Ninth Circuit

Google will open its Google Play Store to third-party app stores starting July 22, 2025, following a court-ordered injunction from U.S. District Judge James Donato. The injunction, part of a 2023 lawsuit by Epic Games, prohibits Google from favoring its own app store and requires it to carry competing app stores on Android devices in the U.S. through 2029.

The Ninth Circuit ruled that an Idaho federal court erred in allowing a logging project without environmental review, siding with the Alliance for the Wild Rockies. The decision centered on whether the Forest Service violated the Healthy Forests Restoration Act by excluding the project from environmental assessment requirements. The court emphasized that issue exhaustion did not apply due to the project's 'collaborative restoration' exemption and informal scoping process.

The Ninth Circuit upheld a block on the Treasury Department’s FinCEN rule requiring cash transaction reports for border businesses, ruling the agency likely bypassed federal rulemaking requirements and failed to consider compliance costs. The decision supports a preliminary injunction against the rule, which targeted money laundering by Mexican cartels.

The Trump administration urged the Ninth Circuit to maintain a block on court orders restricting federal agents' use of tear gas at a Portland ICE facility. Two lawsuits allege tear gas deployment violated protesters' First Amendment rights and residents' bodily integrity, but the government argued the lower courts erred by recognizing a new fundamental right and overreaching in injunctions.

A federal judge ordered the private prison company GEO Group to allow Washington Department of Health inspectors into an ICE detention center in Tacoma. The judge rejected GEO Group's arguments about federal contractor immunity and ICE's involvement, granting a preliminary injunction to enforce state health and safety inspections at the facility.

A California professor sued his college over diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, claiming ideological bias and harassment. A judge ruled that the college cannot investigate, discipline, or fire him for refusing to comply with DEI-related requirements, citing First Amendment protections for his political speech.

Seven environmental groups and California are challenging the federal government's approval of an offshore oil pipeline near Santa Barbara, arguing it was restarted without proper oversight after a 2015 spill. The legal dispute centers on whether the pipeline constitutes interstate commerce, with the federal government and California presenting conflicting arguments about its regulatory jurisdiction.

California's Senate Bill 399, which prohibits employers from penalizing employees for skipping mandatory work meetings involving political or religious speech, faces legal challenges in the Ninth Circuit. Employers argue the law infringes on their First Amendment rights, while California contends it only restricts punishment for non-attendance, not the meetings themselves. Judges expressed skepticism about applying the 'captive audience' doctrine to private employers.

A U.S. federal judge ordered the removal of a fence around an Oregon federal building within 24 hours, citing violations of First Amendment rights by blocking a public protest plaza. The fence, installed in April 2023, was intended as a temporary measure to protect the building and employees following protests. The General Services Administration argued the fence was necessary for safety and repairs but faced judicial pushback over limited access to the plaza.

The Supreme Court will allow Apple to challenge contempt charges after being ordered to stop charging fees on external app purchases. The dispute began in 2020 when Epic Games altered Fortnite to bypass Apple’s App Store payment system, leading to a legal battle over App Store policies and antitrust claims.

The Supreme Court will review Arizona's 2022 laws requiring proof of citizenship for voters in federal elections, which were previously struck down in 2013 under the National Voter Registration Act. The Republican National Committee and President Donald Trump argue the laws protect election integrity, while voter advocates and Democrats claim they disproportionately affect citizens lacking required documentation.

The Ninth Circuit questioned automotive industry groups' attempt to intervene in a lawsuit where California and other states challenge federal actions that disapproved of California's stricter emissions standards. The auto groups argue their economic interests are harmed if California's standards are upheld, but judges expressed skepticism about their eligibility to intervene. The case involves the Clean Air Act and the Congressional Review Act.

The Ninth Circuit Court heard arguments over California's ban on selling semiautomatic centerfire rifles to 18- to 20-year-olds and its requirement for young adults to have a hunting license to purchase long guns. Plaintiffs, two gun retailers, argued the restrictions violate the Second Amendment, citing historical practices of arming young adults during the American Revolution and the Supreme Court's Heller decision.

The Supreme Court will review a lawsuit involving a nurse accused of failing to treat an inmate's injuries during a prison riot, focusing on precedents allowing lawsuits against federal officers for constitutional violations. The case centers on whether the court should limit the scope of the Carlson v. Green and Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents rulings, which enable inmates to sue for medical neglect.

The Ninth Circuit blocked California's AB 1955 law, which restricts schools from informing parents when children disclose certain information. The decision affirms parents' rights despite opposition from Gavin Newsom.

The Ninth Circuit ruled that the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation must comply with the Endangered Species Act when operating the Klamath Irrigation Project, affirming a lower court's decision. The 2-1 ruling emphasized that the ESA applies to the Bureau's operations and that water users' rights are subject to ESA requirements. The majority rejected claims of judicial taking and confirmed the lower court's jurisdiction.

A federal judge in Montana ruled that oil leases sold in sage grouse habitat between 2019 and 2020 violated the Federal Land Policy and Management Act by failing to follow prioritization requirements set in 2015 land use plans. Conservation groups argued the Bureau of Land Management’s lease sales in Wyoming and Montana/Dakotas disregarded protections for sage grouse, a decision upheld by the Ninth Circuit Court.

Perplexity AI is appealing a preliminary injunction that blocks its AI-powered shopping tool, Comet, from accessing Amazon user accounts. Amazon argues Comet violates federal and state computer fraud laws by collecting private account data without Amazon's authorization, while Perplexity claims it uses a browser to access Amazon with user permission, similar to traditional browsers.

Former LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva appeals a court decision dismissing his lawsuit against the Board of Supervisors, who placed him on a 'do not rehire' list after his 2018 election loss. The district court found no evidence the designation affected his employment or was retaliatory for his political criticisms, but his attorney argues it caused reputational harm due to harassment and discrimination allegations.