citing Lack of Evidence

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has denied a petition for review from Jose Amilcar Ortega-Alvarez, a Salvadoran citizen seeking asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture. The February 5, 2026 decision upholds lower court findings that rejected his claims for protection.

•Court applied substantial evidence standard to review immigration judge and BIA findings

•Ninth Circuit denied asylum appeal by El Salvador native Josue Antonio Chicas-Lemos

9th Circuit Denies Asylum Appeal for El Salvador Native

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review filed by Josue Antonio Chicas-Lemos, a native and citizen of El Salvador, challenging the Board of Immigration Appeals' dismissal of his asylum application. The court upheld previous denials of his requests for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture.

•Court found he failed to apply for asylum within reasonable time of changed circumstances

•Ninth Circuit grants partial relief to Colombian family challenging removal proceedings

9th Circuit Grants Partial Relief to Colombian Family in Immigration Case

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals granted partial relief to a Colombian family challenging their removal from the United States, remanding the case for further proceedings after the Board of Immigration Appeals dismissed their asylum claims.

•Court remands case to immigration authorities after BIA dismissed asylum claims