Verdict . News

•Ninth Circuit affirmed dismissal of civil rights lawsuit against San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department

9th Circuit Upholds Dismissal of Civil Rights Case Against SBCSD

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's dismissal of civil rights claims filed by David Fink against the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department and its officials. Fink alleged unlawful seizure of his funds following his arrest, but the appeals court found the dismissal was proper.

•David Fink alleged unlawful seizure of funds following his arrest by sheriff's deputies

•Ninth Circuit filed unpublished memorandum decision in asylum case involving Salvadoran family of four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The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit filed an unpublished memorandum decision on February 5, 2026, reviewing an immigration case involving Maria de Los Angeles Hernandez-Zepeda and her three sons from El Salvador.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

•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 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

•Ninth Circuit affirmed district court's denial of motion to compel arbitration in cemetery worker class action

9th Circuit Affirms Denial of Arbitration in Cemetery Worker Class Action

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's denial of a motion to compel arbitration in a class action lawsuit brought by cemetery worker Manuel Gonzales against Rose Hills Company and related entities. The appellate court ruled that the defendants failed to establish the existence of an arbitration agreement.

•Defendants Rose Hills Company and related entities failed to establish existence of valid arbitration agreements

•Ninth Circuit reversed district court's safety valve relief determination for drug defendant Paul Engstrom

9th Circuit Reverses Safety Valve Relief in Drug Sentencing Case

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a district court's decision granting safety valve relief to Paul Engstrom in a drug-related case, vacating his below-minimum sentence and remanding for resentencing.

•Engstrom failed to provide complete debrief to government as required by federal statute

•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

2w ago•4 min read

•Ninth Circuit affirmed denial of qualified immunity to Deputy Sheriff Gilbert Caudillo in fatal shooting case

9th Circuit Affirms Denial of Qualified Immunity for Deputy Sheriff

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court's decision denying qualified immunity to Pima County Deputy Sheriff Gilbert Caudillo in a Section 1983 civil rights lawsuit. The case stems from Caudillo's fatal shooting of Bradley Alexander Lewis.

•Court found material factual disputes exist, preventing summary judgment for the officer

2w ago•4 min read

•Ninth Circuit vacated district court's denial of preliminary injunction for Buddhist prisoner's halal diet claim

9th Circuit Vacates Denial of Buddhist Prisoner's Halal Diet Claim

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a district court's denial of a preliminary injunction for California prisoner Maurice Lydell Harris, a Nichiren Buddhist who sought access to a halal diet as a religious accommodation. The appeals court remanded the case, finding the lower court improperly questioned the content and centrality of Harris's religious beliefs.

•Court found lower court improperly questioned content and centrality of prisoner's religious beliefs