9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals

Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan stated that the court is not a 'rubber stamp' for President Trump despite its conservative majority and rulings in his favor. She made the remarks during a judicial conference hosted by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a person who turns 21 during a parent’s immigration appeal can no longer be considered a qualifying 'child' to support the parent’s request for cancellation of removal. The unanimous decision in Cruz Torres-Casas v. Todd Blanche requires immigration authorities to reassess qualifying relatives at the time of the agency’s final decision.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a person who turns 21 during a parent’s immigration appeal can no longer be considered a qualifying relative for cancellation of removal. The decision in Cruz Torres-Casas v. Todd Blanche requires immigration authorities to reassess eligibility based on the applicant’s relative status at the time of the agency’s initial decision.

The U.S. Supreme Court will review Arizona's laws requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration and purging voter rolls before elections, challenged by voting rights groups. The case, originating in 2022, involves the Republican National Committee and the U.S. Department of Justice opposing a 9th Circuit Court ruling that blocked the laws, citing violations of the National Voter Registration Act and Civil Rights Act.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals paused the U.S. Department of Justice’s appeal of a ruling blocking the Trump administration’s access to Arizona’s voter registration database until it rules on similar cases in California and Oregon. The DOJ requested the hold, arguing the legal issues in all three cases are identical and that resolving the California and Oregon appeals first would streamline proceedings.

Policies aimed at transitioning buildings off fossil gas are successfully holding up in U.S. federal courts, marking a significant win for local governments promoting electrification. These regulations had faced a major setback in 2023 when the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against similar measures.

Michael Avenatti, a disgraced lawyer convicted of fraud and theft, has been transferred to a federal halfway house in California with a projected release date of September 2028. His legal troubles include multiple convictions related to financial misconduct and a controversial past as Stormy Daniels' attorney.