Verdict . News

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 13, 2026•2 min read

9th Circuit Upholds Transit Authority Firing of Bus Operator

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's summary judgment ruling in favor of Central Contra Costa Transit Authority in an employment discrimination lawsuit. Former bus operator Shannon Cross had sued after being terminated following a collision with a bicyclist.

•Ninth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for Central Contra Costa Transit Authority in employment discrimination case

•Former bus operator Shannon Cross was terminated after collision with bicyclist and policy violations

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

9th Circuit En Banc Overrules 'Pure Question of Law' Exception

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, sitting en banc, overruled longstanding precedent that allowed unpreserved legal challenges to be reviewed de novo rather than under the more restrictive plain error standard. The ruling came in a case affirming enhanced sentencing for a methamphetamine dealer.

•Ninth Circuit en banc overruled decades-old "pure question of law" exception to plain error review

•All unpreserved legal challenges must now be reviewed under restrictive plain error standard

Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals

10th Circuit: Prison Labor Exempt from Thirteenth Amendment Protections

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit dismissed an inmate's constitutional challenge to Wyoming prison labor practices, reaffirming that the Thirteenth Amendment's prohibition against slavery and involuntary servitude explicitly excludes punishment for crimes.

•Tenth Circuit rejected inmate's Thirteenth Amendment challenge to Wyoming prison labor practices

•Court emphasized constitutional exception allowing prison labor as punishment for crimes

Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals

Tenth Circuit Reviews Death Row Appeal in Brenda Evers Andrew Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit has issued a published opinion in the appeal of Brenda Evers Andrew, a death row inmate at Oklahoma's Mabel Bassett Correctional Center. The case has attracted significant attention from women's rights organizations, with over a dozen groups filing amicus briefs supporting Andrew's appeal.

•Tenth Circuit issued published opinion in death penalty appeal by Oklahoma death row inmate Brenda Evers Andrew

•Over a dozen women's rights organizations filed amicus briefs supporting the appellant

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Affirms Drug Conspiracy Convictions Under Maritime Law

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit has affirmed the convictions of Roberto Peralta Ibarra and Alberto Peguero under the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on a vessel. The court also upheld Peguero's sentence in the consolidated appeals.

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed convictions under Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act for vessel-based drug conspiracy

•Roberto Peralta Ibarra and Alberto Peguero both lost their appeals from Southern District of Florida

Federal Circuit Court of Appeals

Federal Circuit Affirms Mint Employee's Termination After Union Dispute

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed an arbitrator's decision upholding the termination of Rodney Ray, a longtime Denver Mint employee and union president. Ray challenged his removal, arguing it violated the facility's collective bargaining agreement with the local union.

•Federal Circuit affirmed arbitrator's decision upholding Rodney Ray's termination from Denver Mint

•Ray served as union president and challenged removal as violation of collective bargaining agreement

Federal Circuit Court of Appeals

Federal Circuit Dismisses Veterans Disability Appeal in Young v. Collins

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a decision on January 13, 2026, in *Young v. Collins*, involving a veteran's decades-long battle for service-connected disability benefits. The case centers on James K. Young's 1988 claim for benefits based on head injuries sustained in a military car accident.

•Federal Circuit ruled on James Young's appeal of a 1999 VA Board decision denying service-connected disability benefits

•Veterans Court previously dismissed Young's appeal as untimely, finding procedural bars to reviewing the decades-old Board decision

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 13, 2026•2 min read

11th Circuit Upholds Supervised Release Term in Ford Revocation Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit ruled in United States v. Melvin Ford that a district court did not err in imposing a five-year supervised release term following revocation proceedings. Ford had challenged the sentence, arguing the court improperly considered retribution and violated the Eighth Amendment.

•Melvin Ford received one year and one day custody (as recommended by parties) plus five years supervised release (not recommended by parties)

•Ford challenged the supervised release term, claiming improper consideration of retribution and Eighth Amendment violations

Federal Circuit Court of Appeals

Federal Circuit Vacates Patent Board Decision in Apple v. Smart Mobile

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit vacated and remanded a Patent Trial and Appeal Board decision in a patent dispute between Apple Inc. and Smart Mobile Technologies LLC. The court ruled on January 13, 2026, finding issues with the Board's claim construction and failure to address Apple's alternative arguments.

•Federal Circuit vacated Patent Trial and Appeal Board decision in Apple's challenge to Smart Mobile Technologies patent

•Court found errors in Board's claim construction requiring bidirectional antennas and failure to address Apple's alternative arguments